The long awaited 5-door bodystyle of the Maruti Suzuki Jimny SUV for India has finally been spied, and we’ve got our hands on the pictures of the SUV on Indian soil. We can also confirm that the made-for-India Maruti Suzuki Jimny will debut at the upcoming Auto Expo 2023 in January.
- Jimny 5-door for India spied for the first time
- Could get a bigger touchscreen, more features
- Will come with AllGrip Pro 4WD tech
Maruti Suzuki Jimny: first spy shots reveal key details
While the Jimny 5-door was spotted testing in Europe a few months ago, the sighting of a test mule in India could mean that this version is headed here.
While the Jimny 3-door is already manufactured in India for export markets, there has not been a single unit of either the 3-door or 5-door version of the SUV seen in camouflage, or otherwise, until today. Additionally, the test mule sports typical Maruti Suzuki test registration plates, which were seen on other Maruti products during their respective testing stages. The fully covered mule could also be hiding a much expected facelift for the Jimny, which could debut on the five-door first.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny: interior
While there aren't any major changes expected on the inside, one can expect more space in the second row, a new texture for the upholstery, and a bigger 9-inch touchscreen instead of the 7-inch unit in the current Jimny sold abroad.
Additionally, the model seen in India is a right-hand drive unit and not the left-hand drive version that was seen in Europe. Until now, the made-in-India Jimny was only manufactured in left-hand drive guise as it was only meant for exports.
Maruti Suzuki Jimny: powertrain
As far as the engine is concerned, the Jimny will most likely come with Maruti's K15C 1.5-litre DualJet engine, which could debut in the five-door model. The three-door Jimny sold abroad comes with a K15B power plant, which has been replaced by the K15C in India. Gearbox choices could include the five-speed manual or the six-speed auto, with both transmission options paired with a manually operated transfer case for four-wheel drive use, similar to the Thar.
The new Jimny will be sold via Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa outlets and rival the Mahindra Thar and the Force Gurkha, both of which will be available in 5-door guises soon. All three SUVs could see official debuts sometime next year and will go on sale subsequently thereafter.
Image credit: Abhishek Ramuka
Also see:
Suzuki Jimny review: Turns more heads than a supercar