Suzuki’s delightful Jimny Safari is your passport to summer fun.
Consider it a ticket to adventure, focussed on a couple or a couple of mates. Ignore the rear seat, make use of the very handy insert tub that sits atop the seats when folded down. Throw a couple of ‘tanker’ roll bags of gear and a tent on the roof. Pop a chilly bin in the tub for essentials like beer or wine (for after the drive), fruit and of course chocolate – or actual food if really necessary.
Pack up on a Thursday and get out of town Friday afternoon after work. Post lockdown, after Delta, just get away for the weekend and switch off your phones as you go.
Suzuki’s Jimny Safari is the perfect weapon for adventure weekend on or off the road.
Have a look under the front end: yes, that is a live axle front diff. Look inside and see a proper lever to choose ratios and drive options from the transfer case.
People who complain they ‘couldn’t possibly drive a manual’ need to look away now: this wee truck is a five-speed job with three pedals, and it’s great. Low range, manual and a little assistance from a driver-selectable hill descent control. This manual transmission and the Jimny’s diminutive size make it a great drive in the bush and an engaging experience touring to and from your adventure.
The tall roof and big ‘glasshouse’ mean visibility all around is unmatched and with the rear door-mounted spare tyre peeking over the bottom of the rear window you know exactly where the back of the vehicle is. No need for park distance control or a reversing camera. The side windows start low down, meaning it’s easy to park in town – the driver sits ‘on’ the vehicle to some extent – and it’s then equally simple to gauge where the wheels are when canyoning down a rutted track.
Likewise, the bonnet is squared-off and gives a clear indication of where the front corners are.
The ARB rack is small but perfectly proportional to the size of the Jimny. It’s rated for 30kg – so will take two mountainbikes or one and a half e-bikes for those who are that way inclined. It’s basket-styled so easy to throw gear at and easier still to throw a cargo net and tiedowns over.
The Jimny’s design pays tribute to Suzuki’s original LJ50 and LJ80 without being overtly retro.
There are plenty of styling cues in the new model that evoke the LJs but not in any fakey ‘urban SUV’ way.
The big comparison we can point to is what Suzuki did when it brought the Swift to market, creating a cult following based around a great chassis and mechanicals and a cheeky design language. The Swift quickly became a runaway success for the company, and equally quickly became the focus of a passionate crew of owners who all sought to add their own touch to their cars – alloys, stripes, graphics, body kits were everywhere.
This wee gem shows every sign of going the same way because Suzuki has bravely adhered to the original concept. Add in the Safari pack and a stonkingly good price and it’s hard to say no.
So for those who are in the market: grab one, make sure it’s a manual, and kit it out to suit the planned adventure. Then get out of town.
