Suzuki Jimny XL four-wheel-drive review

This high-riding off-road machine is capable of extraordinary adventures without charging an extraordinary price.

The legendary Jimny gets a stretched body and two extra doors to boost its family appeal. Here are five things you should know.

Five doors ruin the looks, but it’s a more spacious Jimny

The new Jimny XL’s hardly ugly, but parked beside a tiny-wheelbase traditional three-door version, it’s an awkward-looking thing.

The Suzuki Jimny XL five-door stars from just over $40,000 drive-away with a manual transmission.

Like adding a wagon rear to a Porsche 911, you’re messing with a timeless design.

But this stretched Jimny has key advantages over its smaller, cuter sibling: space and convenience. Kids accessing the rear now have their own doors rather than contorting behind front seats to get in, the cabin gains 340mm length, while boot’s up from a shoebox-like 85L to a more humane 211L. Even so, with all seats in place, fitting in the weekly shop remains challenging, while rear seats not folding completely flat is a missed opportunity.

This India-built five-door adds a $3000 premium over a normal Japan-sourced Jimny: $34,990 plus-on roads for a five-speed manual, or $36,490 a four-speed auto.

The Suzuki Jimny XL is more than competent off-road.

Don’t rush out and buy one as your next family car

Easy, parents. You may be charmed by its looks and promise of off-road adventures, but a Jimny XL’s not the smartest family hauler. There’s no ANCAP rating (the normal Jimny has a disappointing three-stars), and while rear camera, auto emergency braking and lane departure warning are appreciated, a lack of crash test, blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert cause concern. Rear seats offer tolerable head and leg room, but there’s only two chairs, no air vents and really scratchy door plastics.

Suzuki’s four-wheel-drive has a basic cabin.

And sorry to be a killjoy, but the bitumen-based daily drive will send you nuts. The ride’s jittery in town, steering response is laughably loose, the turning circle’s terrible and at speed it gets blown around on its skinny tyres. At 110km/h the underpowered 75kW/130Nm 1.5-litre engine’s howling with 3250rpm, and combined with wind noise from its bricklike aero, the cabin’s hardly a Japanese Zen garden of peacefulness.

Take it off-road and all’s forgiven

Sensible hat choices abound from your Toyotas and Kias; the Jimny XL’s for those whose heart rules the head. It’s a funster you look forward to driving – no matter its flaws – and in its preferred off-road element these Suzukis are plain wonderful.

The Jimny XL can wade through tough territory.

Its robust ladder chassis, low-range transfer case, 210mm ground clearance and impressive approach and departure angles make it near unstoppable over the rough stuff. And despite its extra size and length, the XL’s only 90kg heavier than a three-door. Its 1200kg kerb weight helped it float over our soft sand test in a way a lardy Toyota LandCruiser could only dream about. No diff locks are needed, as Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro 4WD traction control system brakes slipping wheels and redistributes torque equally to the others. You must work incredibly hard to get it bogged – there’s grip for days.

Suzuki’s Jimny XL is a robust machine.

The cabin’s a mix of modern and ancient

I owned a second-generation Jimny (first launched in 1981), and this four decades younger Jimny XL feels remarkably similar inside. Not that I’m (totally) complaining. I adore the fit-for-purpose and unfussy cabin, its blend of utilitarian rock-solid plastics, robust buttons and clear analog dials. There’s superb vision through giant windows and upright windscreen, you put a metal key in an ignition and good grief there’s three pedals and manual gears. The shifter’s rubber base, incidentally, I swear is identical to the 1981 design.

Suzuki’s Jimny XL feels basic in the cabin.

It’s not completely Dark Ages. There’s 9-inch infotainment with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, digital climate control, cruise control and power windows front and rear – the smaller Jimny’s rears are sealed shut.

But let’s no gloss over the shortcomings. The steering wheel won’t adjust for reach, my elbow wore away on a too-hard armrest, storage is rubbish and seat cloth and cabin plastics feel terribly cheap. Mysteriously, setting climate to 18C or 25C made little difference to cabin temperature.

The Suzuki Jimny XL five-door stars from just over $40,000 drive-away with a manual transmission.

It’s a rock solid investment

There’s no Jimny rival in terms of 4x4 ability, size, retro looks and price. Lengthy wait times and excellent retained values have followed, with many Jimny owners able to profit when selling theirs. Better availability mean five-doors aren’t in such feverish demand, but values should stay rock solid.

Suzuki Jimny XL.

This will lessen the running costs blow. The antique-feeling four-cylinder uses a claimed 6.4L/100km (manual) or 6.9L/100km (auto), but we saw 7.3L/100km – thirsty for a modern small SUV. And the 40L fuel tank’s so titchy you’re often at the servo. Services are a chunky $2265 for five years/75,000km.

But much like all with this Jimny XL, you’re prepared to forgive it anything.

Originally published as Suzuki Jimny XL four-wheel-drive review