Car Statistics: Suzuki - Jimny Series 98 (2 stars)

Styling (2 stars)

Chunky styling has plenty of off-road kudos - until you realise the Jimny is actually smaller than most superminis. It looks very narrow as well

Handling (1 star)

Short of trying to direct a flock of sheep down a road you couldn't endure a more woolly driving experience. The Jimny suffers from vague steering, poor stability at speed and a woeful lack of grip.

Comfort (1 star)

Imagine trying to ride a pnuematic drill pogo-style and you've got a fairly good idea of how well the Jimny deals with bumps and undulations. The cabin feels very low rent too - and the seating position is terrible.

Quality (2 stars)

Built to last - not that you'll want it to. Cabin materials are cheap and shiny.

Performance (1 star)

The Jimny's 1.3 litre petrol engine needs to be given a pasting to deliver anything approaching respectable acceleration. It's loud when used hard, too.

Roominess (1 star)

The cabin feels tight for front seat occupants and it's tiny in the rear. Luggage space is very poor, too.

Costs (3 stars)

Poor residual values mean the Jimny is not a good medium-term investment, but decent fuel economy and reasonably priced servicing makes it one of the cheapest ways to get yourself an off-roader.

Value (2 stars)

Despite its low pricing and reasonable equipment (including air con) on the plusher

Stereo (1 star)

The audio system really struggles to make itself heard when the car is moving and sound quality is tinny and insubstantial. Satnav unavailable.