2013 Suzuki Jimny facelift from £11,995

Suzuki has given their evergreen pocket SUV – the Suzuki Jimny – a facelift for 2013, but prices still start at £11,995.

Suzuki has been building the little Jimny SUV – in one form or another – since 1970, and the current Jimny has been with us since 1998.

But despite the Jimny being from another age, Suzuki aren’t giving up on it yet and have managed to churn out a facelift for 2013. Well, facelift may be a bit strong, but the 2013 Jimny does get a new front bumper, grill and bonnet and inside there are new headrests (yes, they’ve really pushed the boat out) and child seat mountings.

Under the skin nothing changes, so you still get a feeble little 1.3 litre engine churning out just 84bhp and 81lb/ft of torque, with 38mpg and 162g/km. The Jimny also gets selectable 4WD.

The Jimny may be out of the Ark, but it does still sell, albeit in small numbers. But that’s because, until now, there was no alternative that made any sense; a rufty-tufty 4WD workhorse with a 3 year warranty and the ability to actually scoot round a farm with reasonable – if agricultural – alacrity.

But the world has moved on, and there’s now the option of the much more modern Dacia DusterSUV. Anyone wanting a cheap 4WD runaround can grab a basic 4WD Duster for just £10,995 (and a 2WD one for just £8,995) and it’s a far more credible option than the Jimny.

The basic Jimny SZ3 costs £11,995 (£1k more than the basic 4WD Duster) and if you want the Jimny SZ4 – with AirCon, alloys and privacy glass – it’ll cost you £12,900, which is just £2k less than the top of the range Dacia Duster Lauréate which comes with 16? alloys, AirCon, electric rear windows, electric door mirrors and piano black trim.

If you want a Suzuki Jimny, we’ve got an inkling that 2013 may be the last year you’ll be able to get one.

It’s time it wasn’t here.

By Cars UK