In-depth reviews

Suzuki Jimny (2018-2020) review - Interior, design and technology

With a rugged charm, the Suzuki Jimny’s interior feels built to last rather than in any way luxurious

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

Interior, design and technology Rating

3.5 out of 5

Find your Suzuki Jimny
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

The latest Suzuki Jimny is a rugged 4x4 that has been redesigned for the 21st Century. It’d be fair to say there are hints of Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes G-Class in the design, but despite its rudimentary ladder-frame chassis, it’s better to drive and more comfortable than before. 

Inside, the exterior’s square theme continues, with plenty of straight lines and harsh edges. Quality is on par with rivals like the Dacia Duster, with scratchy plastics on the dash and doors; the Jimny is built to stand the test of time rather than feel particularly luxurious.

This being a Suzuki, most of the kit you’d want comes as standard on SZ5 cars. However, the firm is hoping to offer a selection of customisation options ­– including styling tweaks, roof racks and different front grilles. There are lots of vibrant colours to choose from, too, including Kinetic Yellow, Brisk Blue and Chiffon Ivory.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Only top-spec Suzuki Jimny SZ5 models benefit from a touchscreen as standard. Basic SZ4 cars get a CD player, Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio, but make do with a simple screen and manual air-conditioning. 

Here, we’ll focus on the SZ5’s infotainment set-up. It’s a system we are familiar with from various other Suzuki models such as the Swift, S-Cross and Vitara. It’s not the most responsive unit, but there’s loads of functionality – including sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The main menu consists of four easily distinguished shortcut squares, which allow easy access to things like the radio and phone settings.

Unsurprisingly, there are no digital dials or fancy night vision settings, but the dash is easy to navigate and intuitive to use. There’s a small screen in between the speedo and rev counter – providing trip information like fuel economy and predicted range.

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023