Suzuki has had enough of spy shots and brochure leaks and decided once and for all to release the first official photos of the 2018 Jimny a month before its official debut in July 2018.

Developed with the feedback of the existing Jimny owners in mind, this is its full-model change since 1998 and only the fourth in total for the nameplate. Yet, instead of going all futuristic and soft like the Vitara, it goes for something very retro-inspired with hints of Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Photos circulating the internet indicate that the Jimny will be available with and without the fender flares—the latter likely due to Japan’s strict kei car rules. At the back, it continues to have a rear-mounted spare tire—yet another throwback to traditional hardcore SUVs. Features have yet to be announced but expect things like LED headlights to be made available.


Inside, it goes decisively modern but retains a straightforward look that prioritizes function over form. There are big, chunky controls and a touchscreen infotainment system. Expect higher-grade models to offer automatic climate control and cruise control alongside more standard fare such as 6 airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control with hill descent control.

Underneath, the Jimny continues to ride on a ladder-on-frame chassis with a 3-link rigid axle suspension on both ends. And while the brand promises better on-road performance, the concentration remains its off-road capability. The robust construction aside, it’ll have a part-time 4WD system with a low-speed transfer case as standard equipment. From the single interior shot, it isn’t clear whether it’ll have a dial-type electronic transfer case, but bets are it’ll continue to have a manual low-range selector.


As for the engine, the photo clearly shows a 4-cylinder engine which means it’ll either have a 1.2- or 1.5-liter engine powering it. At this point, the 1.2-liter K12M with 85 horsepower sounds like a strong probability for emerging markets such as the Philippines, although there’s also talk of possibly having the K12C DualJet engine with 90 horsepower and even a 1.0-liter K10C BoosterJet 3-cylinder engine under the Jimny’s hood. The Japanese market will also offer a 660-cc variant to meet its kei car regulations.

The all-new Suzuki Jimny is expected to enter the world stage officially on July 5, but how long will the Philippines have to wait? When asked about it, Suzuki Philippines representatives said that they’re currently concentrating first on the launch of the all-new Dzire and Swift in a few weeks’ time. However, they’ve clarified that these two vehicles “is just a start of their product launches that stretches to the remainder of the year” and that “we’ll see more new offerings before the end of 2018.”

Could this mean the all-new Jimny and Ertiga is on its way? Stay tuned.