Jimny fans rejoice! Having been cruelly vanquished from Suzuki's lineup by thuggish emission requirements last year, the pocket-sized off-roader is finally back in Light Commercial Vehicle format. Obviously the manufacturer stresses how keen it is 'to meet the needs of business professionals', but really, of course, the Jimny LCV is about delivering a version of the car not quite so beholden to the regulatory party-poopers.
The upside to all this manoeuvring is that the new model is probably better than the previous version anyway. Because who really wanted back seats in a car with the wheelbase and ride comfort of a child's bike? No-one. Better to have your Jimny as a rough 'n' tumble two-seater - with a (comparatively speaking) huge boot.
And that's what you get. Aft of the front seats, the LCV has been swept clean of clutter, delivering a 863-litre flat floor load compartment and a cargo partition. Granted, that's fairly microscopic for a van - but plenty spacious enough if your business requirements are limited to a gym bag and a Labrador.
Much like the commercial grade variants of the Defender and the outgoing Land Cruiser, the LCV comes with a pleasing utilitarian vibe. Sure, you still get air con, cruise control and a DAB stereo to keep outright savagery at the door, but the latest Jimny looks to have few airs and graces. Which is exactly how it should be given the rudimentary way it goes about being a road car.
The important bits are still all underneath, and it'll probably be easy to convince anyone working away from tarmac (and without the need to carry too much kit) that the Jimny's ALLGRIP PRO four-wheel-drive system, ladder frame chassis and 3-link rigid axle suspension are just what they need to conquer the wilderness. Or a bit of wet grass.
If that sounds like your kind of commercial vehicle, the LCV costs £16,796 without the VAT. Or £19,999 with it ladled on. Be warned though, the Jimny has never been available in anything less than short supply, and it appears the latest version is no different. Suzuki suggests the UK will only greet 'very limited numbers' through 2021. So don't hang about.
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