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BHPian's first meeting with the Maruti Suzuki Jimny Alpha AT

17th August 2024, 10:45 by Kanad Kalasur

Although this car is so small on the outside, it is a different feeling inside, thanks to the dashboard/ console.

BHPian vigsom recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction

This is a brief on my long awaited ride-cum-drive of one of India's most polarized offerings - the Maruti Jimny. My views will hopefully dwell on points that probably haven't been covered so far, and provide some additional perspectives over what's been already covered through the official and many ownership reviews.

How I eventually met a Jimny

Although I've ridden past many Jimnys, on the road and on display at showrooms, I first got to see a Jimny up close via a chance meeting with an owner; the car was an Alpha AT in the Pearl Arctic White shade which had great looking airbag friendly seat covers (sides are open)

Ride, drive, then ride again

Having seen many views on the Jimny via the official review on t-bhp and some well penned posts and reviews by owners/ pundits, I was wanting to become the devil's advocate viz. to find out what wasn't good. However, gradually, the car turned me around from trying to be a devil.

The first sight

The car was parked in a rather smallish basement parking, and when I approached the cutie, I said, "Awww, chho chhweet". The car looked so small for an accomplished SUV. The owner unlocked the car, and it let off the typical three or four beeps like how one would hear in the MGA central locking siren of the yesteryear Swift/ sx4.

The door handles - typical old Wagon R/Alto/Versa type led me to the left. I was first left impressed with the retro layout of the dash. It looked rather premium. My only grouse here was that the display should have been an inch or two smaller
Engine cold start up - quite silent compared to all other Maruti K, J, G series I have experienced this far. However, I did feel a very slight shake in the body for a minute or so after the engine started up
The car set off, took a sharp turn, and was up the ramp rather effortlessly
The ride outside was via some rather narrow lanes - no sweat
The engine did let off this characteristic whine at approx. 1500rpm (which I initially mistook for transmission whine)
With several bumps on the road, I was looking for some harsh jumps (as the devil's advocate) but found the car navigating them quite well

My first own picture of the Jimny's interior

Drive

After a quick coffee, I was handed the key, unlocked the car and got into the Captain's seat. Entry was quite easy ' I slid into an SUV without having to climb into one. Although this car is so small on the outside, it is a different feeling inside, thanks to the dashboard/ console. Pressed the brake, pushed the button, and off she fired

Reverse was dead easy with the massive reverse cam image on the display and the large ORVMs. However rearward visibility via the IRVM is obviously bad because of the rather small glass at the rear, partly masked by the spare wheel. View is further restricted if the rear seat headrest is up
The steering did feel hard, much unlike the butter steerings I've experienced in all other Marutis and Toyotas. It's return to center wasn't as predictable as I'd have expected
Having gotten used all these years to pressing the horn with my thumbs, this got me re-learning by actually moving my hand to the center of the steering wheel to sound the horn; again, living the Padmini and Chevrolet Aveo times
Moving through narrow streets was a breeze, as was the car's ability to navigate bumps
It had begun to rain a bit, and I used the tiny wipers, which effectively cleaned the tiny and almost vertical windscreen; reminded me of the Padmini days
Now, for the most difficult part where most cars would struggle - parking. I saw some space available next to a Tata Ace but also saw the driver cleaning the Ace. I was able to casually park the car, next to the Ace, leaving enough room for the Ace driver to clean, yet not jut into traffic on the rather narrow main road. A scooterist came and parked right in front of me but I was unfazed since I knew this cutie would come out via the smallest of gaps; the small form factor is a boon!

Views from the driver seat - roomy interior defying the small form factor