On 17th March, 2023 we could finally see our beloved Jimny at PASCO NEXA dealership, Platina Building, MG Road, Gurgaon. However, to recheck few aspects, missed out points and dimensions measurement I visited the TR Sawney NEXA dealership, Sector-29 once again on 21st March.
The Jimny on display was a Kinetic Yellow with Bluish Black roof ALPHA Automatic Transmission variant. We have pre-booked exactly same variant on 12th January, 2023. SOB number and allotment number, money receipt and booking documents were shared with us on the same day.
My reference point is my daily drive- the trusted humble hatchback Swift 2016 Petrol model. My height is 6 feet, and I am on healthier side. Shoe size is 10.
Observations:
#Exterior:
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The Kinetic Yellow colour with Bluish Black roof look young, refreshing and vibrant. This particular paint shade provides a funky and youthful vibe to the boxy appearance of the SUV. Paint finish and quality looked good. Kinetic Yellow was a solid colour. The roof colour, i.e., Bluish Black was of metallic finish. The actual colour of bluish black could not be properly understood because of the mix of artificial white and warm white light from LED. It looked dull black to my eyes under the showroom lighting. I am okay with the shiny front grill with chrome treatment.
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Initially the 5 Door Jimny with elongated wheelbase looked little out of proportion in the wide angle photographs and videos available on social media and YouTube. However, when we saw it physically there was nothing to complain regarding the proportions.
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I could clearly see entire roof below my eye level. My hands could reach out everywhere. I can clean the roof standing on the floor.
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Roof was ribbed in order to strengthen the sheet metal. Longitudinal sides do flex when pressed. Almost no flex near the ribbed portion of the roof. I was satisfied. Rain gutter finish was good.
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Some youtubers reported that the roof is made of plastic/ fiber material; though I didn’t feel so on the first day. The roof sheet metal sounded like metal only. However, in order to clear off the confusion, I carried a magnet on 21st March. The roof sheet metal could hold the magnet. The roof was indeed made of steel.
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Bonnet- opened the bonnet hood. It was not too heavy, neither feather light. The bonnet hood does flex. There was no insulation padding underneath the hood. My Swift does have the insulation padding.
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Bonnet stand- a very thin and filmsy aluminum rod covered by a plastic, attached inside the engine bay. My Swift has a better and thicker bonnet stand attached to the bonnet hood.
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Engine bay- by now we all know the engine in Jimny is placed longitudinally. I could see engine bay insulation on cabin side wall. Equipment, piping and electrical wiring layouts are little different and cannot be compared with hatchbacks. Nothing to complain here. However, more experienced eyes might have some observation. No engine bay guard. Floor could be seen from engine bay.
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Battery- Battery was placed in left hand side. Battery model on display car was Exide Conservo ISS N55, a 45 ah rated battery. Production cars may have a different model. Capacity of the battery is important. I feel battery capacity should have been little more for a true blue rugged SUV like Jimny.
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Fender sheet metal edges (accessible when bonnet hood is up) are sharp and thin. I could see some uneven compression mark on the surface, though not sure whether those are usual production stamping on the steel metal or deformation. I feel the front side fenders are not that strong.
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Front doors are big and wide and hefty. I assume there is no change made. Also, Mr. C.V. Raman, Chief Technical Officer of MSIL stated in one of the YouTube interviews that they have not made any changes in the front section of the Jimny in comparison to international 3 Door Jimny and all changes have been made from B-pillar onwards to made it 5-door version. The kink on the front door near the A-pillar (which also provides necessary view of the ORVM to the driver) is retained. The two horizontal lines ahead of the ORVMs are also retained, representing the Jimny legacy.
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ORVMs were shiny black coloured. Since the display car was inside the dealership and not powered on, I’ll wait for the TD to further comment on the ORVM coverage. The image of the rear vertical end of the car could be seen curved due to ORVM mirror curvature.
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B-pillar information- Cold tire pressure in units of kPa, kg/sq.cm, psi; tire size and rim size were mentioned on tire information label. Another black label includes the MSIL name, type JJC74W, Chasis number and colour code information. Manik Ahuja san decoded the Chasis number and found that the display car was manufactured in December, 2022.
