A Japanese journalist living in Germany reveals the hidden gem of the Suzuki Jimny? [Personally impressed cars of 2024]

What is “Baby G” that is popular in Germany?

The Suzuki Jimny has been hugely popular since its introduction in 1970, spanning generations. Not only is it compact and practical, but the current model’s high level of design has made it one of the most popular vehicles in Japan, with popularity continuing to grow since its release. The Jimny first went on sale in Germany and Europe in the summer of 1998. Since then, it has continued to be loved by people in Germany and Europe for 26 years.

The fourth-generation Jimny, announced in Japan in July 2018 and in Germany a few months later on October 27th of the same year, not only generated a lot of buzz even before its release, but also attracted a flood of pre-orders, resulting in a waiting list of over a year and a half. It’s no surprise then that a similar phenomenon occurred in Germany. Its angular design resembles the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, better known in Japan as the “Geländewagen,” so in Germany the Jimny was affectionately nicknamed the “Baby G.” While the original shipments were limited, and two Jimny models, one made in Japan and one made overseas, were imported to Germany, many customers apparently waited for the Japanese-made model due to its reliability.

In Germany, where there are no standards for light vehicles, the models sold were mainly manual transmission vehicles with a 1.5-liter engine, the same specifications as the Jimny Sierra in Japan, and automatic transmission vehicles were extremely rare.

Priced at a comparable price to a BMW 1 Series

The base price of the vehicle is 29,490 euros (including 19% VAT), which is a fairly high-end price of about 4.83 million yen. I went to a local Suzuki dealership in 2022 to check it out, and although there were slight differences in options and specifications, the average retail price was around 35,000 euros, which is an astonishing 5.7 million yen in Japanese yen. At 35,000 euros after all the modifications, it’s in the same price range as the BMW 1 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and Audi A3. While the Jimny is popular in Japan for its relatively affordable price range, in Germany it’s a vehicle that some people hesitate to buy. This may be why the customers who are willing to pay a high price to buy a Jimny are quite enthusiasts.

The Jimny is especially popular in winter. While heavy snowfalls have decreased in frequency, Germany still experiences heavy snowfalls. Apartment and building management companies have installed blades on the front and modified (removable) rears for snow removal and gravel spreading. This niche and somewhat pricey Suzuki Jimny was quietly discontinued in Germany and other EU countries around the summer of 2024. Prior to the end of sales, in July of this year, Suzuki sold 900 units of a special edition “Horizon” model equipped with a German body kit for 32,340 euros (approximately 5.3 million yen). From now on, those wishing to purchase a Jimny in Europe will only be able to purchase it as a stock or used vehicle. In fact, Suzuki’s “Swift Sport” and “Ignis” have also disappeared from the German market along with the Jimny.

The Jimny is an ultra-lightweight and compact off-road vehicle, weighing just 1,090 kg, and is extremely tough on both narrow city roads and rugged mountain roads.It boasts a 102 PS 1.5-liter engine with a maximum torque of 130 Nm, delivering power that exceeds its small appearance.

Furthermore, when driving on unpaved forest roads, the highly rigid suspension with a sturdy ladder frame and front and rear rigid axles, as well as the switchable Allgrip Pro all-wheel drive with off-road mitigation functions, give the car a powerful and stable ride that truly lives up to its nickname “Baby G.” Since the Jimny was originally used more as a work vehicle than a personal car in Germany, and new cars are no longer being sold, it’s likely that the used market price will stabilize or even rise.

Reasons for treating it as a commercial vehicle

There seems to have been a big reason why the popular Jimny had to be discontinued in Germany and Europe. Due to the strict CO2 regulations for private cars in the EU (European Union), which are stricter than those in Japan, Jimnys that exceeded the standards were likely to have to pay heavy fines. As a result, the Jimny, which had been sold as a private car until then, will be sold only as a commercial vehicle from 2021.

Since commercial vehicles are not subject to the same strict CO2 regulations as private cars, sales were able to continue. This was a desperate measure to get around a loophole in the law. The rear seats have been removed to make it a two-seater, and it has a large luggage room with a maximum load capacity of 863L. In fact, since many people in Japan use the Jimny for sleeping in their cars or for leisure, this may be a perfect fit.

Like Japan, Germany is a major automobile nation where the automobile industry significantly supports the national economy, and although there are not many of them, it is extremely unfortunate that the Jimny, Japan’s pride and joy, has quietly disappeared after being well-received and loved for many years since its predecessor.

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