It's finally here! The 5-door Suzuki Jimny has hit the Australian market and I've been one lucky-duck and have had the chance to test drive it for a few days before actually jumping onboard and getitng one myself.
Don't worry, I'm not getting rid of my 3-door Jimny. My partner is actually jumping on the Jimny wheel and getting the 5-door himself, so this will be very exciting in the new year once he receives it!
But back to the 5-door, it has really been a great time test-driving it and I am very keen to share my experience with you all. I think that there are a lot of good reviews out there already, however I feel as so there aren't that many people who can give a genuine review after owning the 3-door Jimny themselves. I hope that this review is able to provide an overview from a Jimny-owner perspective and maybe make you evaluate all the pros and cons before buying a 3- or 5-door Jimny. But with that, let's get into it!
Suzuki Jimny XL (5-door)
Key Specifications
5-door | 3-door |
9-inch multimedia touchscreen with DAB radio, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ | 7-inch Touchscreen with USB connectivity and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ |
Reverse camera and rear parking sensors | Reverse camera |
Dual Camera Brake Support System | Single Break Support System |
N/A | Automatic LED headlights |
4 x speakers | 2 x speakers |
Adaptive Cruise Control (automatic only) | N/A |
Luggage area 12V accessory socket | Luggage area 12V accessory socket |
211L load capacity with all seats in use | 85L with all seats in use (377L with rear seats folded down) |
340mm longer wheelbase |
Ideal option for
Small families wanting more boot space whilst using all 4 seats
Couples or singles wanting more space/put in drawer system for travelling
My thoughts
I will first say that I am impressed with the 5-door in terms of how it drives. It feels more stable than the stock 3-door Jimny and comes with a fantastic head-unit, including wireless Apple Carplay. It doesn't really feel that much longer or slower, considering it comes with the same engine as the 3-door. However, for someone like myself who have upgraded their 3-door Jimny, the weight difference is barely noticeble as my car would probably weight approx. the same as a stock 5-door.
With more boot space and the convenience of not having to put your back seats up and down all the time, the 5-door Jimny functions as an ideal option for those who found the 3-door too small and inconvenient. We found that it fits a 8.5" surfboard with the seats down, enabling you to easily head to the beach without strapping your board on the roof.
I did also notice that the 5-door felt more stable on the road, especially on the highway when a few wind-gusts came by. This is probably one of the biggest critiques the 3-door has received that it does feel a bit unstable going 100km/h and getting hit by wind left and right, so this is something that I found to be a plus considering the added weight of the car of approx. 100kg. Another person did also say that they would have hoped the XL would feature a larger fuel tank, as it comes with the same 40L fuel tank as the 3-door, and I must say that I agree. It would have been better to make this tank XL as well (literally) to play a bit more on that part in terms of upgrading from 3- to 5-door.
Pros
Upgraded head-unit and DAB speakers
More space for passengers and in the boot
Doesn't feel much slower than the 3-door
Fits a surfboard without having to use a roof rack
Feels more stable on the road than the 3-door
Cons
Back seats don't fold down flat
Reverse camera is pretty average
Same engine as the 3-door (would have been great with a turbo)
Longer wheelbase (340mm) = less clearance offroad
Same fuel tank size as 3-door (40L)
Verdict
In comparison to the 3-door, which has been one of Suzuki's most sold vehicles for years now, the 5-door does come with a lot of great features I know that people might prefer in contrast to the 3-door. Although the engine didn't get an upgrade and the seats don't fold down flat in the back, I do find that there is a place for the 5-door for those people who find the 3-door simply to small and inconvenient for everyday use.
Personally, I am really looking forward to owning the 5-door with my partner and install various upgrades, because I believe this car will have a lot of practical components to it where the 3-door just comes in a bit short. You could look into taking out the rear seats of the 5-door and install a personalised drawer set-up, and it does give you more flexibility in that space to use it for longer trips as well.
If you are looking for a 4x4 that doesn't hit the A$60,000+ price mark new and would like a bit more space and flexibility, I think the 5-door might be the perfect option for you. Let's face it, the Suzuki Jimny is iconic and it's all about how you intend to use it.
To sum it all up, the 5-door is here to stay and I believe it will be a great addition to the 4x4 space, providing more people with the option to go out and explore what Australia has to offer at an affordable price.
Let me know in the comment section below what you think of the 5-door Jimny!
You can watch me talk more in-dept about the 5-door Jimny on my YouTube channel here:
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