Did you know that Mazda made a rebadged Suzuki Jimny in the ‘90s?

Updated Mar 18, 2021 | Same topic: Automotive FYIs

Other rebadged Suzuki vehicles include the Alto and Carry.

The Suzuki Jimny is a mini-SUV people are really familiar with all around the world. It is a 3-door vehicle that has been around in the automotive industry for 50 years now and is not showing any signs of slowing down.

Many changes and modifications have been done to the 50-year old mini-SUV, but have you heard about the rebadged Suzuki Jimny made by Mazda called the AZ-Offroad?

The 1998 Mazda AZ-Offroad

The 1998 Mazda AZ-Offroad

The Mazda AZ-Offroad was first introduced in 1998 and was made available only in Japan. The Japanese carmaker classified the AZ-Offroad as a micro-mini passenger vehicle.

The AZ in the name refers to Autozam, a marque of Japanese automaker Mazda, specializing in small cars and Kei cars. Autozam mostly rebadged Suzuki vehicles such as the Alto, Carry, and Cara, and its dealership channel is still operational in some Japanese locations.

The 2008 Mazda AZ-Offroad

The 2008 Mazda AZ-Offroad

Looking at the AZ-Offroad, it is clear that there are no significant changes made other than the front bumper design made available to some AZ-Offroad options.

Under the hood, however, the Mazda AZ-Offroad used a smaller 660cc 3-cylinder DOHC Suzuki K6A gasoline engine capable of producing 64 hp while the Suzuki Jimny used a 1.3-liter Inline-4 gasoline engine capable of producing 80 hp.

A rebadged Suzuki Alto called the Mazda Carol

A rebadged Suzuki Alto called the Mazda Carol

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The Mazda AZ-Offroad’s engine is coupled with 5-speed manual transmission and has a top speed rated at 125 km/h. Manually operated four-wheel-drive is standard with autolocking front hubs and low range. A 4-speed automatic transmission was also available as an option.

Mazda’s rebadged Jimny may be an amusing tiny vehicle, but Mazda decided to end its production in 2013. Fun fact, Mazda Japan currently is offering a similar-looking Jimny called the Flair Crossover.

However, this is not a rebadged Jimny. The Flair Crossover is also sold by Suzuki and is called the Hustler through an OEM agreement.

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Know more about Suzuki Jimny 2024

Suzuki Jimny

The Suzuki Jimny 2024 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. 

Unveiling the NEW 2024 Suzuki Jimny 5-door in the PH | Philkotse Quick Look

>>> New and used Suzuki Jimny 2024 for sale in the Philippines

Suzuki Jimny Launch

Suzuki Philippines previewed the Suzuki Jimny at the 7th Philippine International Auto Show, which was held last October 24 to 28, 2018 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.   

In 2019, the mini off-roader was finally launched in the Philippines. Variants available in the local market include the base GL MT, GL AT, and the top-spec GLX AT that can come with a monotone or two-tone body paint. 

Suzuki Jimny Exterior

The Suzuki Jimny 2024 flaunts a well-designed and off-roading look which many Filipinos are familiar with. It's reminiscent of a compact Jeep Wrangler and a Mercedes G-Class. Though noticeably smaller compared to the previous generation, it got wider. As for the dimensions, this vehicle measures 3,644mm long, 1,646mm wide, and 1,646mm high, with a wheelbase rated at 2,250mm.

Suzuki Jimny front view

A mini off-roader from the Japanese car brand

Variants come in either a set of LED headlamps or halogen headlights affixed with fog lights. The muscular grille is attractive, adding an edge to its fascia. Other highlights include the arching hood, squarish wheel arches, roof gutter, and big rear tailgate.

Suzuki Jimny Interior

The vibe inside the Suzuki Jimny Philippines is somewhat retro, in a good way. Its dashboard is wide, and complete with useful features, while the redesigned steering wheel is premium to hold and now bears audio control. Standard fixtures include a central door locking system, chrome door handles, power windows, assist grips, and center console cupholders.

Suzuki Jimny interior view

Interior view of the Suzuki Jimny 2024 Philippines 

Four adult-sized passengers can fit inside the vehicle's cabin which is upholstered in fabric. The cargo space of the mini off-roader is 85 liters, but folding the rear seat adds more space of 377 liters. As for the top-ranging GLX variant, it is suggested for those who want nice extras like a clinometer useful for off-road purposes, automatic air conditioning, and cruise control.

