I interviewed 12 Jimny owners across the World to find out what it’s really like to own a Suzuki Jimny

Owning a Suzuki Jimny isn’t just about driving a 4×4, it’s a lifestyle choice, a community, and for many, the start of countless adventures. To celebrate that spirit, I reached out to real Jimny owners on Instagram from all over the world and asked them three simple questions: what they love most, what they’d change, and what a story they have to tell.

The answers are honest, varied, and full of personality, just like the Jimny itself.

In the order I received replies… let’s go! …and don’t forget to leave a comment below.

@the_little_rig – Australia

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

Definitely the smile it brings to people’s faces and the interaction’s I have with complete strangers asking about the car.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

I love everything about it but mechanically I absolutely want to change the chain driven transfer case to a gear driven Sierra case. For strength and reliability.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

Probably not funny or even inspiring…. But when I first bought the jimny in 2019 I already had a vision for a little monster truck inspired build. I could see that vision, but no one else could. EVERYONE looked at the stock jimny when I brought it home and thought I was insane for selling my Ranger and getting such a silly little car. I stuck to my vision and now everyone loves the little beast. My point is, when you have a vision or goal stick with it no matter what people say. Not just with cars obviously, but with everything you do in life.

Follow @the_little_rig

@nw_overlander – United Kingdom

What do you love most about owning a Jimny?

I love the uniqueness of owning a Jimny, knowing that every Jimny I see is different. Their rarity in the UK, with no more being imported unless you import one privately from Japan, makes them even more special. People often ask me about mine if they see me in the street and sometimes it feels like driving a sports car with all the attention and pointing. It was a bit strange at first, but after six years, I still love it.

While some in the off-road community may mock the Jimny for being small and underpowered, my little mountain goat conquers the same terrains as a Land Rover and more, without any issues. It just requires a bit more throttle and a skilled driver. The variety of parts and accessories available for the Jimny now is fantastic, allowing you to personalise it to your liking. I bought mine very early on when there were few in the country, and accessories had to be imported from Japan or Australia, which was quite costly. However, as time has passed and the market has grown, options in the UK have significantly improved.

Though not as extensive as in other countries, it’s still great fun meeting fellow Jimny enthusiasts and seeing what they’ve done with their cars. 

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

If I could change one thing about my Jimny, it would be the engine. With most parts sourced from the Swift and Vitara, Suzuki could have made it into a hybrid and slightly increased the power. I usually carry quite a bit of weight, including camping gear and a rooftop tent. While the car isn’t designed for speed and I push it to its limits, Suzuki could have offered one or two different engine sizes.

To enhance the power output, I’ve made some modifications, such as changing the airbox to boost torque and power by up to 5%. It may not seem like much, but I’ll take any improvement I can get for the cost of a few minor changes.

Space can be a bit tricky when camping with a dog and two people in a small Jimny, but it’s still a lot of fun.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

I’d only owned my Jimny for 30 days when we headed to an off-road show for the weekend. Among hundreds of Land Rovers, mine was the sole Jimny. Determined to test its metal, we took it on its first off-road course. By halfway through, water reached the bonnet and headlights, and we were covered in mud. It was certainly one way to break in the Jimny! With a crowd of onlookers, I felt the pressure not to damage the car, especially since we had a three-hour drive home and my partner was insistent on avoiding any mishaps.

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@jimnyudon – Australia

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

For me it’s the versatility and customisability this car offers. Everyone has a different take on what their ideal Jimny is. I’ve seen everything from low slung Jimny’s, turbocharged and turned into race cars to ultra lifted, monster trucks running tyres 3 sizes too big, and everything in between. 

It’s very refreshing in this modern world where every new car is an egg shaped suv that takes style cues from a refrigerator. 

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

For every missing feature or shortcoming, the Jimny makes up for in charm. That said, an extra 15-20hp wouldn’t go astray and maybe one more gear. Highway driving in a Jimny is a tough time.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

Owning a Jimny sometimes feels like more than just owning a car. Attending the Jimny Sunlight festival in Japan this year made that very clear. 

Pulling up to 3 car parks full of unique Jimny’s and then meeting the faces behind the creators I’d seen all over instagram for years was surreal. 

The sense of community this oddball car has built around the world is truly something inspirational. 

