Suzuki Jimny May Soon Become Electrified

If you’re into tackling off-road challenges on a budget or have an unhealthy amount of nostalgia for the Suzuki Samurai that was taken from us in the 1990s, you were probably disheartened to learn that the Jimny (which is what the Samurai is called globally) wouldn’t be coming to North America. Suzuki had already exited our market and the logic at the time was that a super-small ORV probably wouldn’t see a lot of takers in the land where full-sized pickups reign supreme. While Europe was given access to the Jimny, sweeping emission laws have spelled trouble for the K15B engine it uses there. However, Suzuki now seems to have figured out how to get around that problem and indirectly announced on Thursday that the model would eventually become an EV. 

It doesn’t make a lot of sense on the surface. The Jimny’s biggest selling points are the fact that it’s small, lightweight, and extremely capable in an off-road environment. The fact that it also utilizes an old-school ladder frame likewise means it’s easier to repair after being pummeled on jagged rocks, tree stumps, and whatever else you’ve attempted to drive over. 

Going electric likely means an end to all of the above with there being a strong likelihood that the model would also become quite a bit more expensive than what’s presently on offer – at least before any government-backed incentives come into play. 

But there may not be any alternative path for Suzuki to walk. The 101-horsepower, 1.5-liter (technically 1,462-cc) naturally-aspirated inline-four motor the Jimny uses across the planet is already confronting regulatory issues in Europe. It’s technically a new motor for the brand. But is based heavily on older designs. Meanwhile, its status as a Kei car in Japan has limited it to the 658-cc R06A I3 Turbo. 

It’s not particularly quick in either format and would struggle to break 90 mph in even its most ambitious setup. But it’s admittedly not designed for highway use and shines the brightest at lower speeds on uneven terrain and exceptionally tight roads or trails. Earlier incarnations of the Jimny (including examples sold in North America) could barely touch 70 mph and the top speed just keeps getting lower the further back in time you go. 

While electrification could certainly make the vehicle more punchy at low speeds, thanks to the instantaneous torque offered by EVs, we’re doubting the Jimny will be transformed into a grand tourer. Unless Suzuki totally re-imagines the SUV, it’ll probably never reward drivers for keeping it on the highway. 

But we don’t really know much about the electrified Jiminy right now. Suzuki hasn’t even officially confirmed its existence. We only know about it because Road & Track shared an image from the manufacturer’s product planning announcement, which seeks to begin electrifying its lineup in 2024. By 2030, Suzuki plans to introduce five new EVs and has identified the chosen models by showcasing their silhouettes during the presentation. One of these was very obviously the fourth-generation Jimny introduced in 2018. 

While we like to follow the Jimny because everyone seems to see it as the weird little SUV that got away, we don’t expect to see it coming to our market anytime soon – electrified or not. Suzuki has explained that it plans to focus sales in Europe, Japan, India, Africa, and Southeast Asia – where itty-bitty cars tend to sell better. However, the EV Jimny seems to be targeting Europe specifically for the reasons stated above. Here’s hoping it’s still a solid off-road option for people with a modest recreational budget.

[Image: Max Anuchkin/Shutterstock]

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