Will 5-Door Maruti Suzuki Jimny Also Get A 2WD Variant Like Mahindra Thar?

There’s automotive news and then there’s news about the upcoming Jimny. Not many cars have garnered so much attention of late. The truth is that the nation has been eagerly waiting for Maruti Suzuki to relaunch the iconic SUV in India since it is that one car that appeals to everyone even if we don’t really need one. 

Maruti Suzuki teased us by bringing it to the 2020 Auto Expo and finally, after so much outcry from everyone, literally, the brand is on track to debut the Jimny at the upcoming 2023 Auto Expo - three long years since it was first showcased! The Jimny appears to have grown in size and gained two extra doors in this timeframe. 

Yes, the Jimny’s charm lies in its tiny footprint and its off-roading prowess, courtesy of the short wheelbase and the 4x4 drivetrain setup. But we are ’only’ getting the five-door version which is a first for Jimny. This is despite the fact Maruti Suzuki produces the three-door Jimny in India for export. 

Will the Jimny five-door get a relatively affordable 4x2 option?

As we mentioned, the Jimny is going to be a five-door for the first time in its lifecycle. This is unheard of and ever since its inception in the 1970s, the Jimny has been a three-door SUV with off-road cred. 

The latest spy pictures of the Jimny in India show the SUV with five doors, a longer wheelbase and the Jimny badging. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Maruti Suzuki is highly unlikely to bring back the Gypsy moniker even as a special variant. 

The longer wheelbase, extra heft and added doors make us wonder if the Jimny is going to be a watered-down version, just another five-door SUV. It also brings us to the question - Will the Jimny five-door be offered with a two-wheel drive (2WD/4x2) system? The 2WD version will keep prices in check and help Maruti Suzuki move numbers. But, a Jimny that might not be competent off-road? We’ll let you be the judge of that. 

The new Thar still remains one of the most focused off-roaders and yet brings enough practicality to the table that it also doubles up as a family SUV. Moreover, Mahindra now offers the Thar with a 2WD variant that has increased its affordability quotient. So, Maruti might also follow a similar approach by offering an affordable 4x2 version of the Jimny. 

Under the short hood of the upcoming Jimny will be the 103PS 1.5-litre K15C engine. This engine should be paired with either a five-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic. Power will be sent to all four wheels with the help of Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro 4x4 system. If introduced, the 4x2 version will also feature the same engine and gearbox combinations, but will send the engine’s power to the rear wheels only.

Although a Jimny which can obliterate any trail is what we would like to see, we cannot deny the fact that a 2WD variant will make the SUV more accessible for a lot of consumers. At the end of the day, a considerable amount of Jimnys will be spending their time inside the urban space. For this reason alone, we strongly believe Maruti Suzuki might offer a 2WD variant of the Jimny.

The wait for the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is about to end soon and we will find answers at the 2023 Auto Expo set to take place from January 13 to 18, 2023. Until then, all that we can do is hope Maruti Suzuki brings a Jimny that retains all the traits that made us fall in love with it in the first place.