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@jimnycph – Denmark and France

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

As the Japanese aesthetic philosophy of Wabi-Sabi said “beauty is found in the imperfections” and Marilyn Monroe elaborated that a little further by adding “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius” – from two different times they both embrace what I like about the Jimny. But more on that later. 

I have an old Land Rover Series 2A, it’s always in need of oil because it’s leaking and the comfort is honestly below zero. Fixing it myself is always very tiring as everything is heavy and seems put together with special bolts and in a way that seems contradicting the word ‘easy and thoughtful’. To that I compare my Jimny (which in all fairness is like comparing apples and pears but there is actually a few similarities) – first point is that the Jimny brings me the same happiness as when I’m driving my old Land Rover… except the Jimny is so much better!

First, I arrive without feeling I just harvested for eight hours on a tractor because in the Jimny I’m sitting in comfort with a nice suspension (yes, I’ve upgraded the suspension to ARB OME). I cruise at 100 km/t listening to music and podcast as I have the Apple CarPlay with amazing sound (yes, I’d also upgraded the sound myself and installed new speakers in the front and back together with a hefty subwoofer under the front passenger seat).

The car is like a Meccano building-set, easy to take apart and put back together, light and in no need of a heavy tool shop with crane and the like.

Finally I can drink my warm coffee on my way to work at 4AM from a thermo placed in a funky smart cup holder from Apio who also doubles as a duct for the car’s aircondition (how clever is that 🫶). And all of that comfiness comes with the versatility that I any day can start roaming muddy roads or go where no car has gone before – or just use the car as a ‘normal’ car that seats four adults for short cruising in Copenhagen or Paris. 

Admittedly all of the above sounds like the Jimny is the perfect car. Well, it’s not – the 1.5L engine is a one-point-dead machine and, even when upgraded the cars suspension is not fond of the german concrete autobahn which can almost bring the car to an oscillation point and make the driver feel like participating in a 24-hour bumper-car tivoli. Finally the car will do a Houdini and slowly fade away without a proper corrosion proofing when living in the Northeuropean climate.

But all of that brings me back to where I started with Wabi-Sabi and Marilyn Monroe: all the cars imperfections makes it shine so much more. Though many may remember Marilyn as being very blond one can add that there is absolutely nothing blond about the Jimny’s capabilities to handle off-road madness and express bold ideas as it can be built into whatever creative or crazy idea I have in my head as the modification and personalization possibilities seems endless… and if that is not a genius thing about the car… well, you can call me blond then. And that’s why Wabi-Sabi was right when he said that beauty is found in the imperfections.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

The engine, no doubt. It’s a guzzling fuel-to-nothing converter. Average 12 kilometer per liter petrol in 2025… why not a more efficient engine with maybe a little smaller displacement with a turbo that gives more newton meters and a better fuel economy (relatively speaking when we are talking about how to make a brick fuel efficient or more aerodynamic 😁)? The grand prize of a new engine would be it would probably be less polluting and therefore the Jimny could again be available in Europe with its harsh emission regulations.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

I was once pulled over by a police car because the officers thought the car looked cool. They started kindly asking if I had time to talk cars which I had – we ended up having them driving the Jimny up and down the street. 

Follow @jimnycph

@offscape.co – Germany

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

I love the versatility. I live right in the city center of Munich, and like in most big cities, the parking situation is a nightmare. So on the one hand, being able to slide into the tiniest parking spots and use it as a perfect daily driver in the city makes it incredibly convenient.

On the other hand, I can fully rely on it as my overlanding vehicle on weekends it can literally climb any mountain. I’ve taken it through some seriously challenging terrain many times and it has never let me down. So one thing’s for sure: if you can’t make it up the mountain, it’s not the Jimny, it’s you!

For me, it’s the perfect car that bridges two completely different worlds, city life and rugged adventure and I’ve loved it from day one.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

Some might say it could use a bit more horsepower or extra luggage space, but honestly, for me it turned out to be just perfect, as long as you’re willing to adapt. And let’s be real: it’s still quick enough to keep up with the more relaxed drivers on the German Autobahn 😉

Of course, I’ve made a lot of modifications over time (whether they were all necessary is another question). But one upgrade I’m truly happy about is the suspension: I installed H&R springs with Bilstein dampers and a 40mm lift kit.

