Suzuki Malaysia teases new Jimny variant with safety upgrades – gaining ADAS suite?


Suzuki Cars Malaysia has teased a new model on its Facebook page, showing a vehicle hidden beneath a white cover. Judging by its boxy silhouette, it’s clearly another version of the Suzuki Jimny. More specifically, the three-door variant due to its shorter proportions. 

That said, the bigger question is — what upgrades or changes could Suzuki have in store this time? The caption in the teaser post says, “Elevated safety, uncompromised value and adventure redefined. Crafted for those who seek more excitement, with peace of mind included at no extra cost.”

This suggests that the Suzuki Jimny is set to receive a new set of safety upgrades. Looking at the existing lineup of Jimny models in Malaysia, safety equipment is still rather basic. The three-door model features two airbags (one for the passenger and driver), anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability program (ESP), and Brake Assist (BA). As for the five-door variant, it adds additional side airbags and curtain airbags for a total of six airbags. 

To get a better idea of what to expect, we can look to the Australian market, where the Jimny has already gained a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These include adaptive cruise control (ACC), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW), lane departure prevention (LDP), weaving alert, and high beam assist.

ALSO READ: Suzuki on track to overtake Honda as Japan’s second-biggest carmaker

Since its launch in 2021, the Jimny has received four special editions, including the Rhino Edition, Rainforest Edition, Black Edition, and most recently, the Jimny Arctic. Rather than being yet another cosmetic special edition, these added safety upgrades — especially if introduced at no extra cost — could instead signal a broader update for the model lineup.

As for the rest of the vehicle, expect to see the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder producing 102 hp and 130 Nm to all four wheels (4WD) via a four-speed automatic transmission. The car is kitted with a part-time 4WD system with low-range transfer, allowing for proper off-roading if you so please. Inside, standard equipment includes a touchscreen head unit with smartphone connectivity, fabric seats, automatic air conditioning, and a reversing camera. 

The teaser post also mentions that the new model will arrive “at no extra cost”, suggesting pricing should remain close to the current starting price of RM158,900 for the Suzuki Jimny three-door (on-the-road, without insurance). That said, this could change if Suzuki chooses to base it on one of the existing special editions, which rises up to RM174,900 for the Rhino edition.

RELATED: 2023 Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition review: Contractor, hipster, it doesn’t matter