Re:SZ5 value versus LCV

There are lots of SUVs that will tick alot of boxes compared to the Jimny but with that you do lose the quickyness and character of the Jimny. I just got rid of my 15 plate Range Rover evoque for my LCV and despite their reputation it was a cracking car that could pretty much do it all without the price tag of the bigger range rovers.

The Evoque is a great vehicle and as you say, can be bought for reasonable money.

Only issue is the ongoing DPF problems with the 2.0 lngenium diesel.
Used for local journeys it suffers from oil dilution.

The 3.0 lngenium in new Defender doesn't have any DPF issues. In time prices will drop and they'll be available for reasonable money second hand.

A Jimny will cruise ok at 70 (the auto is longer-legged) provided there aren't strong crosswinds and you can cope with fairly high fuel consumption at that speed.

Yes it will. Ours is the manual but l've become a bit of a cruiser these days, probably due to years of driving old classics.

I set the cruise at 60mph and let the world go by in the fast lane. Sometimes l will go faster mainly to avoid holding up the trucks which otherwise try to overtake.

Last year we went to Scotland which is around 400 miles. l sat at 60mph and still beat my friends in their Ford C-Max because they made one extra stop and then got caught in some traffic that we had missed half an hour earlier.

I also can't see the issue on the motorway. Did a 140 mile round trip yesterday, half way round the M25 and back, plus some dual carriage way.

Mostly sat at about 65mph, but with all the speed cameras these days and traffic, there was no need to run quicker. It did a respectable 35.8mpg. We did run at 70mph at some places and other trips I've set the cruise at 70mph without issue.

I'm not saying other vehicles aren't better and if you genuinely are wanting to run at 80mph+, then that speed does make the Jimny scream rpm wise. But overall I cannot fault it at legal speeds.

Had the same problem. Have a SZ5 Auto in UK for local runabout needed something for use in Spain. It had to be okay on motorway as 2 hours from airport and 1 mile of offroad track at end of journey.so needed a reasonable AWD capability. Small auto 4X4 very few and far between. Ended up with a 1.4 Vitara GLX AllGrip. Very happy, wee bit noisy on motorway but in every other way perfect solution.