- Suzuki will reportedly unveil an updated Jimny in the Japanese market this coming August.
- The three-door Jimny will adopt the latest safety features from the five-door Jimny Nomade.
- Exterior, interior, and mechanical components are expected to remain unchanged this time.
The Suzuki Jimny may not be available everywhere, but that hasn’t stopped it from earning cult status in just about every corner of the globe. Even in the United States, where it’s still not for sale, the pint-sized off-roader has no shortage of admirers. Now, with the current fourth-generation model approaching its seventh birthday, there’s growing speculation about a mid-cycle refresh.
According to recent reports out of Japan, Suzuki is preparing to release a lightly updated version in August, though the changes are expected to be modest.
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Instead of dramatic redesigns, the focus will be on technology. Both the Japanese-market Jimny and Jimny Sierra are set to receive the latest iteration of Suzuki Safety Support, matching the setup found in the Indian-built five-door Jimny Nomade that joined the lineup earlier this year.
As reported by Creative Trend, the updated models will adopt Suzuki’s dual-camera autonomous emergency braking system, along with a pause function for the traffic sign recognition feature. For variants equipped with the four-speed automatic gearbox, additional driver assistance systems will be included, such as Reverse Brake Support, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control. These features significantly expand the previously limited ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems) package.
Why No Exterior Tweaks?
Visually, the Jimny is expected to stay the course. The design, largely unchanged since 2018, will carry over inside and out. And frankly, that’s unlikely to bother fans, as hardcore off-roaders rarely clamor for cosmetic overhauls.
Japanese media reports indicate Suzuki has no plans to introduce styling updates or special editions with this refresh. The reason is largely practical. The company is still working through a hefty backlog of orders, especially for the Jimny Sierra and Jimny Nomade.
Demand has been so intense that Suzuki had to suspend orders for the Nomade altogether after receiving 50,000 reservations in just four days. That figure represented roughly 3.5 years’ worth of planned production.
There’s also no indication of any changes under the hood. In Japan, the narrow-body Jimny continues with its kei car–compliant 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder, while the Jimny Sierra and Nomade stick with the naturally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder also found in global markets.
What About Other Markets?
Once the refreshed model debuts in Japan, it’s reasonable to expect that similar updates will follow in other regions. In Australia, for example, the three-door Jimny was pulled from the market due to safety compliance issues. With the updated Safety Support tech onboard, it’s likely to return, complementing the still-available five-door version.
More: The Suzuki Jimny’s Final Chapter In Europe Is Its Best Yet
As for Europe, Suzuki has been launching farewell special editions of the current Jimny, suggesting that an update is imminent. The addition of hybrid or mild-hybrid tech would allow the company to reintroduce a passenger version of the off-roader in the Old Continent, after emission regulations forced them to sell it only as a two-seater LCV.
However, a fully electric Jimny is no longer on the table. Last year, President Toshihiro Suzuki said the model would stick with a non-electrified combustion engine, while the company explores alternative fuels. That effectively rules out the electric version that was once floated for European buyers.
