Suzuki Jimny 5-Door Review

Let's get it immediately out of the way: This car has been a looong time coming.

The current generation Jimny 3-Door was launched in Singapore in 2019 - a small, lightweight car bursting with rugged off-roading character. A more spacious and practical long-wheelbase 5-Door model was introduced globally in 2023, and first made its local preview at the 2024 Singapore Motor Show. Fast forward another year and a half, and the car has finally been launched for the Singapore market. 

And what a time, too. One of the Jimny's key selling points (and Suzuki more broadly) is affordability. And right now, the Singapore market is arguably the most competitive it has ever been, coupled with record-high COE premiums that show no signs of coming down. Affordability is almost just a spectre.

In so many ways, this Jimny 5-door has quite the hill to climb - not sure how much its all-terrain capabilities are going to help here.

The increased wheelbase means that there's 211 litres of boot space available with the rear seats in place; the rear seats can be easily knocked down to free up a maximum of 1,113 litres of space

More practical

The big news with the Jimny 5-Door is that… it has 5 doors. Duh. And that does rather fundamentally change the specific nature and character of the car.

For starters, it's longer by 340mm - not quite as cutesy compact as before. And all that extra length is in the wheelbase, so the further-spaced-apart wheels definitely makes the car more visually stretched out.

But the car's design is still distinctive and iconic in a way few cars can match.

The extra set of doors make accessing the rear bench much more convenient, though it's worth highlighting that this is still officially a four-seater

It's also a lot more practical. The longer wheelbase means that you can both seat rear passengers - with more leg room - and have usable boot space (it was typically either/or in the 3-Door). 

With the rear seats in place, the 211 litres of boot space is sufficient for day-to-day use. Knock down the seats and it opens up to 1,113 litres, which is generous enough for a relatively small car.

And obviously, the extra set of doors means that it's significantly more convenient to access the rear bench.

The 5-Door model gets chrome detailing on the front grille surrounds, and keyless entry is also available

But beyond just two more doors, there are in fact some other distinguishing features between this model and the 3-Door. The front grille surround is chrome instead of matte black. This Meteor Sizzling Red paintwork is exclusive to the 5-Door, and I do think it's particularly eye-catching. There's keyless entry as well.

Inside, the notable upgrade is that this car comes with this factory-fitted infotainment unit that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, and also offers a reverse camera view (the 3-Door comes from factory with a single DIN unit with cassette player "graphics"). Instead of turning a key, there's also a push-start button instead.

The factory-fitted infotainment system offers both wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto - a significant improvement from the single DIN unit in the 3-Door

I do quite like the fabric seats (they are water-resistant, much in keeping with the car's rugged off-roading roots). They are also heated, but that's probably not so relevant in our market.

Overall, the cabin is still a purposefully rugged and utilitarian space filled with durable plastics, but have been updated with some more modern creature comforts.

The Jimny 5-Door continues to be motivated by a 1.5-litre engine, but now also comes with a start/stop function

Pushing on

On the road, the Jimny 5-Door feels familiar: It's a compact SUV built on a ladder frame, so there's inevitably some body roll through corners. The steering also has a meandering vagueness to it that you expect from an off-roader.

Of course, it is, fundamentally, an off-roader, low range gearbox and all. There are inevitable on-road compromises.

That said, it does exhibit a tad more composure than the 3-Door (the longer wheelbase definitely helps), especially at highway speeds.

Extra parking sensors at the back, together with a reverse camera view, will certainly make parking easier

This car uses the same 1.5-litre powerplant as the 3-Door, but unlike the 3-Door sold by authorised distributor Champion Motors this 5-Door has start/stop to slightly offset the efficiency losses due to the extra size and weight. The 101bhp and 130Nm of torque isn't a lot, but luckily the car also does not weigh a lot either (1,200kg), so acceleration is reasonably brisk. 

Additional sensors on the front of the car also means this 5-Door has adaptive cruise control (the 3-Door's cruise control isn't adaptive), useful on longer boring highway drives.

One rather notable improvement on this 5-Door over the 3-Door is the quietness, and the cabin is noticeably better insulated from road and wind noise.

I didn't get many opportunities to test it off-road, but the car's all-terrain credentials are well-established. You'll be absolutely fine.

Adaptive cruise control can be useful when cruising along on the highway

Equal charm

Truth be told, I reckon not many Jimnys in Singapore will see much time off road. It is undeniably both a bit of a fashion statement and lifestyle accessory.

I am, and have always been, charmed by the Jimny 3-Door. Its compactness, distinctly rugged look, the odd-coupling of coolness and impracticality, appeals to my irrational heart. Its almost comical proportions - hugely tiny, sort of like Kevin Hart - makes it rather unique.

This 5-door variant adds a heap of practicality, but I do think subtracts a tiny bit of that specific charm. But of course, it's also a matter of use-case. Me as a single adult with no pets and am used to the lonely life of regularly commuting on a motorbike? Give me a 3-Door any day. People with spouses/kids/friends? A 5-Door certainly would make more sense.

The Jimny 5-Door adds extra practicality and functionality to a model that's deliver unique charm and personality 

There's also the matter of price. The 5-Door is asking $37k more than the 3-Door. You're undoubtedly getting more equipment, more space and more daily practicality, but the $218,888 price tag is still no easy one to swallow (certainly not helped by the sky-high COE premiums).

There's also no hiding the fact that this car is a variant of a product that's effectively 6-years old. Compared to the litany of modern Chinese EVs or even other petrol-powered crossovers, it feels… different. Old-school, even.

But, and it's a big but, the Jimny has to lean into that.

Choosing a Jimny was always a hyper specific choice that came with certain compromises.

Choosing a Jimny 5-Door is similarly hyper specific, and yes still with some compromises, but offers a bit more breadth of daily usability. Compared to the 3-Door, it's also a step up in terms of modernity and equipment, with the additional amenities certainly a boon to day-to-day comfort. 

It's undoubtedly a left-field and off-beat choice, but the Jimny is charming in a way that few cars can match

And yes, it's not got the big screens and fancy ambient lighting of modern cars. You even still pull a manual handbrake. And you know what? That's okay. There's something refreshingly delightful about this old-school, pared back formula. In fact, having driven so many technology-packed, hyper-modern new cars, I quite enjoyed the simplicity of this Jimny. And its ability to capture people's attentions? Unchanged.

What does the future hold? In this age of electric vehicles and bulbous SUVs, the Jimny is unique in its character and personality. Yes, it's far from affordable, and all things considered still far from very practical, but who knows if cars like these will even be made in the future. Even today, it's rare to drive a vehicle this distinct, and it certainly stands out in an automotive landscape that can sometimes feel increasingly homogeneous. 

It's definitely not for everyone, but for those people who desire such an off-beat runabout that can also go running up some hills, the charm is still very much there, and the charm is still undeniable. Even if it's been a long time coming.

Here are some more conventional crossovers you can consider: 

The Nissan Qashqai is one of the market's most well-rounded family crossovers

The MG HS boasts added presence and refinement to a well-equipped package

The Toyota Corolla Cross shines with its impressive fuel-efficiency and balanced drive