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All doors closed, the sound noise inside the car was reduced. However, noise cut-off can be properly understood during the TD.
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Doors were felt stronger than usual Maruti Suzuki cars and much better than my Swift. Door closing sound was closer to “thud” than the “phathh” that I hear everyday! Opening of glass window of second row could not be checked since the car was not on. The rubber seals on top part of the doors were good.
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Rear door with spare wheel mounted felt heaviest. There was a hydraulic strut to assist proper door opening and holding it in position. The rear door opens at an angle, little upside. The door inside metal structure horizontal edge has a kink same as the 3-door version. Rear door frame top portion has a good rubber seal to prevent water ingress.
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As requested by our group leader, I checked the rear tyres and the rear door mounted wheel arch cladding. Rear tyres are visible when the door is open. The wheel arch cladding part which is attached to the rear door doubles up as the mudguard. The thickness of this cladding part is 80 mm. However, this part of cladding is well finished and has a good rubber seal.
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Wheel wells didn’t have any cladding. Rubberized protective paint (same Kinetic Yellow colour) could be seen on the surfaces of wheel wells. It seems to be adequate. Tubes and tube joint fittings could be seen in these areas. Ladder frame chasis, fuel tank could be seen.
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Fuel tank lid is on right side of the car.
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The thin antenna rod is mounted on rear right corner of the roof. It is easily accessible and I fear the antenna rod will be stolen or damaged.
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I could see a brown spot (rust?) near one of the rear door hinge when the door was open. Also, there was few mm gap between the rear bumper and vehicle body. Mud, rain/dirty water can cause rusting there.
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Probably true blue rugged SUVs cannot have a space saver or thinner spare tyre. Same size alloy rim and tyre spare set was mounted on the rear door.
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Door flap handles were good, not filmsy type that we usually see in other budget Maruti Suzuki cars.
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210 mm GC was measured from bottom surface of the diff. Bowl.
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Radial cup to floor clearance reduced to 170-180 mm when 4 full sized adults occupied the car.
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“No step” was marked at the end of rear door bottom corner of the cladding/ cladding end.
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Jimny was bouncy when visitors were occupying the seats or shaken externally. However, actual dynamics and characteristics can only be understood during Test drives and on off-roading tracks/ set-up. Hence I need not be worried now. We call it “dancing Jimny” affectionately.
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The Bridgestone Dueler 195/80 R15 stock Tyre is M+S (Mud+Snow) rated.
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Front Grill with chrome, round headlight, turning indicator.
Engine bay
Thin sheet metal of the front fenders and battery on left
ABS unit
Engine insulation and piping layout
Battery model and capacity (45 ah) can be checked from the model code
Bluish Black Roof- ribbed
Rear door mounted cladding which doubles up as mudguard, rubber seal could be seen.
Corrosion protection rubberized coating in wheel well area
Tool storage area in boot
Door sheet metal (sandwiched metal sheets?)
Front corner of rain gutter
Front windshield angle (better than Thar?)
Tire pressure, tire size and rim size information on B-pillar
JJC74W is the code for our 5 Door Jimny (Make in India
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Tinted glass on doors
Headlight assembly as seen from engine bay
Boot door opens at an angle.
Two horizontal slots on fender corner, Kinks on front door and boot door are retained (I am happy).
Boot door mounted Spare tire
One of the Youtubers commented Jimny roof is non-metallic plastic. Let’s clear the doubt. The steel roof of Jimny could hold the freezer magnet.
Rear tires are out by approx 70-75 mm, rear door mounted cladding of 80 mm works as mudguard also.
M+S rated stock tyres
Tie down hooks (caution note: these are not for towing purpose).
If you observe closely- ends of the front bumper are at an angle, front grill is little rounded, Bonnet front edge is also rounded, front windshield is slightly curved and slanted. I have a gut feeling that aerodynamics of Jimny will be better than the Thar.
Underbody photos:
Curved front windshield
Do not step caution mark on side cladding end corner
Equipment and piping, tubing, wiring layout in engine bay
Underbody rubberized protective paint coating
