Clean Car requirements put CO2 cloud over new entry

THE five-door format of Suzuki’s fourth generation Jimny will be sold here, but is unlikely to be seen before next year.

In confirming the highly anticipated long-wheelbase edition during a media conference today, Suzuki New Zealand boss Tom Peck said the car’s chances of making local landfall any sooner than 2024 are extremely limited.

Production for export markets is not starting until later this year and, when cars do start rolling off the line, there’s every chance the volume will be limited, just as it was when the original three-door started life two years ago.

 There are other challenges for NZ to consider. The five-door is expected to offer the same features and options found across the short-wheelbase range.

That provision includes the 75kW/130Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.  

While trusty and well-liked, the engine has a black mark against it in our Clean Car era – a relatively high CO2 count, of around 150 grams per kilometre. That’s high enough for it to ultimately attract a penalty should the emissions standards tighten next year, as is planned.

Under the Clean Car Standard now in play, distributors cop emissions penalties, which will pass on to the market.

Peck says the emissions challenge could well require his office to keep overall Jimny volume in check and might require throttling back on three-door to make room for its larger sibling.

That might only be a short-term issue as Jimny has been reported as a candidate for a hybrid drivetrain next year. Further details remain undisclosed, so it’s not clear how closely related it will be to the unit powering a new hybrid Vitara Suzuki allowed media to try out yesterday.

That car has a 1.4-litre turbo petrol with a small electric motor assisting drive. With 95kW and 233Nm, it is more powerful than the normally-aspirated 1.6-litre, which makes 86kW and 156Nm and the 1.4-litre turbo, which knocks out 103kW and 220Nm.

It’s also being more frugal and cleaner. On the WLTP-3 scale the manual edition delivers 5 litres per 100km and 112 grams of CO2 per kilometre while an all-wheel-drive automatic registers 6.0 L/100km  and 136g/km.  

Jimny achieved 1502 reported retails in 2022 and look strong to continue well this year as availability is now well-resolved.

At 3985mm, the five-door Jimny is 340mm longer than the three-door, while its wheelbase is now 2590mm; height and width don’t alter. Understandably there’s improvement in rear legroom and boot space – the latter is 110 litres’ larger. The forward part of the cabin is unaltered to that Kiwis are familiar with.

The five-door is between 75kg to 125kg heavier, depending on the specification however Suzuki chose not to alter the drivetrain to compensate.  

A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic option avail and it also maintains the AllGrip Four-wheel drive. Strong off-roading ability is promised and while the extra metal work means the five door’s breakover angle is 24 degrees, a four degree reduction on the three-door, the approach and departure angles remain at 36 and 50 degrees respectively. 

At this stage it is not known whether the larger model will perform any better than the three-door when it comes to crashworthiness.

The model as it sells now carries just three ANCAP stars and was criticised for missing the mark with structural design weakness, poor protection of cyclists and pedestrians, and the lack of effective safety aids.

Meantime, Suzuki NZ has no intent of replicating an Australia market push with a limited edition Jimny Heritage, developed as a nod to the type’s 53-year history. Australia has just 300 for sale but Peck says he doesn’t see the need for a Kiwi equivalent, as it’s a kit that is developed from accessories anyone can buy here already.