• Simple, robust plastics and good controls
• Not lacking in style, either – clever details abound
• Not luxurious but reasonably appropriate

How is the quality and layout of the Suzuki Jimny’s interior?

The Jimny’s interior serves up retro charm in the details, and it’s made from durable, albeit shiny and scratchy, materials that seem appropriate in a tough little 4x4. For this vehicle’s design, purpose and cost, it’s spot on.

But if it were in a typical small SUV, the lack of soft-touch materials, storage and prettiness would be a big turn off. A Dacia feels sumptuous by comparison.

Still, there’s a greater feel of solidity and quality to the Jimny’s cabin than in the Suzuki Ignis. We think Suzuki has made the right decisions here, based on the likely demands of most Jimny drivers.

Suzuki Jimny infotainment and spec

We found the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system fitted to top-spec models responsive enough but the built-in sat-nav was far too slow and unintuitive. And that was when the Jimny was brand new. As an older vehicle now, this will feel decidedly dated compared with the latest modern solutions.

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The lack of physical buttons is also an annoyance. Trying to use the touchscreen in a car with a ride that is as bouncy as this will likely prove a real trial, and not something that goes away with familiarity. Fortunately, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay are available via a wired connection; both trump Suzuki’s standard user interface

Suzuki Jimny comfort

• Comfortable seats up front
• Cramped in the back
• Very loud inside

As long as you can cope with the overall lack of refinement, the cabin is otherwise comfortable – thanks to reasonable seats, good ventilation and a height-adjustable steering wheel.

You’ll have to work the stereo hard to drown out the noise on the motorway, though. The Jimny’s interior volume is like that of a 1990s supermini at speed, and significantly behind the standards of comparably priced rival SUVs or crossovers.

The front seats, though simple, are sufficiently sculpted and padded for comfort on longer journeys; on the SZ5, they’re also heated. Touchscreen annoyances aside, all of the main controls are well weighted and can be operated with gloves on.

Given the tiny dimensions, there’s plenty of footwell space and legroom for front occupants, but those in the back are likely to feel more cramped. See previous comments about this mostly being a two-seater.