Maruti has finally launched the much-awaited Jimny in India. But should you buy a Maruti Suzuki Jimny? What are the Jimny pros and cons? Is it better than the Mahindra Thar? Is it worth buying?
I know all these questions must be running in your mind. And in this article, I am going to answer them all.
So let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Should I Buy Maruti Suzuki Jimny?
No, you should not buy a Maruti Suzuki Jimny. It is a great car but it does not seem to offer value for money.
The launch of the Jimny must have left you asking this question. However, you should not make a decision in haste.
No doubt, Maruti Suzuki Jimny is a great off-roader. But it also has its fair share of disadvantages that lower its overall value for money quotient. And you should choose a Mahindra Thar instead.
Wondering why I am saying this?
Let’s look at the Maruti Suzuki Jimny’s pros and cons and you will know it yourself.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny Pros And Cons
Every SUV has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. And Maruti Suzuki Jimny is also not perfect. So let’s look at its good and bad sides and then you can decide if it’s worth buying or not.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny Disadvantages
The disadvantages of Maruti Jimny are:
1. Road Presence
2. Engine Options
3. Performance
4. No RWD
5. Build Quality
6. Space
7. Basic Features
8. Expensive
Let’s look at its negative points one by one.
1. Road Presence
Do you know why Mahindra Thar is such a hit in the Indian Market?
It is because of its road presence. People love the feeling when other people turn their heads just to see their cars. In fact, many people bought the Mahindra Thar for just the way it looks and for the macho appeal that it offers.
And this is the only reason that Mahindra has come up with the Thar RWD variant to entice more customers. You can by the way check out my Mahindra Thar RWD review below, if you want.
However, when it comes to the Maruti Jimny then it simply does not offer the same road presence. You put the two cars side by side and you will know this.
The massive road presence that Thar offers at its price point is simply amazing. So you won’t get that macho appeal or a lot of head turns in the Jimny.
2. Engine Options
Maruti Suzuki Jimny is only available with a 1.5L petrol engine which is naturally aspirated. Therefore if you like the pull that diesel engines offer then you will get disappointed. Because there is no diesel engine on offer.
On the other hand, Mahindra Thar comes with both petrol and diesel engine options.
3. Performance
The 1.5L non-turbocharged petrol engine of Suzuki Jimny is good for producing a maximum power of 103 Bhp. And it churns out a maximum torque of 134 Nm.
These power figures are nowhere closer to the power figures of Mahindra Thar.
Having said that, you will not feel that Jimny is underpowered while doing off-roading. Because you will be basically running at very low speeds.
But once you take it on the highways then you will feel its engine struggling to maintain the triple-digit speeds. You will definitely have to think twice before overtaking any vehicle on the highway.
Therefore, if performance is what you are looking for then Mahindra Thar is the option for you. Because its petrol engine produces a maximum power of 150 Bhp and a peak torque of whopping 320 Nm.
In fact, when I talked to the owner of Thar then he told me that he even pulled out a bus with it. You can watch the video below if you want.
Maruti should have definitely offered a more powerful engine on the Jimny.
4. No RWD
Like the Mahindra Thar RWD, there is no two-wheel drive option available with Suzuki Jimny. Whether you do off-roading or not, you will have to settle with its 4×4 variant.
If you don’t do off-roading but like the Jimny looks then you will have to unnecessarily shell out the money for a 4×4 transmission. This is not the case with Mahindra Thar because it is also available with a two-wheel drive variant.
5. Build Quality
Do you know what enhances the macho appeal of the Thar? It’s build quality.
Mahindra Thar not only looks tough and strong but it actually has a very good build quality. And when you close its door you can actually feel it. It comes with a 4-star safety rating.
On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki Jimny does not look as strong and rugged. And like other Maruti cars, it does not give you that confidence when you close its door.
In fact, you will be surprised to know that Jimny weighs a whopping 500 kgs less than the Mahindra Thar.
6. Space
When you put Maruti Jimny next to the Mahindra Thar then you can see that the Jimny is a little smaller in size. And this smaller size has resulted in a less spacious cabin.
Mahindra Thar does not offer an ample amount of space in the first place but it surely offers more of it as compared to the Jimny.
You get less knee room and rear seat space in the Jimny as compared to Thar.
7. Basic Features
Suzuki Jimny only offers basic features. So if you like to have many features in your car then you should probably look at a compact SUV instead.
A compact SUV will offer you way more features. And if you know the best time to buy a car in India then you can get these features at a low cost than Maruti Jimny.
8. Expensive
Keeping all the disadvantages of the Maruti Jimny in mind, you would expect that it would cost way less than the Thar, right?
But this is not the case, since Thar is also offered in the RWD variant, therefore it cost way less than the base model of Jimny.
