Test drive a Jimny for two or three days. Then decide.
Suzuki Jimnys are unlike any other car on the road. A 15-minute spin around a dealership won't tell you whether one fits your life. Two or three days will.
- We rent Jimnys; we do not sell them
- Christchurch & Queenstown
- Unbiased ownership preview
Why a real-world test drive matters
Dealer test drives are short and sanitised. You are on smooth roads, light traffic, and a salesperson in the passenger seat. You do not learn what a Jimny is like to live with Monday to Friday.
The Jimny has real quirks — some you will adore, some you will find tiring. The only way to know which side of that line you are on is to spend unhurried time behind the wheel: your commute, your carpark, your gear in the boot, your music at motorway speed.
We rent Jimnys for a living. We are not here to sell you one. Plenty of customers have used a rental exactly like this to decide — either way — before they put down a deposit. That is the whole point.
If you are already convinced, check availability and dates. Otherwise, read on — we cover everything below.
What to actually test during your rental
Use your own roads and your own routine. The list below is the checklist we give friends who are on the fence.
Your daily commute, with traffic
Drive in rush hour. The short wheelbase and tall body mean you feel slipstream and movement from heavy traffic on the motorway more than in a low hatch. If your commute is long stretches at 100 km/h, treat this as the most important test of the lot.
Supermarket carpark and driveway
It is narrow and short — parking is often a joy. If your driveway is steep or your garage is tight, find out before you buy, not on collection day.
A full load of your actual stuff
Pack the boot the way you really would: bikes, dog crate, boards, kids’ gear, the weekly shop. The three-door boot is famously small. The five-door is much more usable but still not a big SUV. Know what fits.
A long drive — at least two hours each way
Comfort, noise, seat support, and gearing change character after about ninety minutes. Go somewhere you would actually go: Hanmer, Akaroa, Wānaka, Glenorchy.
A gravel road, if you can
The Jimny is in its element on loose surfaces. If part of the appeal is back-country access — DOC roads, beach launches, ski club access — drive one there legally. We can suggest routes near Christchurch and Queenstown.
Wind
Pick a gusty day if you can. It is a tall, light, body-on-frame 4WD — crosswinds move it. Some people barely notice; others find it tiring. You need to know which you are.
Reverse parallel and three-point turns
The turning circle is ridiculous in the best way. Ex-owners say this is one of the things they miss most.
Towing or heavy loads, if relevant
The Jimny is not a workhorse. A small trailer is one thing; pretending it is a Hilux is another. If work use matters, test that early in the rental.
Three-door vs five-door — which one suits you?
Three-door (the original)
- The proper Jimny shape — iconic and instantly recognisable.
- Tighter turning circle; slightly better departure angle off-road.
- Boot is tiny with rear seats up. Fine for two and soft luggage; tight for more.
- Rear seats work for short hops; adults will not thank you for an hour back there.
- Lower purchase price used; often easier stock than the five-door.
Five-door (JC — global from 2023, NZ from 2024)
- 340 mm longer wheelbase — rear seats that adults can use properly.
- Boot roughly doubles with seats up. Still closer to a small hatch than a big SUV.
- Slightly worse departure angle; it only bites on serious tracks.
- On-road feel is familiar; a touch more stable at open-road speeds thanks to length.
- Costs more new; used stock is thinner because the model is young.
Quick rule of thumb
If the back seat is empty most of the time and you love the look, the three-door wins. If partners, kids, dogs, or boot space are non-negotiable day to day, the five-door is the rational pick.
We rent both. Try one of each on consecutive days if you genuinely cannot split them — it is the cheapest way to settle the argument.
New vs used — what to know before you buy
Buying new
- NZ allocations have been tight for years. Waitlists have ranged from a few months to well over a year depending on period and variant.
- Sierra is the trim sold here. Manual and automatic are both available — the manual is a five-speed and suits the character for many drivers; the JB74 three-door automatic uses a four-speed (not a modern multi-ratio box).
- The five-door landed in NZ in 2024 with very strong demand — expect to wait or pay a premium on the used market while supply catches up.
Buying used
- The current generation (JB74 three-door from 2018; JC five-door from 2023/24) holds value unusually well. Sub-30,000 km examples have often traded close to new pricing.
- Earlier generations (1998–2018 JB23/JB43, the “old shape”) are different cars: lighter, less refined, different safety story, often much cheaper — a different test drive entirely. We do not rent those; they are still part of the market picture.
- On a used JB74: check chassis rust (coastal cars), service history, and front tyre wear — Jimnys can chew front tyres if alignment is out.
- Mods are everywhere. Unless you want someone else’s lift and bar work, an unmodified, well-serviced car is usually the safer long-term buy.
We do not quote dollar figures here — they move. Use Trade Me Motors and AutoTrader for current bands, then compare with dealer listings.
The quirks — what no salesperson will spell out
Straight talk. You will not get this from a brochure.
You might love it
- Character. Owners talk about these cars like they are alive. If that sounds silly, skip the Jimny. If it sounds about right, read on.
- Resale. NZ market depreciation on JB74s has been minimal for years — it is one of the closest things to a “free to own” car if you buy well.
- Servicing. Straightforward; Suzuki network is fine; the K15B engine is well understood by independents.
- Agility. Narrow, short, and manoeuvrable — urban and back-country friendly in a way big 4WDs are not.
Or it might grate
- Performance. It is not fast. Published tests put 0–100 km/h for the automatic in the low-12-second range — overtakes need a plan.
- Fuel. Mid-7s to high-8s L/100 km in mixed driving is realistic — it is a brick-shaped 4WD ladder frame, not a hybrid.
- Ride and noise. Live axles and upright glass: firm in town, loud at 100 km/h. Bring a playlist you like.
- Driving position. Tall and upright — brilliant visibility, odd for the first hour if you are used to a sedan.
- Crosswinds. Worth saying twice if you cross the Canterbury Plains in a nor’wester.
- Seats. The split verdict: fine for some on long days, flat for others. A multi-day rental is how you learn your side.
- Safety. The JB74 received a three-star ANCAP rating at launch (2019). It has modern assists — but it is not a family wagon built to the same crash-test script as the latest monobox SUVs. Factor that in, especially with young kids.
- Insurance. Quotes before you buy — some insurers treat Jimnys oddly because of off-road image and overseas theft headlines.
If you want seasonal context — chains, alpine roads, winter behaviour — our winter driving page is worth a look after this.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I rent for to get a real feel?
Can I rent both a 3-door and a 5-door?
Where can I pick up?
What’s included?
Can I take it off-road?
What if I decide to buy one?
Is there a buyer’s discount?
Can I drive it to a specific place?
How does insurance work?
Ready to find out if it is the one?
Two or three days behind the wheel will tell you more than any review, dealer loop, or YouTube spec sheet. Pick your dates, pick a location, and we will have a Jimny ready.