Suzuki Boss Says Making The Jimny An EV Would “Ruin” It. But Would It?

A light, fun, cheap all-electric Jimny would make a lot of sense, albeit a short-range one.

Suzuki Jimny XL Heritage

Iulian Dnistran

By: Iulian Dnistran

Nov 6, 2024 at 3:34am ET

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The iconic Suzuki Jimny might never become an EV.
The automaker's boss said electrifying the pint-sized off-roader would "ruin" it.

Suzuki hasn’t sold a new car in the United States since 2012, but in other parts of the world, it’s still alive and kicking. That said, what is arguably the Japanese automaker’s most recognizable model, the venerable Jimny, isn’t the shining star it used to be.

In Europe, Suzuki has been forced to sell the pint-sized off-roader exclusively as a commercial vehicle in a two-seater configuration, which limits its already shrinking market. As fun and quirky as the Jimny may be–and it excels in both these categories–it’s still a slow, boxy off-roader that sits on an old-school ladder frame chassis and uses solid axles front and rear. The fact that it’s powered by a relatively asthmatic 1.5-liter gasoline engine doesn’t help either.

I’d argue that the Jimny–the Samurai’s successor–is the perfect candidate for electrification. A cheap, small and fun off-roader would be a great alternative to open-top side-by-sides or UTVs, but Suzuki boss Toshihiro Suzuki begs to differ. Speaking during the launch of the all-new eVitara, the automaker’s first EV, the automaker’s head honcho suggested that a battery-powered Jimny is out of the question.

Gallery: Suzuki Jimny XL Heritage

Suzuki Jimny XL Heritage

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That’s a big difference, but an all-electric Jimny could make do with a smaller battery. The eVitara can be had with either a 49- or a 61-kilowatt-hour battery, but let’s not forget that the entry-level Nissan Leaf comes with a 40-kWh pack, so why wouldn’t the Jimny go down the same route? Obviously, the range would take a hit, but there are plenty of people out there commuting in the 149-mile base Leaf. Add a bit of Jimny fun to the mix, and a potentially winning formula comes into view.

It’s not like the gas-powered Jimny is a highway cruiser anyway, with a rather bumpy ride and noisy interior. Making it electric would only make it better, but what do you think?

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