What makes a classic – and, by extension, a future classic?
In some cases it’s a new performance benchmark, perhaps revolutionary packaging, or simply rarity. There are even those that fascinate despite – or maybe even due to – not being very good.
But the one thing all true classics have in common is character, and this beguiling little box from Kosai, Japan, has it by the bucket.
As long as you calibrate your expectations – think baby Series Landie – it’s also rather capable.
Off-road it feels confident and nimble thanks to a spec of which a grown-up 4x4 would be proud: ladder chassis, low-range transfer box, 210mm ground clearance, hill-descent control and coil-sprung rigid axles at either end.
It’s not only on paper that the Suzuki Jimny hints at more illustrious off-roaders. There are design cues from all the off-road icons: Land-Rover, G-Wagen, Toyota FJ… and Suzuki itself.
It’s easy to forget that the Jimny has five decades and nearly three million cars’ worth of heritage: the 360cc LJ10 was launched in 1970, evolving via LJ20 and LJ50 to the LJ80, the second Suzuki to make it to the UK.
