Maruti Jimny Evolution Across Generations

Maruti Suzuki debuted the five-door Jimny at the Auto Expo 2023 this year. The name "Jimny" has been around for more than 50 years! The first generation was introduced in 1970, the second in 1981, the third in 1998, and the current fourth generation was introduced in overseas markets in 2018 as a three-door vehicle.

First Generation:

The first generation Jimny debuted more than 50 years ago, in 1970. The initial generation, known as the LJ10, was powered by a 360cc petrol engine with a 25PS output and featured a boxy body. It could only seat three people and had the spare wheel adjacent to the back seat. Five years later, the LJ50, a second iteration with the same design language but available with both soft and hard-top roof options, was introduced. It had a 550cc engine with better output statistics and an exterior spare wheel. In 1977, the LJ50 was replaced by the LJ80, which featured an 800cc petrol engine producing 41PS.

Second Generation:

Following the popularity of the first generation, the Jimny received its second generation in 1981. The SJ410 was the first generation, with a 1000cc engine producing 45PS, while the SJ413 was the second, with a 1.3-liter petrol engine producing 67PS at first. We received the Maruti Gypsy, a second-generation Jimny with a longer wheelbase than the global version. It was initially equipped with the same 1.0-liter engine, but it was later upgraded to a 1.3-liter petrol engine with an output of 81PS and 103Nm. Soon after its release, the Gypsy became one of the most popular off-road vehicles in the country, even becoming a mainstay of the Indian army's fleet.

Third Generation

Jimny saw a significant shift in 1998. Its powertrain was unchanged, but it was a whole new product. The spherical headlamps were replaced by squarish devices that housed both the headlamps and the indicators. The grille received larger vertical slots, and the general appearance was updated. It received a redesigned ladder frame, independent shock absorbers and coil springs for the front suspension, and air hub locks that allowed the car to be switched from two-wheel-drive to four-wheel-drive while in motion. The third-generation Jimny was not available in the country from Suzuki.

Fourth Generation

The fourth and current generation Jimny debuted in 2018 as a three-door model. The design has also changed significantly. Its boxy shape returns, along with design cues from earlier generations. The grille is similar to that of the third generation. The original two generations' round headlamps have returned, while the entire design is inspired by the first generation. In India this year, the fourth-generation Jimny made its world debut in five-door form. It has a 1.5-liter petrol engine that produces 105PS and 134.2Nm. The modern Jimny is available with either a manual or an automatic transmission.

Final thought

Over the course of four generations, the Jimny has undergone numerous alterations. Maruti is back in the lifestyle off-road SUV sector, which is now dominated by Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha. The Jimny will be released soon, with an expected starting price of Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom).

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