2019 Suzuki Jimny GLX AT

If you Google mini SUV, plenty of pretenders will pop up; mostly crossovers claiming varying degrees of off-road capability. But if you’re looking for something really small yet tough enough to handle really rough terrain, meet my little friend, the Jimny GLX AT.

There’s no denying the machismo of this boxy and brawny exterior. The flat surfaces ensure there’s less fluff to hide the sharp body lines and accents, which allow those strapping black front and rear fenders to stick out. And to be honest, it would be hard not to beside this Solid Kinetic Yellow (nope, it’s not green) body color.

This model may only be four years old but it has retro written all over it. There’s the throwback grille and classic round shape of the LED projector headlamps (with washers), signal lamps, and fog lamps; the upright façade and A-pillars, and even the door handles. All these are nods to Jimnys past.

Both bumpers look very stout but sadly, they’re only made of plastic to reduce weight and increase fuel savings, but it would be really cool and more period-correct if they were steel though.

It's a rugged type of cute that’s also functional. The roof has run channels so water doesn’t trickle down the windows when it rains and the vertical sides allow for bigger windows and a better view of the surroundings (for off-roading).

Underneath all that is what makes it a real SUV. It has a ladder frame chassis, three-link rigid axle suspension with coil spring (front and rear), and even the old-school recirculating-ball steering system that’s used mostly by trucks. Ground clearance is a good 210 mm. To be able to overcome obstacles, it has an approach angle of 28°, departure angle of 48°, and ramp brake over angle of 28°.

Be mindful in parking lots. Even if this measures only 12 feet long (including spare tire cover) and about five-feet, four-inches wide, because these doors swing wide open. The front doors go all the way to 70° and the rear door a full 90°.

The dashboard is decked out like a pickup truck with a rigid plastic surface and shows its heavy-duty design with exposed Allen bolts in several areas. Most controls are basic — either rotary or lever type — and the instrument panels shows two plain dial-style gauges. But it’s not all back-to-basics in here with creature comforts like cruise control, automatic climate control, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, and the large nine-inch touchscreen that has a digital inclinometer, a compass, and displays for barometric pressure and an altimeter.

It seats four comfortably although the rear seats are more bench-type and aren’t bolstered. It wouldn’t hurt if the ones in front have a little bit more back cushioning too. As the vehicle is tall and seating is more erect, the vantage point is higher, which makes it easy to look out and ahead. The infotainment system is intuitive and easy to operate with large fonts and touch points but I would get bigger speakers for better audio sound.

The small 1.5L gas engine has 100-PS and 130-Nm of torque to push its 1.1-ton body. It’s enough within city limits but it will get taxed on the highway. Revs went up to 3,000 RPM just keeping 100 km/h.

It rolls out carefully and more deliberately just like a truck/SUV, and its shift points are higher than in the Ertiga, which it shares the same engine and four-speed automatic transmission with. If you need to squeeze out more power for overtaking or whatnot, there’s an O/D (overdrive) button on the shifter to kick the revs up higher. Mixed driving conditions returned a pedestrian 10.2 km/l.

Steering feels like driving an old Ford Fiera with power assist so it’s easier on the arms. There’s a small dead spot at center and it isn’t as sharp and on point as a rack and pinion system.

The ride is a little stiff, which is normal for the kind of suspension it has, but it’s a lot more comfortable than a pickup truck. The rear seats drop down for more luggage space but the plastic surface where cargo is loaded is slippery. So if you’re loading small stuff, it will slide during hard braking and also while turning because rollover resistance isn’t pretty high.

If you know what you’re getting, nothing is surprising here. This P1.215 million small fun truck will look good on Ayala Avenue, fit in the tiny ‘eskinitas’ of Manila, and can even rough it out on the off-road trails in Pampanga thanks to its AllGrip Pro four-wheel drive platform (it offers 2H, 4H, and 4L).

The Suzuki Jimny GLX AT is an honest-to-goodness truck in pint-sized form.