Maruti Jimny: A Proper Off-roader That You Can Actually Use Daily!

We all know Maruti Jimny is a competent off-roader. But usually, off-roaders tend to be a niche, with limited useability beyond their designated ability. But this is where the Jimny comes in a form of its own. This is an off-roader that you can actually use on a daily basis – be it for your office commutes or your grocery runs. It’s a weekend car that you won’t mind driving around in on the weekdays with your friends and family. But what exactly gives Jimny those credentials? We took it out and around the offbeat and uncharted routes around Pune and here’s what we found out:

Bigger isn’t always better

The Maruti Jimny is what you call a car with deceptive looks. At first glance, it might seem like a big SUV, but it is anything but. With a length of just under 4 metres, maneuvering the Jimny in the tight confines of the city is a cakewalk. And despite the compact dimensions, you get a high seating position, courtesy of its ground clearance and tall stance. As a result, you have a higher seating position over almost everything else on the road, giving you a good view on the outside. 

This not only makes the Jimny easy to drive, but also a practical option for the city, especially in cramped and narrow-laned towns.

Form and function combined

Looks are subjective. But it's safe to say, the Jimny’s design works – literally. Not only does the Jimny leave a striking first visual impression, thanks to rugged and modern styling cues, but it also has function to it. Those super short overhangs have been designed with approach and departure angles in mind, allowing the Jimny to go over the toughest of obstacles without a sweat. The high ground clearance offers a great breakover angle without disrupting the look of the car. Form and function done right.

Plenty function

In search of a picturesque spot, our uncharted adventure took us to a few tricky trails. And while the commanding position and narrow dimensions made it easy to tackle those hurdles, Jimny’s 4x4 system further made things even easier. Maruti’s All grip 4x4 system with the low range mode engaged would only take an absolute rookie to get stuck. And if you somehow do, getting unstuck isn’t at all hard (in the right hands). 

Check out: Maruti Jimny specs

Powertrain-wise, there’s a sole 105PS 1.5-litre engine on offer, available with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Admittedly, it won’t offer you any performance thrills whatsoever, but is good enough for the job at hand. Also, in standard mode, the Jimny is driven using the rear wheels only, so you can have some slow speed sideways fun in it as well!

Off-road = On-road?

Okay, while the Jimny might not be equally good off- and on-road, it does come surprisingly close to bridging that gap. Unlike a usual offroader which can be a stiff affair for city usage, Maruti has managed to nail this balance in the Jimny. It keeps you comfortable with a pleasant ride and even body roll is fairly controlled and you won’t have any grouse with the way it handles in city confines. And thanks to its off-road cred and body-on-frame chassis, you can take it over bumps and unpaved sections that other cars might have to avoid. Even its highway manners are praiseworthy in the way it maintains its composure.

Split personality

The Jimny, without a doubt, is a car that’s made for adventure and off-roading thrills. But while it conquers those aspects fairly well, it does have another underlying side to it. A side that'll keep you comfortable in the city as well. It ticks off two critical boxes – Off-roading cred ✅ and city usability ✅ – something its peers can’t do to a similar extent. It’s a car that’ll nudge you to drive it whenever you see it parked in your driveway or garage. It’ll nudge you to take the road not taken and explore trails you otherwise wouldn’t have. Last, but not least, it won’t nudge you for those grocery runs, but will keep you comfortable when you ask for it.

Also Read: 5 Brand New Maruti Suzuki ICE-powered Cars Inbound By 2031

So yes, the Maruti Jimny is indeed an off-roader that you can drive daily – without any real compromises!