It has already been three full years since the reveal of the four-generation Suzuki Jimny in 2018 but the tiny 4×4 continues to enchant off-road purists all around the world. To keep up with the growing demand, Suzuki announced a bare-bones “Lite” trim level of the Jimny, which will be available in Australia from August 2021.

The Suzuki Jimny Lite comes with 15-inch steel wheels shod in high-profile tires for a purposeful look. The headlights use halogen technology (no fancy LEDs), the mirrors have black plastic covers and there are no fog lights on the front bumper. Other than that, it is a regular Jimny, ready to explore the outdoors.

Under the bonnet lies the same naturally aspirated 1.5-liter petrol engine producing 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS) and 96 lb-ft (130 Nm) of torque. Power is transmitted to all four wheels through a 5-seed manual gearbox with a separate low-range shifter for more extreme off-road situations.

Inside, a basic Radio / CD player unit takes the place of the usual infotainment but retains Bluetooth connectivity for music and calls. Air conditioning is standard to help people cope with Australia’s hot climate, however, in this case with manual temperature control. We will have more information about the Suzuki Jimny Lite on the 1st of July. Pricing will be announced a month later, together with its commercial debut for the Australian market.

See Also: The New Suzuki Jimny Is The Affordable Off-Roader We Want But Can’t Get

The exact same setup as for the exterior and the interior design and equipment can be found on the European-spec Jimny, where it is only available as a light commercial vehicle since 2020. This means that Europeans can’t have a four-seater Jimny anymore, but they benefit from a larger 863 lt cargo area complete with a partition separating it from the two-seater cockpit. Suzuki’s decision to discontinue the passenger version of the Jimny in Europe was taken due to the strict emission regulations.

The Australian Jimny Lite and the European Jimny LCV might look basic, but not to the extent of the Japanese-spec Jimny XL. This one does without the fender add-ons, has different bumpers and narrow tracks in order to comply with the Kei car regulations concerning the maximum width.

See Also: 2021 Suzuki Jimny Returns To The UK As A 4×4 Light Commercial Vehicle

The Jimny family is expected to grow soon with the addition of a longer-wheelbase 5-door model which might also get the mild-hybrid 1.4-liter engine already found in other Suzuki models in Europe.