Images
1 / 8
Between 2022 and 2023, the fourth generation Suzuki Jimny lived on for a little longer in this LCV van guise. It's just like the chirpy, endearing little SUV Jimny withdrawn from sale in the UK in 2020. And if you're after a go-anyway tiny van, it could just be the one you never knew you wanted.
+ More
History
Like us, you can probably think of quite a few cars that left production far too soon. In the modern era, that's usually because they fail to meet ever-more stringent emissions regulations and such a casualty was the fourth generation Suzuki Jimny small SUV, which launched here at the end of 2018 but stayed on sale in the UK for only 18 months. Turned out its modest 1.5-litre petrol engine was dragging down Suzuki's model range 95g/km CO2 fleet average, so it had to go - and that was that.
Or so we thought. But then someone at Suzuki discovered the 'N1 Light Commercial' vehicle category that covers LCVs under 3.5 tonnes. Models of that sort sold here classified as vans don't contribute to their manufacturers' CO2 fleet average. Other parts of the globe already wanted an LCV-orientated Jimny; why not sell that here? Hence in 2021, the launch of this model, the Jimny LCV. It stayed on sale here until the end of 2023.
+ More
What you get
Visually, the Jimny looks very little different in this LCV guise, a model designed more for the mud than the metropolis. Flared wheel arches, bulky side panels and that spare wheel on the tailgate give it a purposeful look intended to reflect a 'rugged personality'. Longstanding Jimny design cues like round headlights and independent indicators are present and correct and the front grille will be familiar to previous buyers too.
Inevitably, those compact dimensions mean that space is at something of a premium inside. The footwells are tight for instance and the driver and front seat passenger will need to be on friendly terms. The dashboard, with lacks a centre screen, is pretty functional and black plastic predominates around the cabin. The seats are comfortable but not really intended for overly long trips.
The previous couple of seats in the back have of course been removed to create this as a commercial vehicle. To qualify as an LCV, this Suzuki needed at load length of more than 900mm, which required the front seats to be moved forward 10mm. That's created a total usable area of 0.86 m³ - or 863-litres, which is 33-litres more than the old passenger car's boot could offer with the rear seats folded flat.
If you're choosing the Jimny LCV as a commercial vehicle first and foremost, you might be rather disappointed with it because it can only take a modest total load capacity of 863-litres (0.86m3). The old rear seats have been replaced by a mesh-and-steel bulkhead which separates those at the front from the loading area. Unlike most other car derived vans, the rear windows remain in place, which will make filling the loading area to the roof rather precarious idea. You won't be doing that with cargo that's very heavy though because this LCV's payload is limited to 150kg. To give you some perspective, a normal supermini-based van will usually take about half a tonne.
Given that the less-than-environmental emissions showing from this vehicle's 1.5-litre petrol engine was the reason it was withdrawn from the UK market in passenger form, you might expect the running costs offered up here to be rather less than exemplary. Actually, they're not too bad - as ought to be the case from an SUV this light.
+ More
What to look for
We've come across very few dissatisfied owners of this post-2019-era Jimny. The car will probably have been heavily used off-road, so you'll need to thoroughly check it underneath. And make sure there are no undue wobbles and creaks on the test drive. We've come across quite a few reports in other Suzukis about problems with the camera safety kit, so if the variant you're looking at has that fitted, as far as you're able, see if the main functions work as they should. And check out the media functions thoroughly if you've chosen a top 'SZ5' version with the central infotainment screen. Otherwise, it's just the usual things - look out for family damage inside; and insist on a fully-stamped service history.
+ More
Replacement parts
(approx prices based on a 2020 Jimny manual ex VAT) An oil filter costs around £4. An air filter is around £9. Front brake pads sit in the £40 bracket for a set. Front brake discs sits in the £62 bracket. You'll pay around £6-£11 for a pollen filter. Wiper blades cost between £11 and £14.
+ More
On the road
Let's get this straight: if you've no intention of ever going off road, don't bother with this Suzuki. You'll hate it within the first half mile. The low speed ride crashes over bumps and the tall, slab-sided shape rolls its way through the bends. To be fair, this fourth generation version is better in this regard than the pre-2018-era model but that's not saying much. On the plus side, there's only 1,090kg of mass to roll about and the steering does give some sort of idea as to what's going on beneath you. There's a 5-speed manual gearbox and power comes from a 1.5-litre normally aspirated petrol unit offering 101hp and a top speed of just 90mph.
Off road of course, things are very different. It's no exaggeration to say that this little Suzuki can get to places that larger, pricier more sophisticated SUVs couldn't think about. Light weight will do that for you. Suzuki's mission statement with this model line - to make 'the one-and-only, small, lightweight four-wheel-drive vehicle' - remains credible thanks to the engineering that lies beneath that bodywork. You're offered 2WD, 4WD and 4WD with a low mode. And you get a ladder frame chassis, three-link rigid axle coil spring suspension and four-wheel drive. To it has been added extra tech such as Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control, emergency brake support and various driver assistance systems.
+ More
Overall
This LCV version proved to be only a temporary reprieve for the fourth generation Jimny design, but it was a welcome one. In passenger car form, this was the little 4x4 that folk in search of a small SUV ought to have chosen but rarely did. And likewise in van guise, it was roundly ignored by the mainstream market - which was fine because Suzuki's UK importers had only 400 examples to sell until this fourth generation Jimny design really was gone for good.
If, like us, you always rather liked the thought of one, then here's another chance to indulge yourself, even if you didn't really start out looking for a van. All the things that were great about the Jimny in passenger form stay intact here, including its superb off-road prowess. And there's the loading versatility that you might have thought would require a pick-up as a lifestyle addition to your garage. Choose one of these instead. And make your street a cheerier place.
+ More
Find a Review
We have over 500 new and used car reviews to help you find your next car.
Browse reviews and model guides for all makes
