2026 Suzuki Jimny XL review

Depending on what you’re after from a small SUV, the Suzuki Jimny XL may be your best option on the new car market… or one of the absolute worst ones.

See, this pint-sized off-roader has essentially no direct competition if you’re after a rugged off-roader with a ladder frame and low-range gearing. It also has the benefit of a huge fanbase and aftermarket support.

It mightn’t be the only light or small SUV that can handle being taken off bitumen – just look at the Subaru Crosstrek, for example, or the recently launched Renault Duster – but it’s certainly the toughest in the rough stuff.

This isn’t an off-road review, however. Is the Jimny XL, launched last year as a stretched, five-door version of the iconic original Jimny three-door, a vehicle suitable for the daily commute?

People love the Jimny’s adorable appearance, a combination of its boxy body and its compact size – even in XL guise, it’s just 3820mm long, or 3985mm including the spare wheel. It’s endearing enough that some people choose to buy one without having any intention of taking it off road.

Watch: Paul’s video review of the Suzuki Jimny XL

So let’s see just how comfortable and practical this little go-anywhere off-roader is on-road. By the way, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Jimny XL’s mysterious recent stop-sale.

Suzuki stopped taking orders for the Indian-built Jimny XL in mid-July, which it also paused deliveries to customers who had already placed an order and even offered to refund their deposits.

Neither Suzuki Australia nor Suzuki Queensland could tell us what the issue was with the vehicle, with both saying Suzuki Motor Corporation had provided them with no explanation. The stop-sale was then lifted in August, again with no explanation as to what the issue was.

For any brand, even one with a generally solid reputation for reliability like Suzuki, the secrecy from HQ in Japan was exceedingly odd.

How much does the Suzuki Jimny XL cost?

The Jimny XL is available in a single trim level, but with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.

There is a more affordable three-door Jimny. It’s getting upgraded safety technology in the first half of 2026, though there’s still some stock of the pre-update model within Suzuki’s dealer network.

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

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What is the Suzuki Jimny XL like on the inside?

Almost everything in the Jimny XL’s cabin feels hard and hardy.

It has a tough and utilitarian appearance, and the only soft surfaces you’ll find are the seats themselves which are finished in an inoffensive cloth.

The door cards are so basic and the doors so thin that, combined with the fact the mirror and window switches aren’t on them, they look as though they could be removed à la the Jeep Wrangler. But alas, no, they cannot.

The mirror switches are found on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, under some easy to miss switches to turn off the lane departure and forward collision warning systems.

The window switches, meanwhile, are on the centre stack, which also has a trio of what look like rotary dials, but only the two outboard ones are actually dials – the middle is just a screen confusingly styled to look like them.

Sitting atop the centre stack is a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. It works well enough, but it’s not the slickest system.

The instrument cluster features a pair of orange backlit analogue gauges flanking a monochromatic screen. It’s a very retro look, so it’s a bit surprising when you see an autonomous emergency braking warning flash up to remind you that, yes, we are in 2025.

One annoyance with the Jimny XL’s cabin is the positioning of the cupholders. They’re placed further back to make room for the 4WD lever, so it’s a bit awkward grabbing your drink. The slim door pockets aren’t exactly drink-friendly, either.

Despite its tiny external dimensions, someone 180cm tall can comfortably sit behind someone of the same height with decent knee room and head room.

There’s a fairly flat bench and little in the way of amenities here – no armrest, no USB outlets, not even air vents. You do get outboard top-tether and ISOFIX child seat anchor points, however.

Open the side-hinged tailgate and there’s 211L of cargo space. That’s nothing extraordinary, and the rear seats don’t fold completely flat either.

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

There’s just one engine available in the Jimny and Jimny XL lineup, and there’s no electrification or even a turbocharger to be found.

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

How does the Suzuki Jimny XL drive?

I was fully expecting to dislike the Jimny XL, but the little bugger grew on me over the course of a week.

First thing’s first, though – this thing is slow. That’s not surprising given it has a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine hooked up to a four-speed automatic.

Foot to the floor, it’s lethargic. While around town it’s fine enough, the sluggish engine makes highway on-ramps a tedious and somewhat stressful experience.

