Suzuki Wows South African Enthusiasts with the Debut of the All-New Five-Door Jimny
Suzuki Auto South Africa has pulled out all the stops for this year's Festival of Motoring, delivering an exciting surprise for attendees.
The spotlight was on the unveiling of Suzuki's inaugural five-door Jimny off-road SUV at the festival. What makes this reveal even more exceptional is that the five-door Jimny isn't yet available for purchase in South Africa, making the Festival of Motoring the exclusive venue for South Africans to get a firsthand look and feel of this eagerly awaited model.
The global debut of the five-door Jimny earlier this year at the Auto Expo in India garnered widespread acclaim, swiftly establishing itself as a top-selling model in its market segment. It's been a major success story for Suzuki, particularly in the Indian market.
Brendon Carpenter, Suzuki Auto's Brand Marketing Manager, commented, "Given the overwhelming popularity of the new Jimny, along with its three-door counterpart, our production facilities in Japan and India are operating at maximum capacity to meet the surging demand. We've already placed our initial order, and we aim to make it available for purchase in the final quarter of this year."
Distinguished by its elongated wheelbase, the five-door Jimny boasts an additional 340 mm of space compared to the shorter three-door variant. This extension has enabled Suzuki's engineers to incorporate extra cargo room and innovative features, such as the ability to transform the front seats into overnight beds, all without compromising the vehicle's formidable off-road capabilities.
The Festival of Motoring exhibition model of the five-door Jimny is adorned in the striking Jungle Green color, already a hit within the current three-door lineup. When officially launched, the model will offer a selection of new and exclusive paint options, including Celestial Blue, Granite Grey, and a captivating Sizzling Red with a metallic black roof.
While driving enthusiasts may have to wait a little longer to get behind the wheel of the five-door Jimny, they can seize the opportunity to experience Suzuki's latest SUV offerings.
Suzuki also introduced the all-new Fronx, a sporty coupé-SUV, and the XL6, a stylish, spacious SUV capable of accommodating up to six passengers, both of which were unveiled in August and are now on display at the Festival of Motoring.
Carpenter added, "We have several units available and ready for visitors to test drive and enjoy. This marks the first public opportunity to experience these models, and what better venue than the renowned Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit!"
Also worth a look: the Suzuki Swift and the Suzuki Starts 2025 with Record-Breaking Sales in South Afric.
FAQ
Q: When will the five-door Suzuki Jimny be available in South Africa?
Suzuki Auto South Africa is targeting the final quarter of 2024 for the five-door Jimny's local launch, though production capacity constraints at facilities in Japan and India could affect this timeline.
Q: What's the difference between the three-door and five-door Jimny?
The five-door Jimny has an additional 340mm of wheelbase compared to the three-door model, providing extra cargo space and innovative features like front seats that convert into overnight beds whilst maintaining the same off-road capabilities.
Q: What colours will the five-door Jimny be available in South Africa?
The five-door Jimny will offer the popular Jungle Green from the current three-door lineup plus new exclusive options including Celestial Blue, Granite Grey, and Sizzling Red with a metallic black roof.
Q: How much will the five-door Suzuki Jimny cost in South Africa?
Suzuki hasn't announced official pricing yet, but expect the five-door Jimny to cost around R50,000 to R70,000 more than the current three-door model which starts at approximately R419,900.
Q: Is the five-door Jimny worth waiting for over the three-door model?
If you need extra passenger space and cargo capacity without sacrificing Jimny's legendary off-road prowess, the five-door variant is definitely worth the wait, especially with those clever convertible front seats for camping adventures.
Should You Buy It?
The five-door Suzuki Jimny looks like it'll be the best compact off-road SUV under R500,000 in South Africa when it arrives in late 2024. With an expected starting price around R470,000 to R490,000, you're getting genuine 4x4 capability, improved practicality over the three-door model, and those brilliant convertible front seats that'll make weekend getaways even better. If you can wait a few more months and don't mind the premium over the three-door version, this extended Jimny should be your next adventure companion. The only downside is Suzuki's production capacity issues might mean waiting lists, so get your order in early when dealers start taking bookings.