If we compare the 4×4 base variants of both cars then also there isn’t much difference between the prices of the two cars. And this, I think, makes the Maruti Suzuki Jimny expensive compared to Thar.
You can check out the prices of Jimny in your city here.
Maruti Jimny Advantages
The advantages of Maruti Suzuki Jimny are:
1. Off-Road Capabilities
2. 5 Doors
3. Sales And Service
4. Standard Safety Features
5. Fuel Efficiency
Let’s look at its positives one by one.
1. Off-Road Capabilities
There is no doubt that Maruti Suzuki Jimny can put big brands to shame when it comes to off-roading.
It is a very capable off-roader and in some areas, it can do even better than the Mahindra Thar. But it does not mean that Thar is a less capable off-roader. You can watch our Mahindra Thar off-road test video below to see Thar in action.
So if you mainly want to go off-road then you can definitely consider Jimny.
2. 5 Doors
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Mahindra Thar is its 4 door setup. Because of this, you just cannot use it as a family car.
However, this is not the case with Maruti Jimny. It comes with 5 doors. Therefore you can use it as a family car if you want. Rear-seat passengers can easily get in and get out of the Jimny as compared to Thar.
3. Sales And Service
When you are buying a Maruti car then it is needless to say that you will get a great after-sales service.
Because of the huge dealership and service network of the Maruit, it does not matter which part of India you live in, you will get a service center near you.
4. Standard Safety Features
Maruti Suzuki Jimny comes equipped with a set of standard safety features across all of its trims. Therefore even in the base model of the Jimny, you will get the following features:
- 6 airbags
- ABS & brake assist
- Electronic stability control
- EBD
- Rear camera
- Hill descent control
- Hill assist, etc.
5. Fuel Efficiency
Like other Maruti cars, you can expect good overall mileage from the Jimny. You will obviously get low mileage while doing off-roading. But you will definitely get good mileage in the city and on the road.
However, to know its mileage, you should know how to check the mileage of a car. And checking mileage involves a little bit of calculation. But you can always use a car mileage calculator if you want.
Is Jimny Good For Long Drive?
No, Jimny is not good for long drives. It comes with an underpowered engine, less cabin space, and less boot space, which makes it not so good for long drives.
When it comes to long drives then there are a number of factors that you need to keep in mind.
- Performance: Long drives involve a lot of highway driving as well. Therefore you need a powerful engine not only to maintain high cruising speed but to overtake smoothly as well. And the engine of the Maruti Jimny simply falls short in doing this. It feels underpowered on the highway.
- Cabin Space: Long drives means that you will be spending a lot of time in the car. So its cabin should be spacious enough to cover long-distance comfortably. However, the cabin of Jimny is not that spacious and even two healthy adults will feel a lack of space in the rear seat.
- Boot Space: Long drives also involve a lot of suitcases and things, right? So you need good boost space in the car to accommodate all your stuff. And Jimny again falls short on this, it has a very compact boot space.
Is Suzuki Jimny A Good First Car?
No, Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not a good first car. It is a good overall package but it is not a car that you should buy as your first and only car.
As discussed, Maruti Suzuki Jimny comes with its own set of disadvantages. And if you are thinking of buying it as your first car then it means that it will also be your only car for the near future.
And if you only want to own a single car then purchasing a compact SUV will make more sense. It will offer you more features, more comfort, and will cost significantly lesser. Overall, a compact SUV will offer you more value for your money.
Therefore buying the Suzuki Jimny as a first car does not make sense.
Is the Jimny Worth Buying?
No, Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not worth buying. If you want a everyday car then you should go for a compact SUV. And if you want a car for off-roading then you should buy Mahindra Thar instead.
I think there is a lot of room for improvement in the Maruti Jimny. And it is not worth buying as of now.
It is a good car but it does not seem to offer an overall package that an average Indian wants.
Having said that, if you want a car mainly for off-roading and are frustrated with the waiting period of Mahindra Thar then you can definitely opt for the Maruti Suzuki Jimny.
It is a great off-roader and there is no doubt about that. But when it comes to everything else then it kind of falls short.
FAQs
Is The Jimny Underpowered?
Yes, Jimny definitely feels underpowered on the highway. It is powered by a 1.5L non turbo charged petrol engine which produces almost the same power as a hatchback.
Is The Jimny A Good Car?
Yes, Maruti Suzuki Jimny is a great car when it comes to off roading.
Can Suzuki Jimny Be A Daily Driver?
Yes, you can use Maruti Jimny for daily commuting.
Is Jimny Good For Highway Driving?
No, Jimny is not good for highway driving. It feels underpowered on the highway.
How Many People Can Fit In A Jimny?
Only 4 people can fit in the Maruti Suzuki Jimny.
