New Delhi: Do you remember the Gypsy? Question is, have we ever forgotten it at all! While the Gypsy seen today on the streets are being used by Police forces or the Army, it was at one point the flagship SUV. However, since more than 30 years, the production for the Gypsy has been stopped and you cannot buy it anymore. This is odd considering India's love affair with the SUV has only grown today. Also, odd is that India never got the previous generation of the Gypsy which sold the world over as 'Jimny'. That all changed when the new generation Jimny was shown to the world last year. It was newer and more modern which means it complies with the tougher norms plus having all the new features which is expected of newer cars.


Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Thus with a lot of interest for the car generated through media, the Jimny was finally shown at the Auto Expo to get a public opinion. And the message was loud and clear that there would be many takers for this SUV and the buzz was very strong- in-fact it was one of the stars of the show! Hence the good news is that Maruti is bringing this SUV around next year and will sell it through the Nexa sales outlets. It would be a premium lifestyle SUV and a flagship of sorts. But how good is the new Jimny beneath its rather appealing personality? We drove the car to find out.

 Maruti Suzuki Jimny

First thing that shocks you is how small the Jimny actually looks. Yes, the Jimny is probably the smallest SUV in the world. What is interesting is that the new Jimny is actually shorter and at a length of 3.5m plus, it is actually shorter than the Ignis. However what it lacks in length, it makes up with presence and details. It is boxy, squared and looks very cool. It does not look like a crossover at all. It stands tall, has wide shoulders and the wheel-arches plus the cladding adds to the looks. It is simple looking but so desirable. I also love the spare wheel at the back and the 15 inch wheels.

 Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Step inside and it feels small here too. The Jimny is available with three doora and it has a wheelbase of only 2250mm. Thus it has good space for two passengers only while the rear is fit for children. Luggage space is very small too. However, I like the interior design which is tough and feels different from a Swift. The controls, for example, are designed to be used during off-roading and hence have big switches. However, it has all the modern day features including climate control, navigation, rear camera, touchscreen, heated seats etc.

 Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Finally time to drive. The Jimny is available with petrol only and that would be the same for India also. The engine is a 1.5l with 100 bhp while the torque is 130Nm. To drive, the Jimny is lovely from the start. The upright A-pillar is nice and you get a proper SUV like driving feel. But, the steering does not adjust for reach which hampers the driving position a bit.

 Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Back to the driving and the 1.5l petrol is pretty decent and since the Jimny is light, performance is quite good. You need to rev the engine to get the best out of it but the 5-speed manual is nice and slick. There would also be a 4-speed automatic available. As a city SUV, the Jimny rides a bit firmly but the tiny dimensions and SUV visibility makes this superb around town.

However, the real deal is when you get off-road. It has standard four-wheel drive and crucially a ladder frame chassis underneath. This is a proper 4WD with low range option and also you manually select the off-road gears. Plus it has an approach angle of 37 degrees, ramp break-over angle of 28 degrees and a departure angle of 49 degrees. What that means is that you can tackle steep slopes, rocks and what not and nothing will happen. This is actually better than the Rs 60 lakh Jeep Wrangler! What also helps is the small size and you can literally take it everywhere which is brilliant.

In the end the Suzuki Jimny lives up to its hype. It is not the usual SUV but a hardcore SUV that you can also use everyday. If you want features or space get the Brezza. The Jimny is a tough SUV that has a singular mindset of going everywhere and anywhere. In India, we expect a starting price of Rs 10 lakh and at that price there is nothing that can touch it for its off-road ability nor the looks. The Mahindra Thar is too crude to be used everyday unlike the Jimny though mind you there is a new one coming but the Jimny just bowls you over with its appeal. We suspect Maruti will sell a lot of cars here and keep the spirit of the Gypsy alive!

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