Unlike decades ago, there aren’t as many cars sold outside the US that we crave. The Suzuki Jimny is an exception. While we can’t imagine many American buyers would opt for such a small off-roader, we can’t help but want it. Unlike compact crossovers like the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Renegade, the Jimny is a true old-school off-roader with a stepped chassis and an honest four-wheel drive system.
The Jimny EV teaser is seen at the top right.
The latest Jimny was a huge success in Europe, Japan and elsewhere, and its successor will be electrified. Suzuki announced its roadmap to 2030 on Thursday, and of course, it includes lots of hybrids and EVs. The presentation doesn’t specifically refer to the new Jimny, but slides teasing the future model for Europe tease what is almost certainly the Jimny EV.
Currently, the Jimny uses a 101-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder, although it is offered with a 660 cc turbo three-cylinder in Japan to comply with kei-car regulations. Suzuki just launched Jimny five-door versionwhich will be built by its Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki.
While the five-door electric Jimny has a much broader appeal than the less powerful three-door Jimny, don’t expect to see it coming to America. Suzuki said it would focus on Europe, Japan, India, Africa and Southeast Asia. Notably, the slides from his presentation show that Suzuki will only sell the Jimny EV in Europe. Instead, they’ll get an electric version of the Hustler, a Jimny-inspired crossover.
