SUV stock challenge
Suzuki New Zealand is struggling to get the levels of stock it wants for the new Jimny 5-door and has launched it with only manual variants because automatic models will not be arriving until months later.
The latest version of the four-wheel-drive joins the fourth generation Jimny 3-door in the marque’s line-up and offers added practicality and enhanced interior space.
Gary Collins, automotive general manager, says the company is confident that once it starts to receive automatic models it can achieve more than 800 sales of the Jimny 5-door this year – “if we can get the stock”.
“Like all Jimny variants, we have been battling to gain the allocations we want for the new 5-door,” he explains.
“This means we will be launching with the manual versions first … Automatics will become available in about three months but we will confirm this once we receive more shipping information.
“We’re actually very comfortable launching with manual only. Since the launch of the 3-door we have sold almost exactly the same number of manuals as autos.”
He adds more than 1,000 people registered their interest in the five-door vehicle ahead of its launch here this month and it is hoped the new model will help improve the marque’s position in the hotly contested compact SUV segment.
There have been more than 3 million Jimny units sold worldwide since it first hit the market in 1970.
Collins says the five-door version adds versatility to the range as it combines off-road performance with the practicality of enhanced access and comfortable seating for four adults.
While the width and height of the Jimny 5-door remain the same as the 3-door, the overall length extends 340mm to 3,820mm body and the wheelbase measures 2,590mm, compared with 2,250mm for the 3-door.
The rear seats benefit from increased thickness and added width, while the luggage area more than doubles from 85 litres to 211L with the rear seats raised. As for the load area, capacity increases to 332L when the rear seats are folded.
Under the bonnet is a four-cylinder, Suzuki K15B multi-point injection engine with a maximum output of 75kW at 6,000rpm and peak torque of 130Nm at 4,000rpm.
When it comes to fuel economy under the three-phase World Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (3P-WLTP), the five-speed manual model achieves 7.1L/100km and the four-stage auto returns 7.7L/100km. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are 165g/km for the manual and 179g/km for the automatic.
On the inside is a larger nine-inch information display that replaces the seven-inch display in the 3-door.
The touchscreen provides live vehicle information, Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity.
Safety features include rear parking sensors and dual camera brake support that recognises vehicles, pedestrians and lane markings. The 5-door also comes in seven body colours, with three of these adding a black roof.
Pricing starts from $40,990 plus on-road costs.
