Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV First Drive Review: It Doesn't Pump Iron, it CrossFits

Maruti Jimny Review: Every story is a personal story, even the impersonal ones unless written by ChatGPT. Then it would be something else, not sure what, but not personal for sure. The reason for such an introduction is because this story is tad closer to the heart as it is written by an existing Thar CRDe owner.

Since Jimny’s launch plan announcement at the Auto Expo 2023, I was in a dilemma. Should I go ahead and book the Jimny or should I carry on my existing Thar CRDe till the NGT guys intercept me on the DND expressway and confiscate my car at the Delhi border? That 10-year deadline is still far but you know what I am saying.

So, the latest update is that I have decided against it. I haven’t booked the Jimny yet. But, should you? Or any other off-road enthusiast? Will try to answer this question in a couple of paragraphs.

The most awaited car, one of the most overused phrases in the auto industry, still makes sense for the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. The product Indian automotive media and enthusiasts have been waiting for years, publishing and sharing stories again and again. Maruti, on the other hand, kept insisting that the Jimny isn’t the right product for the Indian market, especially the 3-Door version. This meant that the Auto Expo 2020 showcase was just a teaser, not a product meant for the Indian market. But, Auto Expo 2023 was like closure for all the Jimny lovers, when Maruti Suzuki announced the Jimny 5-Door for India and showcased the product.

We got to drive the production version of 5-Door Jimny around Dehradun recently. However, the track we drove Jimny on was mostly around a riverbed and it was so rewarding that we spent most of our time there.

Interestingly, this was the third consecutive Maruti media drive event for me where the manufacturer had arranged an off-road session for their cars. First was the Grand Vitara, then the Fronx and now the Jimny. The difference was that there was no curated track, designed around the capabilities of the vehicles, but a natural terrain. Because this was Jimny.

Kicking off with the Jimny's tech-specs, it is fitted with a 1.5 L petrol engine with an output of 103bhp and 134 Nm of peak torque. The transmission options include 5-speed manual and 4 speed automatic. The tested fuel efficiency figure for the manual transmission is 16.94 kmpl and 16.39 kmpl for the automatic.

For off-roading duty, the Jimny features ALLGRIP PRO’s low-range transfer gear, which can be shifted from 2H to 4H on the fly. The trail around the riverbed was also challenging enough to experience the 4L mode (Low Range Transfer Gear). Based on a ladder frame chassis, the Jimny is fitted with a 3-link rigid axle suspension with coil spring. But, the first slide in Maruti’s presentation was its ground clearance (210mm), departure angle (47 degrees), ramp break over angle (24 degrees) and approach angle (36 degrees).

With all of the above specs, Jimny never felt underprepared for any challenge. I saw some comments on social media that other SUVs could do this as well, but with its body and engine size, the ease with which the Jimny was doing all that was phenomenal. And, it didn’t stop there. Cliffs, climbs, drops and articulations with limited slip differential were something I have experienced in very limited off-roading vehicles. The surprise element in all of this was the way Jimny always felt solid and planted, unlike any other Maruti Suzuki you must have experienced. Overall, the Jimny is fit for a pro-level off-roading enthusiast.

This again was a section where Jimny felt so different from any of the Maruti Suzuki cars you would have experienced. The steering feels more rigid, on the heavier side. The gearshift gives a robust feel and the suspension feels solid. With its confident drive, assuring suspension and controlled dynamics, Jimny feels grander than it is. Having said that, don’t expect it to behave like the typical SUVs we drive to our offices. Jimny driving, especially the manual one, needs around 10-15 % extra effort than the usual urban SUVs we use.

No, it isn't. When the adrenaline from the off-road and on-road driving session with Jimny subsides, other realities kick in. The Jimny is designed and developed like a go-anywhere-do-anything kind of performance machine, however, very few Indian customers will use it like that on a daily or even monthly basis. They would like to use it for regular rides where the scarcity of utility spaces, big bottles, and maybe second-row AC vents might pinch.

The second reality is the size of Jimny, when you compare it with its competitor it lacks that typical Bahubali kind of road presence. Even with 5 doors, the vehicle is still below 4 meters and that shows in the second-row space, headroom and bench width. With just a little bit of increase or ten per cent enhancement on all these parameters, Jimny would become a comfortable vehicle for long distances as well.

I loved the Jimny. It is what we have all heard it is and it can do what everyone said it could. But, it also has a couple of limitations as most of us assumed it would (even in its 5-door avatar). After driving the Jimny for a day I understood why Maruti Suzuki was adamant that the 3-door version isn't for the Indian market. And, I agree. The Jimny isn't the biggest of cars in the segment, its size is still below 4M and the 5-door version makes it more usable. It has removed one mental barrier between a capable off-roader and a usable one. However, it is a 4-seater car essentially and the second row is comfortable for short to medium drives. But, some practical-small storage spaces will be missed even in short daily rides. Maruti should think of adding some of these slots for big bottles, phones etc as we very well know off-roading will be a minuscule portion of Jimny's usage.

Now the next part I am not sure of, but from the hints we are getting at various events and conversations, Jimny is going to be priced on the premium side. But, looking at the current package I hope Maruti does the magic it does with the pricing and start it just below Rs 10 Lakh figure and maybe go to Rs 13.5 Lakh. This range looks perfect for the package it is and might sell more than what the number one car maker has anticipated. Let's hope that list is as mind-blowing as the off-road performance of this tiny tool.