The lifestyle off-roader segment is breathing new life thanks to the second generation Mahindra Thar. This space may soon be turbocharged as the launch of new Maruti Suzuki Jimny is on the way. In the 5-door iteration, the SUV was showcased at the 2023 Auto Expo. And, in fact, the company opened the order books for the Jimny soon after it was unveiled. Till date, the compact off-roader has received over 15,000 orders. To be precise, the car has received around 1,000 orders a day on an average. It’s a resoundingly-warm response for a car targeted at a younger consumer base.
The Jimny will be sold in only two variants – Zeta and Alpha. The former will feature steel rims, while the latter will feature alloy wheels. Also, the Zeta variant will get a smaller 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, while the top-spec trim will get a 9-inch display. Another key difference between the two trim options will be the availability of LED headlamps, headlamp washers and fog lamps. All these features will be present only on the higher Alpha trim. The entry-level Zeta variant will miss out on these. Instead, regular halogen headlamps will be available.
The big talking point of the India-spec Jimny is its 5-door layout. The SUV is now more practical with an easy-to-access second row. Also, it boasts of more boot space than its 3-door counterpart sold overseas. Mechanically, it gets the same hardware as the 3-door Jimny. Solid axles at both ends with coil springs, 1.5L petrol engine paired with a low-range transfer case, and two transmission options – 5-speed MT and 4-speed AT, borrowed from the 3-door Jimny itself . The 2023 Maruti Suzuki Jimny could go on sale in the Indian market by March or April this year. Currently, its price is expected to start from Rs 10 lakh.