5-door Suzuki Jimny sees massive demand in Japan; sold out for 3.5 years

KUALA LUMPUR: After being introduced in select global markets, the 5-door Suzuki Jimny recently made its way to the home country. And, within just one week of its launch in Japan, this rugged off-roader has received approximately 50,000 bookings. 

This overwhelming response led Suzuki to suspend new bookings for the SUV temporarily. Why? Because monthly production of the 5-door Jimny is currently capped at 1200 units and it will take around three and a half years to complete the already bagged orders. Notably, the 5-door SUV, known as ‘Suzuki Jimny Nomade’ in Japan, is exported from India.

“We apologize to customers considering the purchase of the Jimny Nomade due to the suspension of orders. Thank you very much for your interest in our products. The Jimny Nomade has been very well received, and we have received orders that far exceed our production capacity. As a result, we will be temporarily suspending orders. We will provide updates on when orders will reopen, considering the future production situation. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding,” posted Suzuki on its official website.

So, what’s the reason behind the massive demand for Suzuki Jimny Nomade?

Well, the credit goes to its longer wheelbase and an extra set of doors, making the SUV more practical and versatile than the 3-door version, called Jimny Sierra in Japan.

Let’s check out the key highlights of the Japan-spec Suzuki Jimny Nomade.

Suzuki Jimny Nomade: Key highlights

Dimensions

The 5-door Jimny is 340 mm longer than the 3-door counterpart at 3890 mm. The additional length results in increased cabin space, and additional legroom and luggage room in the rear. The wheelbase is 340 mm longer at 2,590 mm while the cargo area is more than doubled in size, increasing from 85 litres to 211 litres. 

The SUV boasts an impressive 210 mm of ground clearance with a generous departure angle of 47°, a ramp break-over angle of 24° and an approach angle of 36°

Exterior 

In terms of design, the 5-door Jimny features the same boxy styling as the 3-door model with key elements being -

• Iconic 5-slot front grille with chrome accents
• Iconic round headlamps with LED projectors
• Flat square-shape bonnet
• Squared-off bumpers made from scratch-resistant material
• 15-inch alloy wheels with a dark grey metallic finish
• Flared wheel arch mouldings and side sill splash guards 

Suzuki has also introduced two exclusive colour options for the Japanese market, including a Chiffon Ivory Metallic (with black roof) and a Jungle Green option. However, the signature Kinetic Yellow shade available in India has been dropped.

Interior

The Jimny Nomade boasts the same dashboard layout as the India-spec model with a few differences. The Japan-spec version has grey and black upholstery and heated ORVMs. Key interior bits are-

• 9-inch infotainment head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Multi-info driver display
• Heater front seats
• 4-speaker sound system
• Push-button start/stop
• Automatic air-conditioning system

Safety

Safety pack comprises 6 airbags (as standard), hill-hold and hill descent control a rear parking camera with sensors, and advanced driver assistance systems. The latter includes - adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, forward collision warning braking, forward collision damage mitigation braking assist, collision damage mitigation braking, and night-time pedestrian detection support.

Engine

Powering the Japan-spec Jimny is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which kicks out a maximum power of 102 PS and a peak torque of 130 Nm. The performance is slightly less compared to the Indian version, however, it is at par with the one we have locally.  

Power is sent to the wheels via a 5-speed manual (not available in Malaysia) or a 4-speed automatic transmission. It is mated to Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro part-time four-wheel-drive system, which comes in three configurations - 2H (for normal speeds on the road), 4H (for off-road driving), and 4L (for navigating rough rocks, mud, and other challenging terrains).

Price

The Suzuki Jimny Nomade price begins at JPY 2,651,000 (RM 76,569) and goes up to JPY 2,750,000 (RM 79,446). For the sake of comparison, Naza Eastern Motors retails the 5-door Jimny at RM 199,950.

Also read: New Suzuki store opens in Penang; 5 more on the horizon