Suzuki has begun road testing the much-anticipated Jimny 5-door, and while spy shots from Europe have surfaced, sources tell us that the mule is most likely made in India and sent overseas for testing. The Jimny 5-door will be a global model, making its Indian debut at the Delhi Auto Expo 2023 in January of next year.
These new spy photos show the car with a five-door body shell and a prominent outline for the rear passenger doors, confirming the development of a five-door Jimny. While the heavily covered mule doesn’t reveal much else, sources tell us that the Jimny’s styling will get a minor tweak, which will also be seen on the standard three-door version. Inside, the model will receive a few new features and a new 9-inch infotainment screen, similar to the newer Maruti Suzuki and Toyota models seen in India.
Maruti Suzuki has replaced the K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine in most of its India lineup with the new K15C DualJet engine, and the same is expected for the Jimny 3-door and 5-door versions. This new engine produces 103 hp and 137 Nm of torque and will be paired with either a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive options are expected to remain unchanged. The engine will include Suzuki’s mild-hybrid fuel-saving technology.
Although the Jimny 3-door is made in India, it is only available for export. The Jimny 5-door, as previously reported, will be sold in the United States, with an Auto Expo 2023 debut highly likely for the India-spec Jimny 5-door. Following that, the SUV will be available at Maruti’s Nexa dealerships.
The SUV may not have a direct competitor in India when it first goes on sale, but it will face competition from the larger Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha SUVs. In India, expect Maruti Suzuki Jimny prices to overlap with higher variants of the Brezza, although both models are expected to cater to separate groups of buyers.
