2023 Suzuki Jimny XL new car review

This lightweight four-wheel drive is tougher than it looks and will go just as far into the bush as machines that cost twice as much.

Suzuki Jimny XL.

Suzuki’s baby SUV has had a growth spurt.

The Japanese brand has just launched the Jimny XL, a stretched version of the popular compact four-wheel drive that adds two doors and more interior space.

Prices start at $34,990 (before on-road costs) when equipped with a five-speed manual and $36,490 when fitted with a four-speed auto.

This is $3000 more than the smaller three-door version.

That sounds like a sharp price but when the three-door launched in 2019 it was priced from $23,990. It has been slugged with numerous price rises since.

Despite the prices rises, waiting times stretch out to about a year for in demand three-door auto versions and the new Jimny XL already has more than 2000 preorders to fill.

Suzuki hasn’t messed with a winning formula for the Jimny XL.

The Suzuki Jimny XL is a rigged lightweight four-wheel drive.

Power comes from a little 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes just 75kW and 130Nm. This doesn’t sound like much but it weighs a lean 1200kg, which is slightly more than small hatchbacks such as the Mazda2.

It is underpinned by a sturdy ladder frame, which is the same as you’d find underneath rugged 4WDs such as the Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol.

There are no locking differentials that can send the power to the wheels with the most purchase. Instead it uses traction control to halt the wheels struggling for grip and drive the ones firmly planted on the ground.

It has high and low gearing for when the terrain gets concerning and a full-size spare tyre mounted on the back door for puncture emergencies.

It oozes cute retro charm.

It has great forward vision and its boxy shape makes it easy to see where all corners of the vehicle are. A tight turning circle aids in navigating tight tracks

Add generous approach and departure angles for tackling steep terrain and 210mm of ground clearance and you’ve got a genuine rock hopper that’ll go almost anywhere.

We tested the Jimny XL on a rough 4WD track where it romped and rollicked up steep rutted sandy inclines, forded knee-deep water crossings and bounded over big moguls.

A hill descent control feature keeps the vehicle crawling down steep declines at 5km/h when in low gear and 10km/h when in the high ratios.

The Jimny has remarkable off-road ability, traversing terrain that would make a mountain goat think twice.

It is heavily focused to off-road driving.

It’s a highly focused off-road vehicle, but that comes with significant trade-offs when driving on the road.

It feels unsettled on the bitumen, although the longer wheelbase does remove the forward and backwards pitching of the three-door.

Acceleration from the tiny engine is sluggish and the four-speed auto we tested felt like it needed a few extra ratios to smooth out the acceleration.

You’ll need to work the engine hard, too, as maximum power is delivered at 6000rpm and torque at 4000rpm.

The manual version sips 6.4L/100km of fuel and the auto drinks 6.9L/100km, which is a lot for such a small vehicle.

The interior is functional but lacks mod-cons.

The Jimny is a fantastic looking little off-roader with oodles of charm from every angle and doesn’t look as squashed and as awkward as the three-door version.

Inside the extra space is noticeable with a back seat that can accommodate smaller adults and teens with ease. The back seats are placed very high giving those in the rear a great view out the side and front.

A new nine-inch touchscreen is a step up and a good size for such a compact car. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The fitout is Spartan, though, with hard wearing plastics everywhere, cloth seats, a steering wheel that doesn't have reach adjustment and not much in the way of modcons.

The longer Jimny adds plenty of convenience inside.

Safety is lacking also.

It’ll automatically brake if it detects a potential collision with another vehicle and warns you when you wander out of your lane.

More advanced lane-keeping tech is absent, as is blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert, which sounds an alarm if a car is approaching from the side as you reverse.

The Jimny XL hasn’t been crash tested but the three-door version scored just three stars and has sub-par adult occupant protection.

Suzuki covers its vehicles with a five year/unlimited km warranty and servicing is expensive at more than $2200 for five years.

VERDICT 3.5/5

A heavily off-road focused vehicle that’ll go just as far as big name players for a fraction of the cost, but it would be hard to live with in town and lacks safety gear.

SUZUKI JIMNY XL AUTO

PRICE About $39,000 drive-away

ENGINE 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, 75kW and 130Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING Five years/unlimited km, $2265 over five years

SAFETY Six airbags, auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, radar cruise control

THIRST 6.9L/100km

SPARE Full size

LUGGAGE 211 litres