Is buying a USED Suzuki Jimny a good idea?

The Suzuki Jimny is one of the most requested cars we've had on ReDriven, and for good reason, they're HUGELY popular. Such is the demand for the Jimny, Suzuki has even completely stopped your ability to buy some of the new versions. Therefore, people are flocking to the used market to pick one up.

But should you buy one used? What should you be on the lookout for? We try to find out.

What did you think? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to subscribe to stay up to date with all of our latest content!

00:00​​​​​​​ - Intro
00:23 - What is it?
02:36 - How's the interior?
06:13 - Tech & safety?
08:09 - What's it like to drive?
11:10 - How much is it?
11:53 - Fuel use, warranty & servicing
12:16 - What goes wrong?
16:09 - Should you buy it?

#suzuki
#jimny
#offroad

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At ReDriven, we’ll be taking you through the pros and cons of a huge range of used cars to see how well they’re going now that they’re a few years old, have thousands of kilometres on the clock, and are coming toward the end of their warranty, or maybe don’t have one at all.

Plus, thanks to our resident mechanic, Jim, you’ll find out what commonly goes wrong with them and what might need to be fixed.

Most importantly, we want to make ReDriven a voice for the most in-the-know used car experts there are...you guys.. See, you’re the ones that actually buy, live with, love and sometimes unfortunately hate the cars we’ll be reviewing.

So we want to hear your thoughts. Hit us up in the comments, or on Instagram and Facebook.

We’d love nothing more than for you to give us as much feedback as possible, so we can make this channel the best it can be.

Find us on:

[danmccarthy]

I don't get the obsession car journalists have with soft-touch dashboards. Like, who's driving around touching the dash all the time???

[tonyluk]

Some say “Don’t buy the Jimny, don’t buy the Jimny! It’s slow, it’s noisy, it’s small!”
And I went ahead bought one, I enjoy every second driving it 😂 went off-road in stock form too, worth every pennies💪🖤

[HAL-vuef]

The Jimny was originally made for the Japanese market, where narrow streets, difficult parking spaces and mountain roads and trails are abundant. I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan and see them mostly in the rural areas in farming communities or in inner city 4x4 clubs. There is a huge community for them over there with every mod you could think of. They are perfect as a hire vehicle for around the islands.

[rosemaryexner]

I bought my second Jimny in 2022. I am a 74 yr old female petrolhead who gets the thumbs up wherever I go. People stop me in the street to ask me about the vehicle and then I go on and on.... I don't care about it's utilitarian character. I don't mind bring buffeted by strong winds. I'm not bothered by impractical back seats. My Zuki can go where very few others can go and it can do some pretty cool things too. My Siberian husky and I love her to bits and lately my husband has been finding any excuse to use her too. Yip, she's not the lightest lady on fuel but the sheer delight and fun driving her, makes up for that❤

[jimmys_jimny]

Was great to see my Jimny getting some screen time! You summed it up perfectly mate, there is no good reason to buy one, but if you do, it’ll be the most fun you’ve ever had 😂

[adrianwilliamson]

Back in 1974 I drove the original Suzuki 4x4 TWO STROKE from Townsville to Canberra.
Now that was a basic car. It took us 5 days. It was shockingly uncomfortable but hey...we were young.
I still look back on it as one of the funnest trips I have ever done.

[MyRandomLife]

My mum has muscular dystrophy so she struggles getting in and out of cars so she needed something high off the ground but at the same time she didn’t want a massive car. That basically crossed off all the small SUVs as she found them too big. I actually convinced them to buy one based on photos I showed them. They thought it was the size of a Wrangler until I explained to them that it was half the size of their Lancer. Once my mum saw one in the flesh it was love at first sight! The dealer has been crap to deal with but the car itself has been great! Like you said it attracts a lot of attention! And I can never go out in it without people giving me the thumbs up or asking me questions!

[stilley]

I'm a Jimny owner too, and I reckon that was a pretty accurate description- they're not practical, they're just fun. As for the 5 door Jimny, I can't understand what all the fuss is about. The Jimny will always be best in a 3 door, just like it always has.

[kvguowi]

I did my time on Suzuki's back in the 90s and owned a 95 Sierra. I have never loved a car as much. So much fun, simple, strong, great quality reliable. Slow, mildly terrifying handling, agricultural and a bit small, but the most fun to drive. Few things make you smile like a Jimny.

