BANZAI - Suzuki Jimny
Fresh from winning the Lifestyle Utility award at the SA COTY, the Jimny has nabbed the World Urban Car of the Year Award
The Suzuki Jimny was voted the winner in the 2019 World Urban Car of the Year Awards by a panel of 86 judges from 24 countries, including South Africa. It was also a top three finalist in the World Car Design category of the same awards.
After being nominated every year since the introduction of the World Urban Car of the Year category in the World Car of the Year competition, Suzuki was finally crowned the winner in 2019 with the Suzuki Jimny.
The World Car of the Year Awards introduced a dedicated Urban Car of the Year Award in 2017, and Suzuki has been nominated every year. In 2017 the Suzuki Ignis was nominated, followed by the all-new Suzuki Swift in 2018 and the Jimny in 2019. In the two preceding years, the Suzuki finalist made it to the top three final nominees and in 2019 the Jimny emerged victorious.
Speaking after receiving news on the award, Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, said: “We at Suzuki are greatly honoured to receive this award. The Jimny is the one-and-only compact, authentic off-roader, and we have kept true to this concept for almost 50 years.
“It now has many fans around the world, who enjoy its excellent performance and one-of-a-kind functional design, both on- and off-road. We accept this award on behalf of our fans.”
The new Jimny was launched in Japan in July 2018 and has since become used to the limelight. Shortly after being launched, it won a GOOD Design Award for its funky, yet functional design and full-bore 4x4 capabilities. It has also been included in the GOOD Design Top 100 Tour, which travels the world showcasing 100 of the world’s best design concepts.
In Europe, where the waiting list for the new Jimny exceeds 6 months in some markets, the Jimny was voted the Best 4x4 in the UK Car of the Year Awards, and in South Africa the Jimny won the Lifestyle Utility Vehicle category in the AutoTrader SA Car of the Year Awards.
“If you look at the awards that we have won with the Suzuki Jimny since its introduction, it is clear that this 4x4 represents the best of both worlds. It has been recognised for its compact design and city-friendly drivability in awards such as the World Car of the Year awards and praised for its off-road capabilities in awards such as the SA and UK Car of the Year Awards,” says André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki South Africa.
In South Africa, Suzuki has recently announced that it will increase its order volumes to help shorten the ever-growing waiting list for the new Jimny. Three variants of the Jimny are available locally, priced from R269 900 to R325 900.
Also worth a look: the Suzuki Swift and the Suzuki Starts 2025 with Record-Breaking Sales in South Afric.
FAQ
Q: What does the Suzuki Jimny cost in South Africa?
The Suzuki Jimny starts from around R341,800 for the base GL manual model, with the top-spec GLX automatic pushing closer to R380,000 depending on dealer specials and current pricing.
Q: Is the Suzuki Jimny worth buying in 2024?
Absolutely, if you need a proper 4x4 that can tackle serious off-road terrain without breaking the bank, the Jimny delivers authentic off-road capability that puts many pricier SUVs to shame.
Q: What are the main problems with the Suzuki Jimny?
The biggest complaints are road noise at highway speeds, limited rear passenger space, and a somewhat bouncy ride on tar roads due to its solid axle setup designed for off-road work.
Q: How fuel efficient is the Suzuki Jimny?
Expect around 6.8 litres per 100km in mixed driving conditions with the 1.5-litre petrol engine, though this can climb to 8-9L/100km if you're doing lots of off-road driving or city stop-start traffic.
Q: Should I buy a Suzuki Jimny or Toyota Urban Cruiser?
Choose the Jimny if you need serious 4x4 capability and don't mind sacrificing some comfort, but go for the Urban Cruiser if you prioritise on-road refinement and rear passenger space over hardcore off-road ability.
Should You Buy It?
The best authentic off-roader under R400,000 in SA is definitely the Suzuki Jimny at R341,800 for the manual GL. This little legend offers genuine go-anywhere 4x4 capability that'll embarrass vehicles costing twice as much when the tar runs out. Yes, it's bouncy on the highway and cramped in the back, but if you want a proper off-road tool that doubles as your daily driver without the massive running costs of a full-size bakkie, the Jimny is a no-brainer. Just don't expect luxury car refinement, this is a working 4x4 that happens to look fantastic doing it.
