We’ve been waiting for the 4-door version of the Suzuki Jimny for a long time, and the latest spy photos from India prove that it is finally ready to hit the roads. The longer Jimny was spotted free of any camouflage for the first time, ahead of its debut at the 2023 Auto Expo in January. The SUV was photographed near the city of Leh which is the joint capital of the Ladakh region in India. Unlike earlier sightings of camouflaged prototypes in Europe, this time it was fully exposed due to an ongoing photo/video shoot for promotional purposes.
Predictably, the design of the four-door
Jimny closely mirrors its
three-door counterpart, looking identical up to the B-pillar. Usually, 4-door
models get smaller front doors than their three-door equivalents but this is
not the case with the Jimny. Thus, the rear doors are slightly shorter despite
the significantly longer wheelbase which is rumored to grow by 300 mm to 2,550 mm. The stretched model is expected to measure
3,850 mm long, with the other dimensions remaining unchanged. The
profile now has three windows, while the front and rear overhangs remain quite
short so the approach and departure angles will not be compromised. The rear
end of the Jimny is also carried over from the three-door model, including the
side-hinged tailgate with the spare wheel, and the bumper-mounted taillights. A
“Jimny” badge is visible in the photos, debunking earlier rumors about the
potential use of a different name.
Rushlane
reports that the longer Maruti Suzuki Jimny could be optionally available with
a three-row configuration, although space for the passengers would be quite
limited in a possible seven-seater variant. In any case, the longer Jimny is
expected to offer a decent amount of legroom for rear passengers and a proper
boot. This would make it a practical ladder-frame SUV suitable for families,
unlike the current Jimny which is solely available as a two-seater LCV in
European markets. The dashboard will most likely be carried over from the
current model with minimum changes, including a fresh 9-inch infotainment
screen sourced from other Suzuki models.
Both Rushlane and Autocar India report
that the Jimny will be fitted with the naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter K15B
petrol engine. The unit which already powers the three-door Jimny produces
between 101 hp and 107 hp depending on the
market. Other media including Motor Beam suggest that the four-cylinder engine
will be updated with mild-hybrid tech, potentially benefiting performance and
reducing emissions. The electrified motor that is rumored for the entire
facelifted Jimny range, would allow Suzuki to make it available again as a
passenger SUV in Europe. In any case, power will be transmitted to all four
wheels with the help of the AllGrip Pro 4WD system. Besides the standard
five-speed manual gearbox, an optional automatic transmission is also tipped to
join the range.
The market launch of the five-door Suzuki
Jimny in India is expected in mid-2023, with other markets set to follow in the
near future. Rival models in India will include the upcoming five-door variants
of the similarly-styled New Force Gurkha, and the Wrangler-style Mahindra Thar.
Europeans on the other hand do not have much of a choice when it comes to
affordable ladder-frame SUVs, so competition will be limited to the unibody but
off-road-ready Dacia Duster and the Suzuki Vitara stablemate.