It also doesn’t sound all that great, either. The four-cylinder engine makes annoying high-pitched whines with light to medium throttle inputs, though oddly it actually sounds better the more you rev it.

And rev it you shall, particularly on steeper grades, given how gutless it is. That’ll cause fuel consumption to blow out in the process.

The steering is heavy and vague, making parking a pain – a small car has never felt as large as this Jimny XL in a multi-storey parking lot – and high-speed stability on freeways slightly less than rock-solid.

You may be wondering, then, how this pint-size off-roader grew on me.

Perhaps it was because after several days of doing my daily commute in this, I didn’t find it to be too crude or unsuitable for urban driving.

The ride quality is surprisingly good. Yes, you can tell this is a body-on-frame off-roader by the noises and sensations it makes, which will be familiar if you’ve come out of a larger off-roader. But overall it’s quite pleasant, absorbing bumps well.

The longer wheelbase than the regular Jimny may be responsible, and it’s impressively pliant given this has live axles front and rear.

However, it will get rocked around a bit on large ruts and surface changes, given its diminutive dimensions. You’ll also want to take corners a bit slower than you would a small crossover SUV, given the high centre of gravity.

Other than the whines from the engine and the wind rustle around the roof racks, the Jimny XL’s cabin wasn’t too boomy, even at highway speeds. That’s despite the Suzuki having paper-thin doors.

Adaptive cruise control is handy for highway driving, but there’s no lane-keep assist or lane centring to be found here. There’s also no blind-spot monitoring, but visibility is decent thanks to the boxy, upright greenhouse.

I put it down a light off-road track to confirm its off-road credentials. The rear clomps down a bit on rougher tracks but the steering felt surprisingly well-suited to off-road driving, and it’s great to have selectable low-range gearing.

Just be mindful the 4WD lever inexplicably has a different shift action for going into 2H than coming out of it, which is a right nuisance.

Perhaps befitting of such a cheery-looking car, the horn is absolutely hilarious. Seriously, give it a press. Nobody will ever think you’re a road rager because the sound of the Jimny XL’s horn is so unserious and whimsical.

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

There’s just one trim level in the Jimny XL lineup.

2025 Suzuki Jimny XL equipment highlights:

• 15-inch alloy wheels
• 15-inch alloy spare
• Automatic projector LED headlights
• Front fog lights
• Hill hold assist
• Hill descent control
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• 4-speaker sound system
• Tilt-adjustable steering column
• Power windows
• Climate control
• Fabric upholstery
• 50:50 split/fold rear seats
• 2 x 12V outlets

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

Is the Suzuki Jimny XL safe?

The Suzuki Jimny XL doesn’t have a safety rating from ANCAP. The three-door Jimny had a three-star rating from 2019, but this has now expired.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Adaptive cruise control (with auto transmission only)
• Autonomous emergency braking (over 60km/h)
• Lane departure warning
• Front, front-side and curtain airbags
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors

Blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert aren’t available, even as an option.

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

How much does the Suzuki Jimny XL cost to run?

The Suzuki Jimny XL is covered by the Japanese brand’s five year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

To see how the Jimny XL stacks up against the competition, use our comparison tool

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Great service from Travis and team, second time I have used this business would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone

Craig C.

Purchased a Ford Ranger in Sunshine Coast, QLD

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CarExpert’s Take on the Suzuki Jimny XL

Look, I get it. The Jimny XL is a cute thing, and it’s a capable off-roader.

If the Suzuki Vitara or Swift were discontinued tomorrow, we’d be sad for a moment but we’d move on. But if the Jimny ever got the axe, we’d be gutted – Australia’s new car market would be a drearier place without this cute, capable little 4WD.

It’s slow and disappointingly thirsty, but we wouldn’t call it glacial. It’s a ladder-frame off-roader, but it’s surprisingly comfortable on pavement. And that steering is a pain in a parking lot, but around town it’s not too bad.

The interior is spacious enough for four people, feels solidly put together and insulated from the outside, and the infotainment is decent enough.

If you plan on going off-road, the Jimny XL is definitely worth considering. But even with its surprisingly pliant ride quality, there are numerous light and small SUVs much more suitable for urban duties.

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MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom