Published:
7 December 2018While the new Suzuki Jimny’s cabin is undoubtedly a vast improvement over the 20-year-old interior of its predecessor, it still seems to stumble as often as it soars.
Its boxy body makes for excellent visibility, yet the steering column’s inability to adjust for reach means some drivers may find its driving position a touch compromised. The controls, meanwhile, have all been quite clearly designed for ease of use when not travelling on smooth road surfaces (fiddly infotainment system aside).
Buttons and switches are large, chunky and easy to reach from the driver’s seat, all of which are good things. When you touch them, however, you won’t be overwhelmed by the apparent quality or the sense of durability of the materials used. The row of switches at the bottom of the centre stack – those for the windows, traction control and hill-descent assist – feel particularly flimsy.
Then there are the rear seats, which will comfortably accommodate a couple of children (adults are an inevitable squeeze), yet if you elect to keep them in place, you’ll have practically no usable boot space. You might find you’re able to find room for a carrier bag or two back there, but that’s about it.
Folding the seats down liberates a more useful amount of space for luggage (up to 830 litres) but renders the Jimny a strict two-seater; although a standard 50/50 split-folding rear seat means you can, at least, strike a halfway-house solution.
