UPDATE: we have now driven this new commercial 4x4. Read our full Suzuki Jimny Light Commercial Vehicle review.
The Suzuki Jimny Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) is now available in the UK. This is a commercial 4x4 version of the Jimny off-roader that replaces the regular passenger version in the Suzuki range. Pricing is attractive, but payload is pitiful, meaning the Jimny van is best suited to those who need outstanding off-road capability rather than carrying capacity.
The tiddly 4x4 has been repurposed as a commercial vehicle for UK buyers partly because the existing car version is no longer easily able to meet passenger car emissions requirements, and partly because Suzuki says an LCV is all most Jimny customers require.
It is by far the smallest commercial 4x4 on the market, and is set to be available in very limited numbers. With a starting price of £16,796 excluding VAT, it’s undercut only by two-wheel drive versions of the new Dacia Duster Commercial, so if you’re looking for a cheap off-road van, the Jimny is it.
Just be aware that load space and payload are very restricted. In no way is this a direct rival to the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser Commerical or Land Rover Defender Hard Top.
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How small is the load area in the Jimny Light Commercial Vehicle?
As with all commercial 4x4s, the Jimny van ditches its rear seats to become a two-seater only – leaving the entire rear area of the vehicle available for loading.
Given that the Jimny is just 3,480mm long (3,645mm if you include the spare wheel mounted on the back), this still doesn’t leave a huge amount of space.
The 863 litres (0.836 cubic metres) of load volume is 33 litres greater than the passenger car could manage – thanks to the removal of the rear seats – but it’s still less than you can get in the back of the Duster Commercial (up to 1.5 cubic metres) or even a Ford Fiesta Van (0.96 cubic metres).
You do however get a flat load floor and a safety partition to stop whatever’s in the back interfering with the people.
What’s the payload of the Jimny van?
Brace yourself. According to Suzuki, the Jimny LCV has an official payload rating of just 150kg.
Again, let’s references the Fiesta Van for comparison; minimum payload in the diminutive Ford is currently 508kg.
The Dacia Duster Commercial’s minimum payload is 486kg.
Of course, if you need to transport some tools across a muddy hill or up a mountain, the Fiesta will be utterly useless, whereas the Jimny has been compared with a mountain goat. We’d bet on the Suzuki against the Dacia, too, but that’s a matter of degrees rather than extremes.
So how is the performance?
All UK Jimnys are powered by a 1.5-litre non-turbo petrol engine, producing 101hp and 130Nm of torque. Maximum speed is 90mph; Suzuki doesn’t quote a 0-62mph acceleration time – make of that what you will.
Still, it’s off-road performance that really matters with this thing, and despite its modest size the Jimny is fully equipped with Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro selectable four-wheel drive and a low-range transfer box. Based around a ladder-frame chassis and featuring a rigid rear axle with three-link suspension, tiny front and rear overhangs and 210mm of ground clearance, it offers an outstanding 37-degree approach angle, 28-degree breakover angle and immense 49-degree departure angle.
In other words it is a proper cross-county marvel. Which is good news, since the old-fashioned recirculating-ball steering and some dubious body control will make it somewhat less endearing over long-distances on the road.
What’s happening to the rest of the Jimny range?
It’s dead. And at this stage there are no plans for a passenger car replacement.
How much does the Jimny van cost and when does it go on sale?
The Jimny Commercial Vehicle comes in a single specification, which includes Bluetooth, DAB radio, air-conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, 15-inch steel wheels, an alarm, eCall emergency assistance and Suzuki’s version of autonomous emergency braking, Dual Sensor Brake Support.
There is a choice of colours, and pricing starts at £16,796 ex. VAT – or £19,999 including VAT. The first batch have arrived in the country and are available now. Don’t hang about if you think you want one, as we understand numbers are genuinely very limited.
Also read:
>> What is a commercial 4x4? And which are best?
>> 2021 Dacia Duster Commercial – full details
>> Our Land Rover Defender Hard Top review
