A VAN THAT CAN (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 56

Between 2022 and 2023, the fourth generation Suzuki Jimny lived on for a little longer in this LCV van guise. It's just like the chirpy, endearing little SUV Jimny withdrawn from sale in the UK in 2020. And if you're after a go-anyway tiny van, it could just be the one you never knew you wanted.

Modelsword count: 4

3dr van (Petrol -1.5)

Historyword count: 165

Like us, you can probably think of quite a few cars that left production far too soon. In the modern era, that's usually because they fail to meet ever-more stringent emissions regulations and such a casualty was the fourth generation Suzuki Jimny small SUV, which launched here at the end of 2018 but stayed on sale in the UK for only 18 months. Turned out its modest 1.5-litre petrol engine was dragging down Suzuki's model range 95g/km CO2 fleet average, so it had to go - and that was that. Or so we thought. But then someone at Suzuki discovered the 'N1 Light Commercial' vehicle category that covers LCVs under 3.5 tonnes. Models of that sort sold here classified as vans don't contribute to their manufacturers' CO2 fleet average. Other parts of the globe already wanted an LCV-orientated Jimny; why not sell that here? Hence in 2021, the launch of this model, the Jimny LCV. It stayed on sale here until the end of 2023.

What You Getword count: 379

Visually, the Jimny looks very little different in this LCV guise, a model designed more for the mud than the metropolis. Flared wheel arches, bulky side panels and that spare wheel on the tailgate give it a purposeful look intended to reflect a 'rugged personality'. Longstanding Jimny design cues like round headlights and independent indicators are present and correct and the front grille will be familiar to previous buyers too. Inevitably, those compact dimensions mean that space is at something of a premium inside. The footwells are tight for instance and the driver and front seat passenger will need to be on friendly terms. The dashboard, with lacks a centre screen, is pretty functional and black plastic predominates around the cabin. The seats are comfortable but not really intended for overly long trips. The previous couple of seats in the back have of course been removed to create this as a commercial vehicle. To qualify as an LCV, this Suzuki needed at load length of more than 900mm, which required the front seats to be moved forward 10mm. That's created a total usable area of 0.86 m³ - or 863-litres, which is 33-litres more than the old passenger car's boot could offer with the rear seats folded flat. If you're choosing the Jimny LCV as a commercial vehicle first and foremost, you might be rather disappointed with it because it can only take a modest total load capacity of 863-litres (0.86m3). The old rear seats have been replaced by a mesh-and-steel bulkhead which separates those at the front from the loading area. Unlike most other car derived vans, the rear windows remain in place, which will make filling the loading area to the roof rather precarious idea. You won't be doing that with cargo that's very heavy though because this LCV's payload is limited to 150kg. To give you some perspective, a normal supermini-based van will usually take about half a tonne. Given that the less-than-environmental emissions showing from this vehicle's 1.5-litre petrol engine was the reason it was withdrawn from the UK market in passenger form, you might expect the running costs offered up here to be rather less than exemplary. Actually, they're not too bad - as ought to be the case from an SUV this light.

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