Platform & Chassis

This front-engine, four-wheel-drive vehicle proudly bears Suzuki’s LWB Platform. Amidst the glorious changes in its interior and exterior, the Suzuki Jimny mini SUV still has the same reliable and efficient chassis introduced 20 years ago. The standard suspension across all variants is a 3-link rigid axle with coil springs for the front and rear. Meanwhile, solid disc brakes are used for the front and drum brakes for the rear wheels.

Suzuki Jimny front view

A timeless design from Suzuki Philippines

Technology & Safety

Aside from the mentioned LED lights, clinometer, auto door locks, and other useful innovations, a nine-inch infotainment system is installed as a standard feature in all variants. The said system supports offline navigation, USB connectivity, and Bluetooth connectivity, and mirror link connectivity for Android to provide entertainment on the road.

Suzuki Jimny interior view

It is equipped for the off-road

In terms of safety, the mini-SUV comes with door beams for side impact, control for hill hold and descent, SRS dual front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), and an electronic stability program (ESP). On the other hand, the top-of-the-line GLX series has an added brake assist function and a reverse camera for parking easier.

Suzuki Jimny Engine & Drivetrain

The Suzuki Jimny Philippines is powered by a 1.5- liter K15B 14 gasoline engine. It generates 100 hp output at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm torque at 4,400 rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission is used on the GL AT and GLX variant, while a five-speed manual transmission is used by the entry-level GL variant.

Suzuki Jimny rear view

A capable vehicle for any type of road condition

Cruising using this mini SUV in the metro is a breeze. At a favorable speed, overtaking is decent. Maneuvering is also not a challenge due to its stability control. Because of its 4x4 system, conquering challenging roads such as mountainous and slippery tracks is easy.

Locally, the 2024 Suzuki Jimny comes in eight different colors. For the GLX Two-tone variants, its options include Solid Kinetic Yellow, Metallic Brisk Blue, and Metallic Chiffon Ivory. The Monotone GLX and GL trims may also come in Solid Jungle Green, Solid Medium Gray, and White. Lastly, the GL Variant with the monotone paint job can come in Pearl Bluish Black 3, and Metallic Silky Silver. 

As mentioned, the Suzuki Jimny technically competes against the Toyota FJ Cruiser and the Jeep Wrangler. In that regard, this small mini-SUV is more than a match against those two when going off-road is concerned. 

When compared to other similarly sized models in terms of practicality though, the Jimny doesn’t have the best interior space. It does, however, pack plenty of driving amenities, as well as a decent safety kit.  

Suzuki Jimny 2024 Price List

Let's check out the Suzuki Jimny 2024 price in the Philippines.

Variants  Price
Suzuki Jimny GL MT ₱1,258,000
Suzuki Jimny GLX AT (Monotone) ₱1,320,000
Suzuki Jimny GLX AT (Two-Tone) ₱1,330,000

Suzuki Jimny Pros & Cons

Pros

  • One of the best off-roaders money can buy
  • Cool retro-modern styling
  • Easy to drive

Cons

  • Not that roomy

Suzuki Jimny FAQs

1. Which Suzuki Jimny Philippines color is best?

It’s difficult to tell which color is best since this depends on each one’s preference. However, the Suzuki Jimny Pearl Bluish Black 3 and Suzuki Jimny White seem to be a popular choice.

2. Does the Suzuki Jimny come with an automatic transmission?

Yes, it does. Particularly, only the base variant GL 1.5 comes with manual transmission. The rest three are automatic.

3. Is the Suzuki Jimny reliable?

The Jimny model is now 50 years old and is still selling very well in no less than 194 countries. That fact alone has convincingly proved the reliability of this car.

4. How much is Suzuki Jimny 2024 Philippines?

Suzuki Jimny 2023 price Philippines ranges from 1,258,000 PHP for the entry-level GL 1.5 MT to 1,330,000 PHP for the top-of-the-line Suzuki Jimny GLX 1.5 AT.

5. Is the Jimny 2024 an SUV?

Yes, the Suzuki Jimny is a SUV.

 

₱ 1,258,000 - ₱ 1,330,000

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Rex Sanchez

Rex Sanchez

Author

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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