SUZUKI SAMURAI: How Fake News Killed Suzuki | Up To Speed

The Suzuki Samurai (Jimny) was a compact off-roader with a BIG 4x4 punch! What kicked off as one of the most revolutionary all-terrain vehicles, even outselling the Jeep Wrangler two to one in 1987, ended with an unbelievable fraudulent crash lawsuit that killed Suzuki's automotive American dreams. Sharpen your katanas because host James Pumphrey is about to take a stab at one of Suzuki's greatest creations.

►Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
06:23 American Samurai Warrior
10:35 Suzuki Motor Corp Vs. The Consumer Union
15:24 The Last Samurai

Up to Speed is a weekly automotive history show about the best cars, brands, designers, drivers and influencers ever. Host James Pumphrey covers everything from the Toyota Supra to the Chevy El Camino, The VW GTI to the Subaru WRX. The origins of every car will be uncovered to get you Up to Speed!

Some of our best videos ever are coming out soon, stay tuned so you won't miss a thing!

Donut Media is at the center of digital media for the next generation of automotive and motorsports enthusiasts. We are drivers, drifters, and car enthusiasts who love to tell stories.

[clumsygarage]

Imagine being so petty that you change your magazine's testing procedures and deliberately and permanently screw up the reputation of an entire company just because you got into an accident and got lightly injured.

[KanishQQuotes]

Funny that this vehicle is currently being made for Indian military on order because it is super reliable and go any where
But a butthurt journalist declared it unsafe

[vwbug]

In 1988, I went with my dad to the Suzuki dealer where he bought a gray hard top Samurai. He passed away in 2016, and I am planning to do a full body-off restoration on it in memory of him. So many great memories in that little SUV driving all over the US in it with my mom & dad. It has a manual transmission, and I passed my driving test to get my license in it when I was 16.

[uzaiyaro]

The Jimny is wildly popular here in Australia, there's something like a two year waiting list for the 4th generation. In fact they’re so popular I wrote my car off into the back of one.

[EcLippZ]

Funfacts: The newest Jimny sells like hotcakes here in Germany. Used Jimny are sold for over 25k€, but the retail price of Suzuki is 20k€. They just can't meet the demand.
People say the Jimny is what the g-class used to be: a workhorse. It almost looks like a miniature g-class and with those nice bodykits from Japan it actually looks like a miniature g-class.

[ejayone]

Fake "news" has ruined America. Cant even have a Suzuki like the rest of the world :(

[clementepirola]

Here in chile the samurai is a legend and nobody ever questioned his security

[cwpywhl]

Lesson learned. Don't sell automobile to Consumer Report's employees.

[Coool]

This feels like a documentary on the origin of the first ever recorded male Karen who took down an entire company

[fjaajf]

My mom's Suzuki Samurai back then was like a freaking tank! Then when my parents sold it, an off-road fan bought it! AND IT'S STILL ALIVE up to this point! That's like 25+ years

[iviaverick]

"This thing tips over at high speeds!"
*ignores literally all other SUV's

[srikardvsn]

I feel sad for the US citizens who can't experience this masterpiece...F

[pplv.jmartinez]

US drivers: oh heck this 4x4 is so unsafe
The rest of the world: finally some good hecking off roader

[IAMTRASHMAN]

I remember my dad calling it the “Suzuki Suicide.”

Just sent this to him. Thank you for this rundown!

[xuanzheng]

From the videos, the Samurai was actually very difficult to roll over despite numerous tries and being a tall offroad SUV.... what a shaddy company CR is...

[marcsupra]

In the UK, the Samurai(or Jimny as it’s called here) is seen as an incredibly competent off roader and was incredibly popular. Such a shame that a random guy with a grudge managed to kill it off in the states.

[deja_oof]

Ladies and gentlemen and car nerds today (tonight for me ) I would like hold a toast on an achievement of a fellow donut media fan Pagani Gaming the legend as we know him. So congratulations on completing 200 days of asking James to do an up to speed on his dad . Cheers!

[tightbudz]

Best part... "They brought the sign back down with them!" LMFAO

[TheRaferaf]

I always thought those little 4x4 were kind of cool but when the report came out that they were unsafe no one would be caught dead in them. The thing is, you could still see them on the street occasionally and I would wonder why someone would drive a death trap. It seems they knew something I didn't.

[MrKremsen]

I bought a brand new 1988 Samurai when they came out and loved it! A brand new car for $6995! Then about 6 months later the BS reports came out. Complete BS but year it killed the brand. I continued to drive mine for 10+ years putting 130, 000 miles on it before selling it for $500. I still miss that little thing. Loved it!