autoX Awards 2023: Maruti Suzuki Jimny Performance, Quality and Value for Money Ranked

autoX Awards 2023: Shocked to see the Maruti Suzuki Jimny claim the ‘Best of 2023’ accolade? Of course, you are! And that’s understood because, in worldly terms, the Jimny is far from perfect – it’s rather flawed. But, then, is it necessary for a car to be perfect in every single way for us to celebrate it or, in this case, award it?

There’s no denying that the Jimny is one of the biggest launches of 2023. And we must say that for many enthusiasts in India – including us – it was love at first sight. There is something about the Jimny that makes it unbelievably irresistible – the boxy old-school contours, petite size, and just the right mix of aggression and cuteness in its design make it mesmerizingly charming and desirable. It’s adorable, like a puppy, which means everyone loves it irrespective of what it can or cannot do. And that’s precisely why it scored so many points for its X-Factor. When a Jimny passes by, you are inadvertently going to turn your head to catch a glimpse. It’s very, very cool.

Now, given the little Jimny’s aesthetic appearance, most people like to believe that it’s a toy and not a real SUV. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong, for the moment you look beyond what’s apparent on the surface, you come to realise the true capability of the Jimny.

Let’s begin with the basics. The Jimny is a true-blue off-roader – a mountain goat that can go anywhere. It has got a body-on-frame construction, four-wheel drive with a low-ratio transfer case, solid axles at both ends, and a lightweight body, which gives it an edge over every other off-roader / SUV on the market. Take it off-road, and you’ll struggle to get it stuck anywhere – at least, we couldn’t manage to – for the Jimny would just bounce off of all the obstacles that came its way. It was virtually unstoppable.

What we love the most about the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, though, is that it’s not a one-dimensional off-roader. It’s got four doors, which means that it can be your only car. Plus, it’s got a decent boot, stellar ride quality both on the tarmac and bad roads, and good drivability for a ladder-frame SUV.

Inside, however, it’s not quite perfect, but it doesn’t feel crude either. You get all the modern bells and whistles – a crisp touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, and so on. It also gets full LED headlamps and even headlamp washers, which make it even cooler.

Sure, the 1.5-litre petrol engine could do with some more poke, and the automatic and manual transmissions it comes with aren’t the best in the business. Plus, it is priced higher than what most of us anticipated. However, in the larger scheme of things, all this doesn’t really matter. You can learn to live with its flaws, especially given how the Jimny makes you feel as a driver. And perhaps that’s what makes it a winner in our books. It brings the kid in you alive, which is why we have a soft corner for it.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Jimny Review: The Best Off-Roader to Buy in India?

More than anything, the Jimny is a reminder that cars aren’t supposed to be soulless appliances or gadget-on-wheels, and frankly, that’s exactly what most new products are. The Jimny, then, seems to be swimming against the tide and challenging the status quo, which is probably why we love it so much. It’s a rebel with a cause. And, believe it or not, the Jimny is probably the last old-school modern car that’s got character in spades. It’s got a unique personality, unmatched by any other car on the market today. Like I said in the beginning, it’s a car worth celebrating because given the current norms and regulations, you never know when the sun sets on the Jimny. It is not just one of the best of this year, it’s very possibly one of the best of the current era.

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