Made-In-India Maruti Suzuki Jimny Hits Booking Milestone In Japan - Why Isn’t It As Popular In India?

Maruti Suzuki recently launched the 5-door Jimny in the land of the rising sun, Japan. The Japanese-spec model has been named the ‘Jimny Nomade’. In comparison with the one sold on our shores, it gets a few extra features, a slightly tweaked interior and some new colours. Just four days after its launch in Japan, it recorded 50,000 bookings forcing the automaker to temporarily halt the bookings for the SUV. For those of you who want to take a closer look at the Jimny that is being sold in Japan, check out this story. 

It is nice to see the made-in-India Jimny already attract such high demand in another country! However, things are not quite similar in India, and the Jimny is not as popular and well-received on our land. In this report, we take a look at what makes the Jimny special and also why we are not able to give it the love that it deserves. Are we as Indians still not appreciating good cars? Are we failing to appreciate a very capable SUV? Let’s understand the same better: 

Maruti Jimny - What Makes It Appealing

The Jimny is an SUV that has a cult following worldwide and is one of the most capable lightweight off-road SUVs out there. Its quirky styling and cute boxy design make it stand out amongst many similarly priced SUVs. It is not very flashy and stands out in a quieter manner. Its compact dimensions make it ideal for driving in city conditions, especially in metro cities where it's difficult to find a parking spot. 

At just about 1200 kgs, the Jimny combines its lightweight body with impressive off-roading hardware to make it a very capable off-roader. It comes with 4x4 right from the base variant onwards. In fact, it is one of the best off-roaders in our country at a very affordable price. 

With no complicated powertrains, and just a reliable and pocket-friendly 1.5-litre petrol engine, the Jimny seems to be a durable option to consider. Its interior has a rugged feel to it and comes with all the essential features that you would need on a daily basis. 

Additionally, the Jimny is available in some very attractive colours in India, including an eye-catching yellow shade and a stealthy bluish-black hue which makes it look like a mini G-Wagen from the rear end! (A bit of an exaggeration, but why NOT!)

Maruti Jimny - When Your Strength Can Become Your Weakness! 

Overall, the Jimny has its fair share of strengths, but some of its strengths are also its weaknesses and that could possibly make buyers less attracted towards the Jimny in India. 

In India, we have plenty of subcompact SUVs in the Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh price range. Arguably these SUVs are more family-friendly than the Jimny and offer more comfort on a day-to-day basis. Yes, they might not be as capable or rugged as the Jimny, but that’s not what most buyers are looking for. These front-wheel drive SUVs also offer more features and powertrain options giving the buyer a wider range of options to choose from. 

Talking about the powertrain, the Jimny’s 1.5-litre engine is reliable and trustworthy, but its closest rival, the Mahindra Thar comes with the option of a more powerful turbo-petrol engine and a capable diesel engine as well. While you do not need an off-roader for drag races, the Thar feels quicker and more exciting to drive. 

Yes, the Jimny’s exterior has a charm of its own, but many Indians prefer size over cuteness. The Thar’s larger dimensions take the preference here and satisfy the buyers’ desire to own a more macho and larger SUV. 

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What Could Help The Jimny’s Case

Jimny’s sales have risen slightly in the last 2-3 months, but it still is far from being the preferred choice among the audience. The Jimny is currently priced from Rs 12.74 lakh to Rs 15.05 lakh, which makes it slightly expensive when compared to its rivals. So a price drop along with a longer list of features could actually make the Jimny witness a greater demand, and cater to a wider audience. 

Rivals 

In India, the Jimny competes with similarly priced subcompact SUVs such as the Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO. It also faces competition from the similarly priced Mahindra Thar 3-door as well as from the larger off-roaders like the Force Gurkha, and the Mahindra Thar Roxx. 

Who Should Buy The Jimny? 

We believe that the Maruti Jimny is for someone who already has a family car and is looking for something more unique and fun. It can also make for an interesting buy if you do not have a large family and want an SUV which is capable of standing out without making a big fuss. 

The Jimny is also among the best, probably after the (lord) Alto and Gypsy when it comes to driving on the narrow mountain roads. Its compact size enables it to squeeze in tight spaces and it’s also a very capable SUV in snowy conditions where the best of vehicles get stuck. 

Modifications have no limit for an SUV like Jimny! From performance mods like slapping in a turbo engine to making tasteful exterior changes that can give the cute little car a more gangster appeal, there is crazy potential with the Jimny.  

Moreover, the Jimny arguably is among the top off-roaders in India, so all the enthusiasts out there who dare to take the road less travelled can also consider opting for a capable mini SUV like the Jimny. Here is our video of how the Jimny is giving a tough fight to off-road SUVs that offer a lot more in terms of power and are also a lot more expensive. 

What do you think about the Maruti Jimny? Let us know in the comments below.