[PoePlay]

Lived in Mtito Andei, Kenya, for some years. Rural East Africa, lots of 'interesting' driving. Drove a Toyota HiLux 2.8 TwinCab with absolutely no frills myself ('99 model) and loved it. Local taxi was an old, banged-up Jimny with some extra clearing. It went absolutely everywhere, not least because of the driver's incredible off-road skills. Learned so much from just following him. So much is about reading the road (if any), the holes, the mud and the stones, and about tires - used 4WD much less as I gained experience.
Now I'm back in Denmark, but my respect for the driver and his Jimny is still etched firmly in my mind.

[wabo]

I have one since 2019 and it is definitely the best car I had for offroading, unmodified despite offroad tires. It goes up walls and never stalls even in deep mud. Only other car that could go as far as this one had been a heavily modified Wrangler, which in exchange ended up very often in repair. No issues on this little machine. Nothing comes close to passing a 80000$ SUV stranded offroad with the Jimny :)

[michaeloosthuizen]

I have 2 of these fantastic vehicles - 2015 model and a 2022. I've had a VX 4L Prado, Ford Ranger dc 4x4 (among other), but those vehicles are comparable with the enjoyment I get from the Jimny. The enjoyment of driving this little SUV tops my list. Definately hugely popular here in South Africa - which seems to be the case in Australia as well. Thanks for the video!

[peterblissett]

I love my jimny, best car I've ever had . It has been absolutely faultless. I have a pedders 2 inch lift which COMPLETLY changed how the car behaves on & off road, its much better now . Mine is a manual with off road tyres on standard alloy rims and i regularly get fuel economy readings of 6.8 lt per hundred using 95 unleaded. Keep them lightly loaded and they go well and are very economical

[larry]

As a Jimny owner, I'm so excited that this got a fair review. Keep up the great work

[colinkarlson]

I buy cars, not entertainment systems. I have 2 4wd’s and one is the new Jimmy. It is my second Jimmy. BEST car for beach driving you can get. Great for bush tracks. Great for our purpose of fishing, bird watching and picnicking. Easy to park and square interior is totally functional for storing gear. I could not give a stuff about the entertainment system, I have a real one in my lounge room.

[n]

I own one as well. Safari Green. We got it because we live in Costa Rica and drive 50% on unpaved roads. We didn't buy it for autobahns, or course. We also have a Toyota Hilux. The Jimny is extremely comfortable, and the view from the car is amazing. You have a great control of your surrounding and amazing views of the nature. We waited quite some time and we think it was totally worth the wait.

[menalvagor]

I waited 9 months back in 2019 for mine.
Sold it the other, was a hard one to let go.

The reason I sold it was to get something slightly bigger for touring, and more comfortable doing the long distance roads.

I ended up buying a Discovery 3, it lasted 10 days, engine failed 2 days before it went for a full service and check so I could take it the warranty.

I then went for the Subaru Forester. So far I'm happy for the Forester, BUT, nothing will be the Jimny GLX.

It was the most fun, every day since 2019 was driving it for the first time.
I never stopped talking about it, it made you more holy going around corners, cause it really sucks at that, it went very far in terms of offroading, only other vehicle I really went everywhere offroad was the Wrangler.

The Jimny is by far the best, the most unpractical, most fun, slowest and capable vehicle.

[davidbrayshaw]

I really dig the "form follows function" theme in these vehicles. They're like a twenty first century Beetle. I really get it. My dearly beloved wants one of these, and, for all their faults, I can't find a reason to dissuade her.

[HAL-vuef]

Had my Auto Jimny for 5 weeks now and just done 2000km. No modifications at all (except a few cup holders) and I average 13.3 to 14km per litre or 7.14 to 7.5 litres per 100km. But that’s driving 40km over a steep mountain highway everyday at 80-100km/h with an additional 8km of dirt track to my property.
It’s like driving an old U.K Mini but more practical. Very noisy, sounds like a jet engine. Best thing I did so far was to get the key turned into a flip style which only cost $30 Australian and a custom made wheel cover to personalise it.Took it proper off-road in its standard form and it was really impressive, especially up incredibly steep rough hills. I do love the look of it and get waves from other Jimny drivers. Had lots of positive comments and people taking photos of it.
By the way I am 1.86 metres tall and 90kg and fit in it easily, lots of head room inside.

[chrisroothman]

I live in South Africa and owns the GLX model since new (2021). My first vehicle in 1975 was a 1963 VW Beetle 1200cc. What is the comparison you would ask? I was in control of the vehicle, I drove it, it did not drive me. The same with the Jimny. I am of the opinion the more creature comforts in a car, the more driving skills you lose. As for the interior hard plastics, all I I can say to the soft touch lovers, who really cares, not me. It is durable, easy to clean and does not need specialised cleaning liquids. I am 66 years of age and love my Jimny. Other people can go fast yes, however I can go anywhere.