Maruti Suzuki’s Jimny, : In a nation where rugged utilitarianism meets practicality on the automotive front, a tiny warrior has emerged from Maruti Suzuki’s stables.
The Jimny is being lovingly referred to as the ‘Little Thar’ by enthusiasts and general populace alike, and somewhat unfairly, the compact SUV carries upon its compact shoulders to meet huge expectations.
But can the little off-roader find its space in a market only getting hungrier for adventure vehicles? Let’s take a deep dive into this pint-sized powerhouse that’s turning heads across the country.
A Legacy Lived Adventurously
The Jimny has a legacy dating back to in 1970, although a lot of Indians might be hearing of this nameplate for the first time.
Internationally, this pint-sized off-roader has cultivated a cult following over five decades, lauded for its no-nonsense approach to wilderness-adjacent activities.
This marks the arrival of the fourth generation of what has been an iconic vehicle, and as expected, it packs in some modern tech while still carrying the same rugged motto.
So when I first laid my eyes on a Jimny in the metal at a dealership in Bangalore, it was the confidence with which the dinky dimensions strutted into the room that stood out.
“It’s like meeting the shorter cousin of the Thar, both of whom are equally self-assured”, quipped Rajesh, a fellow car enthusiast who had joined us on the trip.
The skub-like silhouette, round headlamps, and vertical slats on the front grille are all nods to its utilitarian roots, yet give it a unique personality.
David vs. Goliath: The Thar in our Crosshairs
The comparison with the Mahindra Thar also becomes unavoidable. Both vehicles target the adventure-seeking demographic, both have real off-road credentials, and both carry a certain nostalgic charm. But that’s where the similarities run out.
Park a Thar beside the Jimny and it looks almost toylike. At 3,985mm long, 1,645mm wide, and 1,720mm tall, it’s far more compact than its burly rival.
That smaller footprint means it will be easier to navigate the tight confines of city life, which will come in handy for buyers who want to use their off-roader as a daily driver.
“I needed something functional for my weekend trips to Coorg and practical enough to handle my commutes during the week through Bangalore traffic,” said one of the first Jimny owners I spoke to, Meera Krishnan.
“The Thar was too much for daily use, while the Jimny is the perfect balance of practical yet rugged.”
The approach to the interior is very different, too. As rugged and utilitarian as the Thar is, the Jimny offers a cabin that is more classic Maruti Suzuki but there are subtle elements in here that remind you of the vehicle’s adventurous variant.
The layout of the dashboard will remind you of other recent Marutis, with some clever storage solutions and controls within reach of the driver.
Heart of the Matter: Your Performance Credentials
The Jimny’s short, squared-off bonnet houses the familiar 1.5-litre K-series unit with 103 bhp and 134 Nm of torque.
On paper these figures look underwhelming against the Thar’s more robust powertrains, but context is everything here.
Over a long test on the mountainous roads outside Lonavala, we discovered the Jimny’s poise. Weighing in at just 1,195 kg means it maintains a competitive power-to-weight ratio.
A five-speed manual transmission is satisfied to do the switching, while a four-speed automatic (lesser in terms of technology) is in the mix but adds slick gear adjustments.
But what really delivers the Jimny’s great off-road capabilities is the genuine 4×4 system complete with a transfer case with 2H, 4H and 4L modes.
Add in an impressive approach angle of 37 degrees, a breakover angle of 28 degrees, and a departure angle of 49 degrees, and this tiny machine can get over stuff that would stump bigger vehicles.
“It’s like a mountain goat on terrain where horses would fall” veteran off-road trainer Kabir Singh observed, after putting the Jimny through a hard course. “The short wheelbase and tight overhangs give it an agility that’s hard to beat.”
Morality: The Everyday Practicality of the Compromise Equation
Adventure vehicles usually require some compromises in day-to-day usability, and the Jimny is no exception. The rear seats, which are fine for short trips, would test the patience of adult passengers on longer journeys.
When all four seats are in use, however, boot space is absolutely nonexistent (85 liters) — just enough for a couple of backpacks.
