Suzuki Auto SA has exhibited the eagerly awaited 5-door variant of the Jimny in Johannesburg ahead of the small off-roader’s local introduction late in 2023.

When the (then new) 4th-gen Jimny was launched in South Africa in 2018, Suzuki was overwhelmed with demand for the Japanese-built off-roader; many months passed before the brand was able to clear stock shortages and deliver vehicles to buyers. In truth, demand for the model has often outstripped supply.

However, shortly before rolling out a revised Jimny line-up early in 2022, the local subsidiary of the Hamamatsu-based firm began sourcing its Jimny stock from Maruti’s Gurgaon production line in India, which is also the facility that started producing the new 5-door variant of the pint-sized SUV this year.

The longer, more practical iteration of the Jimny was first shown in New Delhi at the beginning of the year. The 5-door,which is designed to broaden the appeal and, therefore, boost sales of the range, is ostensibly the same height and width as the 3-door version, but gains 360 mm in overall length (3 985 mm vs 3 625 mm), mostly by virtue of a wheelbase that has been stretched by 340 mm to 2 590 mm.

The Jimny 5-door – still based on a ladder-frame chassis – is powered by Suzuki’s familiar 75 kW/130 Nm 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol motor mated with a 5-speed manual ‘box or a 4-speed automatic transmission. Torque is distributed to all 4 wheels by the AllGrip four-wheel-drive system that allows for a change between 2WD and 4WD on the fly, but low range (4L) is also available for trickier off-road conditions.

Although it has lengthened the Jimny, Suzuki says it has made the 5-door’s off-road capabilities as close to those of the 3-door variant as possible. Apart from 210 mm of ground clearance, the newcomer has an approach angle of 36 degrees, a breakover angle of 24 degrees and a departure angle of 50 degrees. By comparison, the 3-door Jimny offers 37 degrees, 28 degrees and 49 degrees respectively.

Suzuki has not only added another pair of doors – it has also lengthened the load compartment (slightly) and allowed the front seats to fold flat to create two cushioned sleeping spaces (in conjunction with the rear bench) for adventurers who want to spend the night inside the Jimny on rugged adventures.

Although it remains to be seen whether the Jimny 5-door will be offered in South Africa in GL and GLX specification (or just in the latter grade), expect the newcomer to be fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels and offer standard features such as electric windows, electrically adjustable side mirrors, alloy wheels, audio controls on the steering wheel, Bluetooth functionality and remote central locking in GL guise.

The GLX version is likely to feature automatic LED headlamps, automatic climate control, cruise control, a touchscreen infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality), a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a rear cargo “convenience package”, which includes an additional 12V socket, rear interior light and flat-floor luggage box. Interestingly, it’s been reported that the Jungle Green Jimny 5-door on display at the 2023 Festival of Motoring in Midrand has an upgraded (9-inch) touchscreen.

The model will also be offered in a couple of new – and ostensibly exclusive to the 5-door variant – paint colours, namely Celestial Blue, Granite Grey and a Sizzling Red in combination with a metallic black roof.

According to our info, the Jimny 5-door will be launched in South Africa in November. We will update this story as soon as local specifications and pricing details have been confirmed, but considering that the current range-topping Jimny costs R419 990, expect the newcomer’s prices to start around that mark.

Buy a Suzuki Jimny on Cars.co.za

Related Content

Suzuki Jimny Goes 4×4 in Botswanaw/Video

Experiencing the Incredible Beauty of Lesotho in the Suzuki Jimny

Suzuki Jimny: What it’s like to live with

9 Most Fuel-Efficient Compact SUVs Under R350k