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Gypsy owner buys a Jimny AT: Shares his first impressions after 300 km

5th September 2023, 09:32 by Rahul Nagaraj

Fuel efficiency is hovering around 9.3 to 9.8 km/l, which is slightly below my expectations.

BHPian Akash_1806 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello, friends,

I've been following this thread for a while and have gathered a lot of information about the Jimny SUV. I received my Arctic White Zeta AT on August 30th from Fairdeals Nexa, Sector-10, Noida.

As for the booking and delivery experience, there's only one word: Awesome. I booked the vehicle on August 10th, and it was delivered on August 30th. I didn't have to pay any extra amount, and there was no pressure from the dealership to buy extended warranties or accessories. The vehicle arrived at the dealership on August 26th, and payment was made after a thorough Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). No one objected to this, and the Customer Relationship Manager (Mr. Manoj) was extremely helpful throughout the process. I had accessories fitted on August 29th while I was present, and I must say, she looks awesome!

Now, let's talk about my initial impressions of the vehicle after driving it for 300 kilometres (I also own a 2005 ex-army Gypsy, customized to my liking, so some points might be in comparison with that):

Looks, looks, and more looks. The understated, no-nonsense, boxy design looks even better in person, and some might argue it looks better than the Thar. The Zeta model's steel wheels and high tire profile add to its charm.
The K15B + 4AT combination is decent and provides great driveability. There's hardly any instance when the gearbox seems confused. It always seems to be in the right gear (maybe due to the fewer number of gears?). The combination of a proper 4x4 system with low range and a naturally aspirated petrol engine feels like a match made in heaven, especially after driving the Gypsy for four years.
This vehicle is not a street scorcher or a long-distance cruiser by any means. It's a thoroughbred off-road machine, best driven at sedate speeds and with caution due to its Body-on-Frame (BoF) structure and body roll. However, it's designed for off-road adventures that most street-oriented vehicles wouldn't dare to explore.
195/80 R15 Bridgestone Dueler H/L tires on a capable off-road machine? Seriously? I'm not sure what Maruti was thinking when selecting these tires. A tire change to All-Terrain (AT) or Mud-Terrain (MT) tires is a must for anyone intending to tackle moderate or extreme off-road terrain. The stock tires offer adequate grip on tarmac and mild off-road trails.
The fuel economy statistics on the infotainment system and Multi-Information Display (MID) seem erratic. For example, the range shows 135 kilometres, and within a few meters, it drops to 125 kilometres without any change in throttle input. The fuel economy is hovering around 9.3 to 9.8 km/l, which is slightly below my expectations. However, I believe it will improve once the engine has been broken in and the first service has been completed.
Contrary to some responses in this thread, the K15B engine in the Jimny sounds delightful around 3-4k rpm. It's not harsh, and the Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) levels are well-controlled. There are no unusual suspension, tire, or engine noises inside the cabin at city speeds. Coming from a 1.5 K9K diesel, the K15B engine seems quite refined.
The steering, instrument cluster, and driving ergonomics remind me of my Gypsy, which aligns with the primary purpose of the vehicle. However, the Jimny is much more comfortable and convenient compared to the Gypsy.
With its compact body structure, lightweight, and 103 hp on tap, this vehicle is fun to drive and handles small bumps and potholes exceptionally well.
It checks all the boxes for my family. An automatic transmission, 4x4 capability, comfortable seating for four, four doors, six airbags, and a compact structure, all for under 17.5 lakhs on the road? There is no competition; no other car in this segment offers all of that.
The MID is highly informative and displays all the necessary details along with the infotainment system. The four-speaker setup is much better than my previous car, so no complaints there. The functional but feature-rich interiors are great compared to the vehicles I've owned previously.

That's all for now. I'll update the thread once I've taken the car on the highway and on off-road tracks (like ORAZ or any other place) once the run-in period is completed. I plan to keep the vehicle stock for the next few months to understand its strengths and weaknesses as a 4x4 AT.

To answer a few questions:

Did I need the Jimny?

Ans: No, not at all. Any compact SUV would have met my needs where 4x4 wasn't necessary; for situations where it was needed, I could use the Gypsy.

Did I WANT the Jimny?

Ans: This one is a no-brainer. Yes, I did. After driving the Gypsy for about 4 years and 25k kilometres, the Jimny seemed to be the only suitable option.