The Suzuki Jimny has been considered as the common man’s Mercedes G-Class for a very long time now. Other than the boxy looks and off-road abilities, these two cars are completely different from each other.
While the G-Class is a legend in its own right, the little Japanese SUV has been winning hearts all over the world for its quirky, almost cute looks. Although a lot of parallels are drawn between the two, have you ever thought about what it would be like to pit them against each other? The guys at Motor1 Italia decided to take up the challenge and see who the off-road king really is.
It’s Not About The Specs; It’s All About The Feel
As rightly mentioned by the reviewer, the video will not be an apples-to-apples comparison; meaning, this test wasn't designed to see which has better axles or stronger parts. It will be about the “sensations,” how both of these cars perform off the road, and if they can find some sort of a common ground despite being wildly different.
Both SUVs are built on a body-on-frame chassis and have their engines stacked up longitudinally. While the three differentials on the G-Class are activated electronically, the Jimny’s are activated using pneumatic joints.
What Do The Specs Look Like?
The Mercedes G-Class comes with a 4.0-liter, V-8 bi-turbo engine that makes 416 horses and 540 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The Jimny, on the other hand, comes with a puny 1.5-liter engine that churns out 102 horses and 96 pound-feet of torque. It also employs a five-speed manual gearbox. This makes it a proper off-road purist SUV that gives you a lot more control than an automatic gearbox and feels more connected in the process.
The Jimny Is An Analog Off-Roader In a Digital World
Over puddles, the G-Class goes without breaking a sweat, but the Jimny makes your body swivel around, which may or may not plaster a smile on the driver’s face.
With that said, the Jimny also requires an extra bit of skill, thanks to its ‘analog’ nature. There is no doubt about the Mercedes G-Class and its capabilities. It is one of the toughest vehicles in the market today and it proved its mettle on many occasions as well. On one incline where the Jimny had to be pushed quite hard, the G-Class climbed at crawling speeds with all the differentials locked and just a slight throttle input.
How About Both SUVs In One?
If you really love the G-Class but have the budget for a Jimny, you can still have the best of both worlds.
The company has done a good job in creating a kit that adds a new grille, bumper, hood, and a bull-bar.
The side profile is heavily inspired by the G-Class as well, with familiar-looking turn indicators, side steps, and mirrors being part of the comprehensive package.
The company has added the original dual-tip AMG exhausts to the package, although, only the ones on the left work. As for the overall derriere feel, it looks just like a G-Class thanks to the customized taillights and bumper. You also get a set of G-Class 18-inch wheels, along with an exterior paint shade of your choice. As for the cost of the package,Fast Car Service charges $12,250 to customize your Jimny into a Mercedes G-Class.
Final Thoughts
If you are getting home the G-Class, you might as well bring along a Jimny as well that costs one fifth of the German's price tag. This way, you can experience the outback from two vastly different points of view; one that makes you work on every twist and turn, and the other nonchalantly cruising on broken roads.
If you had both cars available and were allowed to take just one of them, which one would it be? The two-door boxy Japanese or the German that can surmount almost everything on the face of this earth? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
