Suzuki needs to produce more variants of the Jimny

AS WE head into the last quarter of the year, the launch I’m most looking forward to is the Suzuki Jimny Sierra. The pint-sized off-roader gets a new body and powertrain for 2019, yet it retains its ladder chassis, live axles and dual-range transfer case, so it should remain a great little 4x4.

Suzuki has already shown the new Jimny to the world, but it won’t be on sale here until early next year. The new three-door body is as boxy as ever, boxier than the last model in fact, and it just looks like a 4x4 should: functional and built for purpose, despite its size.

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Suzuki has a long history of great four-wheel drive vehicles, starting with the tiny two-stroke LJ models right up to the new car. Most of them have been two-door soft- or hard-top vehicles, and there were a few long wheelbase and cab-chassis variants along the way. The LWB cab-chassis was called the Stockman, and it’s still a farmer’s favourite thanks to its off-road ability, functionality, simplicity, light weight and durability.

We reckon Suzuki would be on a winner if it replicated the ute in the new model. In fact, we reckon Suzuki could really use the interest in this new Jimny Sierra to launch a family of great little 4x4 wagons and utes. Think back to when Jeep launched the JK Wrangler in 2006.

The Wrangler had almost always been a SWB two-door soft-top, but when Jeep launched the JK it also debuted a four-door Unlimited version built on a long wheelbase, it re-engineered the removable hard-top to make it more versatile, and a diesel engine was even fitted to it.

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These new variants of the iconic Wrangler proved to be a sales boon for Jeep, and they sold a heap of them. Here we are about to see the JL Wrangler succeed the JK in Australia, and Jeep will even be adding a double-cab pick-up to the mix.

Imagine a LWB Jimny with four doors to make it more applicable to family use; and single- and double-cab Stockman utes with a little diesel engine in them would be popular with both families and farmers. A whole family of new Jimnys would reinvigorate the name plate by appealing to a much wider buying audience.

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This would spark a new breed of Suzuki enthusiasts modifying them to suit their needs, in-turn fuelling the aftermarket industry to produce products for them. It would be a win-win situation for buyers, the industry and the manufacturer. So what do you reckon, Suzuki? What else have your engineers and designers got on their notepads and wish lists?