SUZUKI JIMNY COMMERCIAL

Suzuki Jimny Commercial

Recently, along with a bunch load of other motoring writers, I was invited down to Cardiff to celebrate Suzuki’s 101st anniversary.

It was a great couple of days exploring Suzuki’s wide range of products, from 300bhp outboard engines to ATVs. But my personal highlight was when I drove to the middle of Walters Arena for the offroad part of the day only to be confronted with 3 brand new and unregistered Jimny Commercials that sat ready and primed for us to drive - each with less than 50 miles on the clock!

Now, as much as I wanted to explore the off-road route in the Vitara and SXCross, the was no way I was going to pass on the opportunity to get the Jimny dirty!

Step inside the commercial and the first thing you’ll notice is the lack of rear seats, obviously, and behind the front seats sits a sturdy partition grille to separate and protect the front seat occupants from anything that isn’t tied down in the back. I found that it does limit how far you can slide the front seats back, though.

Up front the interior is clutter-free but practical with lots of easily wiped-clean surfaces. Creature comforts include a DAB radio with CD player, a two-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, USB connection, electric front windows, cruise control with speed limiter, a digital clock and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

One of the many things I respect Suzuki for is that they don’t shy away from offering exceptional value for money, and the wealth of safety kit that’s standard with the Jimny is a fine example.

The list includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist, high beam assist, side impact protection beams, electronic stability programme, hill hold and hill descent assist, dual sensor brake support that applies automatic brakes to help avoid a collision, a tyre pressure monitoring system, eCall and airbags. Oh, yeah, there is also an immobiliser, a security alarm, locking wheel nuts and remote central door locking for added protection.

In the back there is nothing but space, 863 litres of it, and it has a flat floor for convenience. E

verywhere else, it’s identical the 5-seat model that was sadly discontinued in the UK last year due group emissions. There’s only one trim level available, and it’s powered by the same 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 101PS and 130Nm of torque and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The Jimny Commercial has a maximum speed of 90mph and, according to official figures under WLTP testing, it can deliver a combined 36.7mpg with carbon emissions of 173g/km.

Being unregistered we couldn’t take them on the open road, but I have no reason to doubt they’d be any different to the 5-seater model I drove last year. If you haven’t read any of my previous Jimny reviews, let me just stay that the Jimny is certainly far more comfortable and refined than previous models. That said, you do need to give tight bends a degree of respect, and the engine, road surface and wind noise can get quite vocal at higher speeds.

Thankfully, the addition of a new set of tyres fitted to slightly wider rims does make the world of difference to its on-road manners, it feels much more stable and offers you heaps more confidence around corners.

When it came to getting the Jimny commercial dirty, the guys at Suzuki and Walters Arena had created a decent enough off-road route, but we wanted more! After everyone had left, friend and colleague from the Yorkshire Times, Andy asked if they could take us around some of the more difficult sections that the Arena had to offer. They kindly obliged.

Being lightweight and tipping the scales at just over a tonne, there’s always a temptation to drive the Jimny like you stole it, it’s great fun and rather than getting bogged down, bounces everywhere - it’s a tough little thing. But it’s also unstoppable when you take your time, and from boggy wooded tracks, rocky paths, deep muddy puddles and slippery inclines, it took it all in its stride, but that’s what a Jimny does best.

Andy and I spent a further 45 minutes not only being astounded at where the Jimny took us, but apologising to it for the abuse it was getting!

Being classed as an LCV, this Jimny model comes with attractive savings for business buyers who will have a standard Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) charge for the first year that is set at £275. The Benefit in Kind rating is based on a standard flat rate of £3,500.

I really do feel for Suzuki UK, they have a vehicle that they can sell in the bucket loads, but for whatever reason they can only get their hands on a limited number. If only Suzuki would fit their 1.4 litre Boosterjet engine and 6-speed gearbox into the Jimny, not only would it make it a more capable road going 4x4, but it would also meet the tight emission rules that killed the 5 seater last year.

Whatever the case, the Jimny Commercial is going on sale very soon, priced from around £20, 000 including VAT.

If you are interested, it’s highly advisable to get in line now as just 500 units will be available in the UK this year, and they are likely to be snapped up in record time.