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Suzuki Saves Jimny By Deleting Two Seats From European Model

A mild-hybrid engine? Maybe an all-electric powertrain? No, the way that Suzuki has saved the Jimny in Europe is rather simple. Instead of spending a ton of money on research and development, the Japanese automaker has removed the rear seats of the two-door utility vehicle in order to create a commercial vehicle.
2021 Suzuki Jimny commercial version for Europe 41 photos
Photo: Suzuki
2021 Suzuki Jimny commercial version for Europe2021 Suzuki Jimny commercial version for Europe2021 Suzuki Jimny commercial version for Europe2021 Suzuki Jimny commercial version for Europe
A light commercial vehicle, to be more precise, classified under the N1 category which is exempt from the 95-gram fleet average of CO2 emissions the European Union is targeting from 2021 onward. Any gram of carbon dioxide above that value translates to a 95-euro fine multiplied by the automaker’s total sales in Europe, a penalty that would put Suzuki in a rather difficult financial situation.

The two-seat version of the Jimny “comes with a large luggage compartment with a flat floor and safety cargo partition,” but that’s not all. The Japanese automaker doesn’t mention this workaround, but it’s likely possible to order the two rear seats of the previous model from the dealership. Installing them is pretty straightforward if you have the nuts, bolts, washers, and a basic selection of tools.

As with every other Jimny for the European market since 2018, the little mountain goat comes standard with three-link rigid axle suspension, a ladder frame, ALLGRIP PRO part-time 4WD with a low-range transfer gear, and a 1.5-liter VVT four-cylinder connected to a five-speed manual transmission. Don’t, however, think for a moment that Suzuki ignored the latest trends in the business.

The eCall emergency messaging function in case of a collision and Dual Sensor Brake Support come to mind, with the latter system employing automatic braking to help avoid a collision. When the going gets rocky and muddy for the cutesy but tough Jimny, hill hold and descent control support driving on slopes.

3,480 millimeters long from bumper to bumper or 3,645 millimeters including the spare wheel cover, the Japanese utility vehicles promises 863 liters of cargo capacity with the two-seat configuration. For reference, the Volkswagen Golf boats 380 liters or 1,237 liters with the rear seats folded flat into the floor.
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 Download: 2021 Suzuki Jimny specifications for Europe (commercial utility vehicle) (PDF)

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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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