Now, if you cough inside the car, the whole thing doesn’t shake anymore like it used to 😉

The steering feels more precise, the ride is firmer, yet the off-road capabilities have even improved. And with the added weight of my rooftop tent, awning, and pull-out kitchen, it handles so much better now.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

Yes, but we need to go back to 2011 for the full story.

Two friends and I, all in our early twenties, decided to fly to Iceland with only tents and trekking backpacks, rent a car, and spend two weeks road-tripping around the island, sleeping outside under the northern sky every night.

What I remember most from that trip was the feeling of pure freedom, adventure, and the thrill of facing Iceland’s wild, ever-changing weather.

Fast forward ten years to March 2021, I bought my Jimny and started going on my first overlanding trips. And for the first time since Iceland, that same feeling came back, the one that sparked something deep in me all those years ago.

Three years and many Jimny adventures later, in March 2024, I finally decided to quit my corporate job and start my own business in the field I love most: overlanding and the outdoors, a dream my Jimny helped bring back to life.

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@fooshadventure – South Africa

Craig and Heather – FooshAdventure, South Africa. We own 2 Suzuki-Jimnys, a Gen3 called, Jimnyone and a Gen4 called Kaiju

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

Where do we start? There are so many reasons to love the Jimny and so many, not to either.

Heather and I love accessorising our Jimny and if we cannot find the right accessory, we design and make it ourselves. I picked up a wealth of automotive styling knowledge from my dad, who was a Stylist in the automotive industry the fact that Heather and I were raised in practical families also helped.

We are just so thankful the Gen4 Jimny JB74(64) designers included so many little details that allow us to customise and accessorise our little beasts.

The Jimny community always amazes us, so many like-minded people, a friendly flicky flash of the lights, or a wave off the steering wheel, as a “Hey! Howzit” greeting.

It’s a full-on 4×4! There is nothing better, exploring the backroads of South Africa, the Drakenberg mountains and the towering mountain country of Lesotho. We love going places where no other people normally go. This is one of the main reasons we wanted to own a Jimny to “boldly go where…..”

I always tell the story about our travels through Lesotho, over our summer Christmas holidays where every time you climb a pass up a mountain, you reach the top, and the view is like unwrapping a present, I cannot put in words the beauty of the scenery.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

Well, I would say, “Everything but Nothing” and I am sure other Jimny owners would possibly be nodding in agreement.

Let me explain. The Jimny is not a refined vehicle, you may be shocked coming from a fancy SUV or a serious off-road rig, but the Jimny has its own personality. The personality comes out the longer you own the little monster.

So, I could say, I would change nothing, since the Jimny may be perfect for you as a stock off-roader, but I could also say, everything, since the Jimny lives into its own character, and you may change the suspension, wheels, interior, exterior styling etc. Heather and I were counting the mods we have done to Kaiju, and we easily have over 50! And there is always room for more.

But, if I had to change one thing? A little bit more power would be nice.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

In 2017 the Mountain Passes South Africa team started a challenge called the Ben 10 (not the cartoon character) Eco Challenge, traversing the 10 highest mountain passes in the Eastern Cape of South Africa within a set timeframe.

We set out, with our Gen3 to complete the challenge.

At one of the Mountain Passes, we were sitting chatting to some bikers and overlanders in the pub of the Tiffindell ski resort. Looking through the window at the daunting wind up the ski slope (yup, it snows in South Africa) of the Ben MacDhui mountain pass that tops out at 3001m, the bikers were commenting and joking, telling us we will never make it up the slopes.

The Ben MacDhui is the highest altitude mountain pass in South Africa. One of the Ford owners quipped in, mentioning that, at the last section of the climb, you cannot even see in front of you, all you see is the bonnet (hood) of your vehicle and it is a sharp turn to the right otherwise you have a steep drop down into Lesotho, from the South African side!

We started the climb, it was fun, whether it is an uphill or downhill climb, I had this smile, from ear to ear. A smile I notice on every single Jimny owner going on an adventure. Just thinking of it now, the smile is back.

We got up to the top of the slopes, and I asked Heather to spot for me at the tricky right hander. I climbed the slope with the little Gen3 and due to the short Jimny bonnet, there were no issues. I could see every rock and obstacle right in front of me! The climb was effortless. What an experience it was, us standing there, with smiles on our faces, looking out at the view.

