2018 Suzuki Jimny First Drive: Old-School Charm
What is it?
This is the new Suzuki Jimny. Huge off-road competence in the loveliest packaging man has ever witnessed. Its ancestors are legends of the off-road park/forest/communal snow plowing service. Its direct predecessor has been on the market since 1998, and has enjoyed great popularity for 20 years, and this is not solely due to a massive lack of competition.
The fact that, after two decades, a sequel has finally been plunged into mud, puddles, and terrifying obstacles doesn't mean that the basic structure of the little rascal has changed much. Suzuki knows its audience very well and has made the new Jimny as "old school" as possible. This isn't a city-SUV marketing-mobile but a real (even if very small) 4x4 for people who have to rely on their car even under the most absurd conditions.
Check out
The substructure is still a rock-solid ladder frame, which is now one-and-a-half times as stiff as before. In addition, there are rigid axles with trailing arms, Panhard rods and coil springs as well as an selectable all-wheel drive with off-road reduction. An adapted electronic traction control system serves as a differential lock replacement at the front and rear.
Sounds Much Like The Real Thing. And It Does Look The Part, Doesn't It?
That's right. Suzuki resisted the temptation to turn the Jimny into another faceless crossover softie. And you can...
