Extra Leaf was invited to Frankfurt by Suzuki.
‘You can’t do, that you have charm’.
that was the refrain, as crooneren Bjarne Liller in the 1970s song into many kvindehjerter with the classic revyvise.
If there could brummes with from the automotive world, the new Suzuki Jimny to be in the choir. The Ritter Sport-angular and high micro-SUV is with its retrolook both charming and disarming at the same time.
But under the significant lines, which has threads for both the earlier Jimny-generations and off-road icons like the Land Rover Discovery and, especially, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, save it to a car, which in some strange way combines the rustic and the civilized.
Without hiding that first and foremost it is designed as a dolly mountain goat, who climbs effortlessly through the terrain.
It happens to the prices, which is expected to start at 225.000 dollars for the cheapest ‘Active’model with all-wheel drive and a 1.4 liter turbo engine 102 horsepower.
The slightly more expensive ‘Adventure’model costing 250.000 dollars, and it is the one we are testing at the international premiere in Frankfurt.
The rustic-style calls, however, especially through on sikkerhedsfronten, where the Jimny only won three stars at the Euro NCAP-sikkerhedstesten.
the Car is otherwise equipped with a safety package that includes emergency brake with detection of pedestrians, but it fell anyway through the three points: An airbag folded up not out, the head restraints to protect against whiplash, and so can the emergency brake doesn’t pick up cyclists, or work in the dark. It is the relationship, the manufacturer is investigating, and as will be clarified, when the Jimny lands at home for march next year.
Since the first Jimny saw the light of day in 1970, it has been one of the most iconic models of Suzuki, however, did not sell the latest, third generation here at home. It changed with the new, which is based on the same principle as its predecessors with a solid chassis.
We jump on board in the car, that size matches most cars in the mikroklassen. It means that there are some obvious competitors. The nearest are cars like the Dacia Duster, or perhaps the Opel Mokka, but it is both larger cars. The same applies to the Ford Ecosport, which, however, can not be imported with all-wheel drive.
the Car has a ground clearance of 21 cm, and it provides good visibility from the cabin. Here are the surfaces closest to the laminated with smooth, ridsesikker plastic that looks as if it can be washed with a water hose. Even the back of the back seat with room for two has got the same practical coating.
It is seen as a little old-fashioned, but it is convenient for the farmer, the contractor or the hunter, which is the primary target audiences for marketers.
All handles are even designed so they can be operated with gloves on – even the touch screen of seven inches. The rustic look is further underlined by the imitation bolts in the plastic, which seems a little kitschy. the
back door also carries the spare wheel. Bagaerummet is almost non-existent. Photo: Suzuki
The two side doors are wide and provide good access to the cabin. With three doors you must have tipped one of the front seats to get into the rear seats, but here beats the good use of space through. Hovedhøjden is fine, and benpladsen is reasonable. To turn the cargo area with its 85 litre only accommodate a handful of tennis shoes.
Behind the wheel you have a view of a instrumentation with watches that are just as angular as the exterior of the car.
the Gear change is done with three rods; one for driving on the road and two more off-road behaviour, where you with the reducers can put the vehicle in 4H or 4L.
In the highest gear the car can cope with up to 100 km/h., while the low is for slow off-road driving.
Discounten calls, however, through the convenience. The steering wheel can only be adjusted up/down and not forward/back. It is also not possible to set the driver’s seat in height.
With an optional shifter you can put the Suzuki Jimny in low or high terrængear. Photo: Suzuki
Mechanical experience
So we are running. One notices immediately that this is a more unpolished and cash car than the many crossovere on the market.
the Gear change is a bit tight and easy clicking, while the transmission can clearly be heard while driving. Jimny experienced very mechanical, but most of the holes and bumps in the process, in turn, surprisingly comfortable, and the car is well on the way. The steering is, however, to the comfortable side, and the high center of gravity be clearly marked in the curves, where the car duver easy.
the Engine, which throws 130 Nm of themselves, is something lavgearet, and by motorvejsfart spin the engine up at 3000 rpm. Here we could well use a higher leverage. The setup is, however, according to the factory directed at off-road driving, where they often crawl away in a low gear.
The tests in practice, we in the Constantia forest, which offers hills, bony, roads and ponds.
Here, we can feel the effect of that Suzukis engineers have optimised underbody with a stronger structure, while a number of auxiliary systems to facilitate the fremfærden.
This applies, among other things ‘LSD Traction Control’, which slows down the slot-spinning wheels and on the way gives the opposite wheel better fixture.
It is complemented by auxiliary systems such as ‘Hill Hold’ and ‘Hill Descent Control’, that can keep the car on a climb and even slow it on the way down. It works well in practice. With an angle of 37 degrees and a afgangsvinkel at 49 is the Jimny on the whole, a capable cousin of the terrain.
The petrol engine with 102 hp is the only one in the program, and the doing of 12.7 km/l for the new and more accurate WLTP-scale.
It is not impressive, but the fuel economy has not been the highest priority for Suzuki, why the Jimny does not have the stop/start function. the
Cabin features smooth surfaces that are scratch resistant, and easy to make clean. Photo: Suzuki
Conclusion
the Suzuki Jimny is an honest car, which is clearly addressed to the professional. It offers a no-nonsense approach to the terrain, without that it is inhuman to run in to everyday life.
the Equipment is nice, and it will even look good in the urban jungle. However, it is a small car which has low fuel consumption and a preliminary poor Euro NCAP-safety tests.
Suzuki Jimny
About 250.000 Danish kroner
1520 crowns
178 grams (WLTP)
12,7 km/l (WLTP)
a 1.5-liter, 102 hp, 130 Nm
145 km/h.
348(365 with spare wheel) / 172/ 225 cm