We see, every time, where a new Jimny owner tries their first 4×4 outing, the Jimny smile, and the effortless way the Jimny just pulls them through the adventure. We are recorded as the first Suzuki Jimny to complete the Ben 10 Eco Challenge.

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@explorejimny – Australia

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

I love that it’s an easy vehicle to drive and allows you to get into four wheel driving, no matter if you’re experienced or not. They’re also easy to work on and have that retro-look that I’ve come to love! Not to mention, every Jimny looks different with a few mods to it, so that’s definitely something I only think a Jimny can pull off!

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

Because we have 2 Jimny’s, we’ve sorta built the second Jimny based on experience from the first one. With my 3-door I would probably change the suspension to Fulcrum, because I find it smoother on the 5-door. And if we wanted to spend the money, we’d probably put a turbo into the 5-door for some extra power. 😎

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

I think the whole Jimny community is a story in itself. Never would I have thought buying a Jimny back in 2021 would come with such a big group of amazing people, especially through the JB74QLD club that we have here in Queensland, Australia. I think coming together during annual meets and being able to display my rigs at various shows has been such an amazing experience.

The whole Jimny-adventure has also contributed to my partner and I starting our own outdoor brand @rugdau and it’s been such a journey I think we wouldn’t have been on hadn’t it been for the Jimny. So cheers to that! 🍻

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@chops_122 – Australia

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

It’s just an entertaining car in general for any occasion. You can’t help but smile at seeing it or driving it, and it’s a conversation starter even with non car people. It’s rare to have that coupled to the amazing capabilities that the car has.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

It perpetually evolves so it’s hard to say this! I keep changing it; the thing that really needs to change is my amount of time available to use it! So, wouldn’t change anything about the Jimny, but I would change my ability to have enough free time to really use it.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

It’s more of a personal ego stroke but I’ve really found it inspiring to help people understand things with their Jimny and 4wding and go from newbies to seasoned offroad veterans. I think the inspirational thing is how the car unlocks the community to support people to get out there and explore things. It keeps me wanting to provide information to help Jimny owners, as it is really rewarding to get the feedback that I’ve helped someone out and made their Jimny experience better.

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@jimmys_jimny – Australia

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

I’m a strong believer that for this price you’re hard pressed to find a car that has so much character and turns heads! 

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

Engine power – the only reason I sometimes dislike is the lack of power, especially on long drives with gear fitted it can be really annoying to be driving so slow. 

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

Only that having a Jimny gives you an incredible sense of confidence when you’re off-road, it really gives you the ability to take on any track (for better or worse) it’s gotten me both into and out of sticky situations! 

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@ph.heneral – Philippines

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

Strike and climb anywhere with its compact 4×4.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

Headlight upgrade and to be able to open the tailgate door from inside the car.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

The night I drank too much, and the next morning I’m fumbling around for the ladder to climb down… only to realize I never even set it up. And I can’t remember how I even got into the rooftop tent the night before.

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@outliveds_jimny – Slovakia

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

By far the best thing for me about owning a Jimny is that I don’t think about it as owning a car. Jimny is for me more like a friend. I greet him when we are going somewhere, I talk to him, and I enjoy feeling the car, with every single perk it brings.

As I own a manual transmission, I feel responsible for orchestrating everything correctly for smooth driving experience. I love the untamed feedback we get from Jimny. It is not a quiet car, it is not very refined. And precisely that gives Jimny his own voice. I do hear him, I know when something is wrong, when something is happening. Because he is allowed by his build style to express himself. So therefore I do not drive a car. I take my dog, and we travel as 3, not 2. It’s me, my border collie Doran, and our friend Jimny. Going for an adventure.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

I have driven my Jimny for more than 80,000 kms, and it’s my only car. Everything I do, everywhere I go, I go with Jimny. I have owned it from stock form, and I think I can say that now I do own one of the most modified Jimny within Europe (considering our strict regulations).

One thing that does take away from my happiness with car is its power. Even in stock form it wasn’t good, and now it’s barely liveable with. Some may argue that it is my fault, and you can say that, but with everything I do with my car, I have almost perfect set up for me.

The car lacks from factory and that is fact as well. Ideal power would be around 100 kW alongside 200 Nm. Those would be adequate figures, and this only change would result into totally different experience with car.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

I do have both of them!

