Suzuki Jimny the Compact and fun 4×4

We did a thing

Our brand is very much centered around the Landy. The adventures we’ve had in the Landy, the ups and downs in this iconic vehicle and, we’re often sharing tales about the community of likeminded enthusiasts who have welcomed us into the fold but, when we saw the Suzuki Jimny, our first thought was that it looks like a baby Landy – MUST HAVE ONE!

Yes, we love the Landy (we even wrote a blog specially dedicated to it) but, digging deeper into the Suzuki Jimny or, Suzuki Jimmy if you get corrected on Google, we’ve come to the conclusion that when it comes to 4×4’s, you can have two loves. The Landy and the Jimny… the quintessential tough guy when it comes to 4×4’s. Yes, the first thing that drew us to the Suzuki Jimny was that it looks like a baby Landy but, this compact 4×4 stands its own ground when it comes to packing a punch. What had us falling even harder… just like the Landy, it comes with its very own community of enthusiasts who make driving this little beast that much more fun.

Suzuki Jimny the Compact and fun 4×4  & The manly stuff

I’m a woman driver (men, stay with me here), and…truth bomb…it gives me endless amounts of pleasure pointing out to the Man why my 4×4 would batter and subdue his Landy in challenging off-road situations. But, let’s not be overly confident, there’s a reason many have chosen this duo as garage companions, the Landy and the Suzuki Jimny are savage when it comes to kicking up dirt and navigating tough terrain. Where the one can’t go, the other surely can, and vice versa.

But, back to the Suzuki Jimny – what makes this compact 4×4 so popular?

• With its 210mm clearance, the Tok-Tokkie beetle of the Namib desert comes to mind. It climbs steep and slippery hills without breaking much of a sweat, tackles short narrow turns, and shimmies through sandy terrain. Where the Landy sometimes sinks its heavy body in, this little lightweight guy just goes. Eat dirt Landy!
• As far as SUVs/4x4s go, you’re getting a really good deal with the Suzuki Jimny when it comes to affordability.
• That rugged, boxy exterior and utilitarian aesthetic – Ooh La La!
• Have a question? Hop onto any one of the Facebook or WhatsApp groups created for Jimny enthusiasts. People are quick to give solid tips and advice and there’s an awesome sense of community.
• Customizable to match your needs and personality. Accessories galore! Starting out with the roof rack and ladder system from Des Sol, we have only just begun to kit ours out. The ladder, yeah, not so necessary as I am tall enough to reach the top of the vehicle but heck, it looks cool and edgy. Plus, we wanted to support the chaps at Des Sol who came to our rescue when we were hitting the road the next day and wanted to use the Jimny. Space is limited so the chaps at Des Sol came out early that morning to fit the roof rack, this while they were actually closed for December Holidays. Can’t beat that service! We’ll be using them for our suspension kit when the time comes and, we already have our eye on their long-range tank.
• The modern interior offers what you would expect and more from a vehicle in this price range. The infotainment system is a huge flex.

Be gone naysayers!

But there’s so little space. It’s got such a small tank. Shhhhhh. Yeah okay, taking a corner at speed can be frightening. If you think you’re going to inspirit Verstappen moves, you need to come to the hard realization that…it’s an off-roader first and foremost. It’s not meant to hit high speeds on the road, it’s built to tackle rough terrain and impressively so. And as for space, sure, it’s limited but how many vehicles do you know can make a perfectly flat bed space when you put all seats and headrests down?

You either want one, or you don’t. We waited 6 months before we finally took delivery of Simba (you guessed it, the Landy is Mufasa). A photo of a Suzuki Jimny coming in on one of the ships was posted on Facebook and we immediately made contact with Suzuki Hillcrest to book it. The colour we wanted was already snapped up (someone had seen the same post) but, silver was still available and so…

…..the adventure begins.

P.S. Suzuki Jimny owners, keep up that tradition of greeting each other on the road. It’s freaking awesome!