Suzuki Jimny 1.3 JLX Review

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Suzuki Jimny 1.3 JLX
3.9 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.9 out of 5

From 11 ratings and 23 reviews

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rallymad03's Review of Suzuki Jimny 1.3 JLX

12th Dec 2006

Overall Rating

1.5 stars
  • Value for money
    1 stars
  • Length of ownership
    1 Year
  • Performance
    2 stars
  • Reliability
    1.5 stars
  • Year Manufactured
    2000
  • Doors
    3
  • Practicality
    2 stars
Good Points

Fun car with bags of personality.
Basic off-road use is good
It copes well as long as the standard tyres are replaced.


Bad Points

Fuel consumption is painful to the wallet.
Reliability is poor.
Various underbody items fail with no real testing.
Various problems seem to characterise the Jimny, including King Pin failure.
On the road the car is noisy - 3800rpm at 70mph.


General Comments

This really did put a smile on my face for the first few months of owning it. Easy to drive and a HUGE personality, both on and off road.

Off-road, the Suzuki Jimny went well, although in 4WD, understeer is a major problem, so unless in serious muck, 2WD is best. The on-road capabilities is its downfall. There is no grip - at all. The car rolls around like an over-inflated bouncy castle, and when the petrol tank is 1/2 empty the back end jumps out if you're a touch enthusiastic.

Fuel wise, the best I had was 34mpg on a long run not going over 60mph, basically pacing trucks. Worst was 16mpg when I was enthusiastic but not daft.

The interior build quality was appalling. Lots of rattles and squeaks, made even worse by off-roading. The mechanicals of the vehicle are also poor. Its major problem is the King Pin Bearing on the front of the vehicle. This fails on most Jimny's after 40000 miles. I also had problems with a front ball joint. The seal failed, emptied the oil and seized. The front CV joints were also worn on the drive shafts. The catalytic converter also went; costing £500 to replace as there were no after-market products available. The back box also went - again no after-market products and another £100. So £600 for a full system, and God knows how much on other things - I had to stop caring. This, on a car that was 4 years old and I owned for a year!

DO NOT BUY ONE unless you're prepared to fix the thing. If you want a 4x4 for on road, get a Nissan or something similar. For off-road get a Landrover Defender!

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Members' Comments onrallymad03's Review

  • Agnikul Rank: Corporal on 16th Dec 2008

    I disagree with this review because I have put the Jimny through very tough use over three years and 44000 miles and so far nothing has broken down. No problems - zilch.
    I get an average 35mpg in mixed town, country and mud path driving therefore our fuel consumptions are not dissimilar.
    The low gear 4x4 function is very simple and efficient. The low 4x4 gears behave exactly as low gears are supposed to.

  • Murupert on 15th Jan 2009

    My Jimny is 5 years old with 41,000m on the clock. Had it in for a yearly service and was told that the front nearside(UK lefthand) cv joint was knackered so thought I would have a look at it myself. After striping the front axle down I found that BOTH bottom kingpin bearings were crumbling rusted ruins, the steering knuckle oil seals completely shot and the knuckles themselves scored and rusty. Serves me right for not doing my own maintainance..