Re:Jimny off road capability - a critique

Throttle control is fine. I'm talking specifically about the gear ratios.

The jimny holds it's own against the other brands, despite it's high gearing. I recently did a trip to Baboon's pass in Lesotho. A high altitude pass that is not maintained, and has a reputation for being one of the worst roads in Africa. The route is 23km long, and we did it in a lightning fast 11 hours. My Gen 4 on 235's, an SJ on Toyota axles and 33's and a Rubicon on 35's were the only vehicles that did not get stuck on the trip. We spent a lot of time jacking and packing rocks to get the other vehicles through. The other vehicles were a Jeep TJ on 35's (only stuck once), Toyota Fortuner, Hummer H3 and a Nissan Terrano, All were very experienced drivers. The worst was the Hummer, it is just too damned big. Another group turned back after 1.5km - they didn't realise how bad the terrain really was.

Lambert wrote: Up in the Yorkshire Dales we have some quite interesting rock lanes, the sort of thing that can give the inexperienced an opportunity to have a little lie down. And yet even on such lanes I just don't recognize the lurching about way too fast you are describing as the car climbs onto some of these bigger obstacles. Maybe it's just my driving style that is different.

That's because you're slipping the clutch, the technique we are all forced to use to prevent stalling on technical terrain. It's far from ideal. If you're not slipping the clutch and not stalling regularly then sorry but you're not talking about the same type of terrain the rest of us are.

Lambert wrote: Defender low crawl ratio 40 to one on 32 inch tyres. Jimny low crawl ratio 38 to one on 26 inch tyres far from high geared. As to slipping the clutch and stalling I would suggest there could be something wrong with your car if you can't let it creep about at less than a thousand rpm.

The engine also plays a part too I believe.

I'm not bashing on the Jimny.... I own one after all

As for something being wrong with mine. It is possible, but considering it is brand new, probably unlikely unless Suzuki have no QC at all. Which wouldn't tally with their reputation.

I don't really have much footage of the Jimny off road yet. This was its first outing.



My brother did stall it twice in the video. But overall I was impressed. It's a new toy after all. However, the thing to note is the ground is soft and wet. Allowing fairly easy wheel slip and a softer landing when a raised wheel comes back in contact with the ground.

Having driven the same terrain now dry, the ground is so much harder. And you do notice it is lifting wheels a lot more, which makes me want to slow down. But it just doesn't do it as well as my diesel (or the V8) Land Rover's I've driven/owned.

My Tdi Land Rover will even let you dab the footbrake and slow it down while in low 1st on tickover. Never had to slip the clutch either to slow it down.


When the weather picks up and we are allowed out more. I'll do some more testing/playing. I'll try a slow race and see how well the Jimny copes on a tickover crawl over the terrain.

This was the other day, note the big crash down at 22 sec.... after lifting a wheel. It wouldn't go any slower unless I dipped the clutch. No stalling on this vid. But I have stalled it previously trying to slow it down when it has a wheel in the air. Or when the TCS activates and you don't give it enough throttle input.

Lambert, Crawling at 2mph at less than 1000rpm is absolutely fine until you have a 10" high step to climb. I think this is the bit you're missing.
Your figures comparing the Jimny and Landover do not correlate with my real world experience, and the Landover engine is making about 3x more power at idle, and it has an antistall feature. Honestly, it's chalk and cheese.