Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny has remained in production for more than four decades, making space for itself among the longest-running nameplates like the Volkswagen Beetle and the Land Rover Defender. The Japanese carmaker is expected to bring in the fourth-generation Jimny later this year. Soon after its global unveils, the model is also expected to be launched in India too, possibly as the new Gypsy.

Fans of the car have been eagerly looking forward to the new Jimny. Sticking to its roots, this new-generation model will continue to be based on a ladder frame and will come with a 4×4 system. Just like the model on sale currently, it won’t be the most comfortable to drive in the city, but the four-wheel-drive system will surely make it fun to head down the unexplored road. More importantly, the Jimny will now be under 4 metres in length, which means it will make the most of the subsidies that sub-4 metre cars get. This can in fact make it the most affordable 4×4 SUV on sale in India (all other sub-4 metre SUVs are front-wheel drive).

The India-spec model is likely to be offered with a 1.5-litre petrol engine with the choice of a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. Its output would likely remain the same at 105PS and 138Nm. With Maruti working on bringing back its 1.5-litre diesel engine in the BS6 era, it could be an option for the Jimny too. Maruti will likely offer a 4×2 drivetrain on the India-spec Jimny.

All the additional features and improvement in quality is sure to demand a premium, but then the new Jimny will also receive subsidies. Keeping that in mind, we don’t expect it to be priced much different from what it is currently.