But with the rear seats folded, the 377 liters offers more practical cargo space more than enough for bags for a weekend getaway or the monthly grocery run.
Inside, the cabin has features like multiple grab handles, ruggedized materials, and water-resistant upholstery that can handle muddy boots and wet gear.
Fuel efficiency, another of Maruti’s traditional strong points, doesn’t disappoint either.
Over the course of the week, I managed just under 14 km/l in mixed driving with the Jimny, which are respectable figures for an SUV of this sort.
While a lot of the modern conveniences have made their way to the frontier, there is always some rugged simplicity to be found.
The equipment list tips a tightrope between modern comforts and keeping the Jimny where it spends the majority of its time.
Top-end variants get a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system in support of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, cruise control, and LED headlamps.
Dual airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program, hill-hold and hill-descent control, and ISOFIX child seat anchors are among the safety features.
Both on and off-road utility and driver protection also gets a lift from the strong ladder-frame chassis and three-link rigid axle with coil springs.
What you won’t find here are panoramic sunroofs, ventilated seats, or wireless charging pads.
This purposeful exclusion of luxury flourishes helps keep the Jimny a purpose-built machine and not a tool for making the style statement.
Market Positioning: The Price Formula
However, Maruti Suzuki has positioned the Jimny smartly; its prices start from around ₹12.74 lakh and go as high as ₹15.05 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-of-the-line Alpha variant with an automatic transmission.
This pricing puts it well below the Thar, which prices around the ₹15 lakh mark and can go as high as ₹17 lakh for top-spec variants.
This price gap has left a void in Indian market, which the Jimny fills perfectly. It has a whole universe that it is now appealing to, from first-time off-road enthusiasts who find the Thar a bit too much for them money-wise, to urbanite adventure seekers in search of a weekend escape machine, to families looking for a second car with character.
“We are seeing interest from different demographics,” said Sanjay Mehta, a Maruti dealership manager in Delhi. “College professors, young IT professionals, retired military personnel — the Jimny appears to transcend conventional market segments.”
The Competition Landscape
Apart from the natural rival to the Thar, the Jimny will also compete with small crossovers and compact SUVs like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, and even its cousin, the Brezza. None of them are true 4x4s, but they make up for it with greater passenger comfort, more modern features, and better on-road manners.
The Force Gurkha is another niche off-roader, but its limited dealership network and poor service network have limited its reach mostly to hardcore enthusiasts.
That may put the Jimny in a fairly enviable position — real off-roader underpinnings in a package that takes it above specialized 4x4s, but below mass-market SUVs in accessibility and practicality, and one whose character the latter can’t hold a candle to.
Experience the Jimny: Owner Experiences
After talking to a few early adopters, I noticed certain commonalities in their ownership experience.
Many lauded the car’s ability to revolutionise weekend jaunts, opening up previously unreachable spots without the brawn and thirst of larger off-roaders.
My weekend drives used to end where the tarmac did,” quipped Vishnu Prasad, who swapped his hatchback for a Jimny three months ago.
Now they begin there. Last month, I arrived at a waterfall that I had previously only glimpsed in Instagram photos.”
Common complaints surrounded the cramped rear space, fundamental NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels on the motorways, and the time-worn auto transmission derivative.
But most owners seemed to regard these limitations as reasonable trade-offs given the core strengths of the vehicle.
Small Box, Big Punch
The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is one of the increasingly rare new vehicles — one designed to be more than nothing, and in trying to be everything, not achieving anything.
That unabashed focus on capability over comfort, function over form, experience over excess, makes it a breath of fresh air on Indian roads.
The “Little Thar” is more cost-effective way to get into an authentic off-road experience with all the sacrifices of a massive 4×4.
It may be a small package, but the dreams it unlocks — adventure, freedom, travel, discovery — are anything but small.
With Indian consumers progressively looking at a vehicle as an extension of their personality and aspirations, rather than just a transportation appliance, the Jimny is all set to create a fan club of its own.
Market size and status-obsessed, this small warrior reminds us that the greatest adventures come in the tiniest of packages.
