2009 Suzuki Jimny Sierra Road Test Review

SOMETIMES IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS in life we enjoy the most. Case in point: the Suzuki Jimny Sierra.

It’s existed in fundamentally the same compact two-door layout since 1970. And although today’s third-generation model is far less utilitarian than its ancestors, we’d be way off the mark if we said the current Jimny was cutting edge.

It’s anything but refined, but curiously that’s part of its appeal.

We spent a week with an automatic-equipped Jimny to assess the pros and cons; by the seventh day - after resting and surveying our handiwork (and lo, it was good) - we didn’t want to hand the keys back .

We’ll explain why.

Styling

At 3.6 metres long and 1.6 meters wide, the 2009 Suzuki Jimny is, for want of a better word, rather diminutive for an off-roader.

At 1.7 metres high it’s also quite tall, and the result is a car that looks more like a supersized toy than an actual vehicle. The mini-Jeep styling certainly lends it a rugged air, but the Jimny’s proportions make it look like a cutesy caricature of a much larger four-wheel drive.

The Jimny might not boast the latest in off-roader design, but there are dollops of charm in its perky lines.

It is also full of personality; some will be drawn to it simply for its Bonsai dimensions and enduring style. But that’s not the end of it: there is more behind the Jimny’s lines and styling features than mere aesthetic appeal.

Manoeuvrability is one. The Jimny’s compact size gives it the ability to thread a path through trees as easily as it traverses shopping centre carparks, and the short overhangs endow it with steep approach and departure angles.

The short wheelbase isn’t just an aid for parallel parking, but improves ground clearance and ramp-over angles. It does effect on-road dynamic behaviour, but we’ll touch on that later.

The Jimny is also designed to take light knocks and scrapes in its stride. The entire lower body is clad in colour-coded durable plastic panels, which deform and pop back into shape should a tree trunk or traffic bollard leap out maliciously as you pass.

And though diminutive, it is designed for utility… up to a point. The rear door-mounted spare tyre saves space inside the car (freeing up the back for groceries), and the standard-issue roof rack can carry outsized loads (canoe, St Bernard) up top.

Steel 15-inch wheels are standard, but our car came fitted with the optional five-spoke alloy 15-inchers.

There is also promise of adventure in those flared fenders, and the live axles with their diff housings hint at some serious off road potential. Venture inside, however, and things are a bit adrift of expectations.

The Interior

Is the Jimny’s cabin spartan? Not entirely; there are some creature comforts but it’s all a bit spare.

In a nutshell (like, really “in a nutshell”), it’s cramped. The Jimny’s narrow body leaves little width to play with, putting the occupants shoulder to shoulder, particularly in the back seat.

Twirling the wheel also puts the driver at risk of thumping an elbow on the door trim. You quickly learn to adapt to the space and tuck the arms in when working the wheel.

What’s not so easy to adapt to however is the seating position. The steering column has no adjustment, so some drivers may find it difficult to get comfortable.

The driver’s seat is also mounted very high, and there’s no height adjustment. The upright seating position improves forward visibility when stuck in traffic, or peering over obstacles on a rutted track, but it feels like driving a tractor at times.

Rearward visibility, on the other hand, isn’t so great. The big headrests on the back seats block a lot of the view through the rear window, while the spare tyre overlaps a portion of the glass.

Vision over the shoulder isn’t bad, but in some situations the unusual shape of the B-pillars can hide low objects next to the car.

The front seats lack a little support - they’re a bit thin - but they are reasonably comfortable. The hard urethane headrests, on the other hand, aren’t quite so cosseting.

The back seat comprises a two-person folding bench, which is easily accessed thanks to the sliding and tilting front passenger seat.

Rear seat headroom is tight and you’ll literally be rubbing shoulders with your neighbour. The rear seat itself is flat and hard and long trips can be uncomfortable for any adult passengers there. Having some speco scenery to gaze at will help though, as the large windows give a decent view outside.

Cabin quality leans more to ’tradesman’s ute’ than passenger car (by today’s standards). Anything that isn’t trimmed in fabric or carpet is moulded in either hard plastic or urethane, and the design isn’t the most cohesive you’ll find.

The two alloy-finish trim pieces on each side of the centre stack are a visual link to other vehicles in Suzuki’s stable, such as the SX4 and Grand Vitara, but the interior styling is more about durability and longevity than it is about good looks.

Storage space isn’t exactly generous, but that’s no great surprise considering the Jimny’s compact dimensions. Both doors get map pockets and there’s a handy cubby hole above the glovebox, but aside from a small tray below the centre stack there are no other places to store your stuff.

Two cupholders are offered, but struggle to keep tall bottles upright.

Being a four-seat compact hatchback, boot space is small. There is just 113 litres of luggage room with the 50/50 split rear seats up, and a grand total of 816 litres when folded down.

Equipment and Features

The Jimny is undoubtedly modest motoring, but there are a couple of amenities offered to ease the time spent its small cabin.

Airconditioning is one of them, an AM/FM tuner with MP3-compatible CD player is the other. Power windows and mirrors are a given, as is a 12 volt power outlet in the centre stack.