Maruti Jimny: The market has wanted a small, fun to drive and reasonably priced off-roader for a long time.
In reaction, Maruti Suzuki has now launched the much-awaited Jimny, a tough 4×4 with international provenance and cult following.
By market share, the sport utility vehicle now dominates city streets, but the Jimny stands alone — not with styling that screams or gadgets that blink, but in terms of raw mechanical spunk.
For the adventurous who don’t just want to keep to the city, the Mahindra Thar offers true off-road ability in a go-anywhere, do-anything package.
It is the modern day successor of the beloved Gypsy, and carries with it a no-nonsense approach to motoring.
Design and Road Presence
At initial glance, You’re drawn to the Jimny — its boxy profile, circular headlamps, upright grille and boxy old-school SUV look will have you hooked. It’s tiny in stature but grand in personality.
The car is given an inimitable stance by wheelsarches that are squared off, short overhangs and high ground clearance.
The Jimny available in India is the 5-door version and not the 3-door internationally. This makes it a bit more family friendly while holding onto its off-road appeal.
The diminutive size is handy in the cut and thrust of city traffic, while the chunky styling gives away what it’s truly designed for — the great outdoors.
Power Train and Off Road Ability
Motivating the Jimny is a 1.5-litre K15B petrol which delivers 104.8 PS/134.2 Nm. It can be had with a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
That said, this is no speed demon as the engine is solid, smooth and tuned for the low end of the rev range.
But the true sorcery is in its off-road hardware. Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro 4×4 system gets a low-range transfer case and that means the Jimny is one of very few sub-₹15 lakh vehicles to have genuine off-road credentials.
The Jimny has 210 mm of ground clearance and trail friendly approach and departure angles, its ladder frame chassis are made for the rough stuff.
Whether it’s sludgy terrain, steep hills, tight forest trails – the Jimny is happy to take it on, and with ease.
Interior and Features
Climb into the Jimny, and the driver is confronted by a plain, utilitarian interior. The ergonomics is upright, visibility is good and the seating position is high.
The Forward-looking in design but the cabin all you get in car are seats, dashboard itself is tough being touchscreen infotainment system (high end variants), Apple steering mounted control.
The back seat is reasonable for two adults, although long trips might seem cramped.
There isn’t much cargo space, particularly when the rear seats are in the upright position, although enough room for a weekend’s worth of travel and some critical gear.
Features include:
Cruise control
Power windows
Automatic climate control
Hill-Hold and Hill-Descent Control
Dual airbags, ABS with EBD
Rear-view camera and ISOFIX
Focus is still on the durability, not on luxury.
Pros of Maruti Jimny
Tremendous off-road capability with low range 4×4
Small footprint perfect for both city and adventure
Tough, bold and unique SUV styling
Reliable and proven engine
Decent ground clearance and flex.
Price point break-through product
Cons of Maruti Jimny
Limited boot space
Moderate mileage (~16–17 km/l)
Not for high-speed highway cruising
Interiof feels a little basic compared to rivals
Petrol only;Diesel or Turbo not available.
Maruti Jimny: Final Verdict
The Maruti Jimny isn’t for everyone—those in the market for simple, rugged and, above all else, fun off-road transport, however, will find it a refreshing gale of air.
It’s not going to win any drag races or offer a luxury cabin, but when the road stops and the trail starts, the Jimny really comes into its own. It’s a dedicated SUV in a market full of soft-roaders.
For the fun-seeker, journeying explorer or city dude wanting something all their own, the Jimny is very much appropriate.
It’s a back-to-basics evolution — honest motoring with real capability.