Suzuki now makes Jimny in India. Could PH source the off-roader there?

Updated Nov 03, 2021 | Same topic: Automotive Industry Updates

The Philippine-spec S-Presso and Dzire are also sourced from India, mind you.

UPDATE: A statement from Suzuki Philippines to Autoindustriya confirmed that the company won't source the Jimny from India. An official announcement will be made by the automaker if that becomes an option.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the official business unit of Suzuki in India, announced that it will start exporting Jimny models. The off-roader is produced at Maruti Suzuki’s Gurgaon Plant in India with the same specifications as the export models from Japan.

The Suzuki Jimny is a 2-door mini off-roader first introduced way back in 1970. After two decades, Suzuki finally introduced a new version of its classic mini off-roader - the Suzuki Jimny 2018. Due to its 50-year old nameplate, the Suzuki Jimny is one of the many beloved vehicles around the world. The main design principle of the Jimny has been retained throughout the years which makes it instantly recognizable on the road.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny production

Maruti Suzuki already rolled out its first Jimny for export

Maruti Suzuki said it will only be exclusively exporting to areas such as Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. However, Maruti Suzuki will also be exporting left-hand drive Jimny’s with the same specs as the PH-spec Jimny. This makes the off-roader eligible to be brought into the local market.

Both the newly-introduced Suzuki S-Presso and Dzire offered by Suzuki Philippines are sourced from India. This means that there could be a chance that the Jimny could be sourced from India as well.  As of this writing, Suzuki Philippines hasn’t released any word about the matter.

Suzuki Jimny front view

The Suzuki Jimny

>>> Related: 2021 Suzuki Jimny: Expectations and what we know so far

All we know by now is that the Suzuki Jimny has a massive demand not only in the country but also around the world. As a matter of fact, Suzuki had to apologize in 2019 as the Japanese carmaker couldn’t keep up with the production due to high global demand.

The massive demand for the off-roader could drive Suzuki Philippines to source the Jimny from India. This could be beneficial for Suzuki Philippines as Maruti Suzuki is one of the most significant production hubs of the brand in the world.

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Know more about Suzuki Jimny 2024

Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny 2023 is a 4x4, ladder-frame mini-SUV. In the local market, this model is available in three different variants. There’s the GL 1.5 MT, the GLX 1.5 AT (Monotone), and the GLX 1.5 AT (Two-tone). Their prices range from Php 1,258,000 to Php 1,330,000. 

Under the hood, the Suzuki Jimny uses a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine capable of producing up to 101 horsepower and 130 Nm of torque. The entry-level GL variant may come with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the GLX exclusively uses a four-speed automatic transmission. All then come with the Suzuki 4x4 All Grip Pro drivetrain. 

Size-wise, the Suzuki Jimny has a length of 3,480mm, a width of 1,645mm, and a height of 1,725mm. It then has a wheelbase length of 2,250mm, and a ground clearance of 210mm. 

Locally, the Suzuki Jimny technically doesn’t have direct competitors. Then again, the closest off-road-focused recreational vehicles available locally are the Toyota FJ Cruise and the Jeep Wrangler. Size-wise though, the Jimny is more in line with the Hyundai Kona, MG ZS, Geely Coolray, Kia Seltos, Chery Tiggo 2 Pro, and Mazda CX-3, among others. 

₱ 1,258,000 - ₱ 1,330,000

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Rex Sanchez

Rex Sanchez

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Rex Sanchez grew up in Saudi Arabia where he saw and got into the automotive scene. He started his career for an aviation company in the said region, writing about turbines and rotors which are later distributed for educational purposes. And now, he joined Philkotse.com as a staff writer. Currently, he is the youngest on the team and is more than ready to grow in the field.

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