As I use Jimny as Overlander, long distance touring is something I try to do multiple times per year. I have met so many people with interesting rigs, and I have met on parking lots of different cars. My favorite memories are when I met a modified Ineos Grenadier and an original Ford F-150 Raptor. The Jimny is so tiny compared to them, that it is almost not even possible to imagine that difference. And when you see them standing next to each other, it brings tears into eyes, how funny such sight is.

In another memory, we have driven with friends through a small desert. For fun we did some drives then we jumped into each other’s car as some form of off-road taxi. To this day I can clearly image the face of my friend, absolutely terrified and laughing as hard as he could at the same time, about how much fun this car is and what can we do with it. He was holding on for his life by the grab handle, and when we finished, he just said that this is not a car, it’s a side-by-side. And I hold dear to that memory.

Inspiring for me is something not many people realize, until you drive with it like me. Despite its size, you can modify them to such a degree that you will have even unnecessary storage space. As I did with mine, I have realized that with imagination (very big portion), the car can be enough.

The feeling you have, when you can drive on narrow track with hundreds meter deep cliff on a side with such small footprint is invaluable. Same goes for tracks within forests. I have seen cars pushed through overgrown tracks by their owners, and the aftermath was absolute carnage for paint. I also have many scratches on Jimny. But for me they are symbol of honor, something to remember, what we have overcome with Jimny. I don’t see in them a pile of money, much needed for a fix.

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@jimny_go_afrika – South Africa

What do you love most about owning a Jimny? 

When I first acquired my Jimny in 2021, it was love at first sight. I was hell-bent on having the black, although it was not a popular colour at the time. Many off-road enthusiasts believe scratches on a black vehicle is more visible than other colours. As I am not one to climb rocks the size of small houses, the black colour suited me perfectly, and I am glad I made the right decision at the time.

I love the versatility of the Jimny. It’s my daily driver and I use it to go the mall, use it for work purposes, and when time permits, go on camping trips. I have a lightweight rooftop tent on my Jimny that weighs less than 30kg. And Because of the lightness of the tent, I keep it up there permanently. 

Ever since “Stallion the Jimny” entered my life, I’ve slowly added accessories to enhance its look, not that it needs it. These days, it has become a hobby to troll through online sites to find practical or unusual accessories for the Jimny. Even Timu, the global online store, has mesmerized me with their offerings.

Although, Jimnys are a common sight in all regions of South Africa where I am from, people still come over to me at mall parkings or at campsites to ask about its capabilities, fuel consumption or the tyres, not to mention the obligatory hard kick to the rubber.

This is a lifelong relationship with my Jimny and I hope to savour every moment.

What is the one thing you would change about your Jimny?

To me, the Jimny is perfection…well almost. The only thing that irks me about the Jimny is the soft suspension which makes it dance like a banshee in the wind… or when overtaking. I have avoided installing a suspension kit so as not to void the five year warranty. But now that the warranty period is due to end soon, I guess I will have to bite the bullet in terms of costs, and install it.

Do you have a funny or inspiring story to tell about owning a Jimny?

Not such a funny story at the time, but I chuckle about it now. Earlier this year, I undertook a 5000km road trip across South Africa with my Jimny. At Lamberts Bay, on the Cape West Coast, I stopped at a municipal camp site to bed down for the night. After paying my camping fee, the security guard started regaling me with stories about the Anglo Boer War between 1900 to 1902. 

“You know something”, he began, “this campsite once served as a cemetery for soldiers killed in the war. Sometimes, when I do my patrols, I hear laughter nearby, but when I shine my bright torch in the direction of the laughter, there is no one there.”

Needless to say, I got the heebie-jeebies and stayed awake all night, listening for any sound or the ghostly laughter the guard told me about. The pounding wind and rustling trees, didn’t here help either. As dawn broke, I packed up the Jimny and bolted.

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Thank you

I hope you enjoyed reading these nice folks on Instagram as much as I have putting this blog together. I’ve loved reading their stories, so much so that I plan to do more interviews with Jimny owners across the World, so subscribe below to be updated when new blogs get published.

A huge thanks to everyone who took part in this and for how quickly you acted to help me pull this together. You’re all absolute legends 🫶.

Keep adventuring out there!

Paul