Jimny snow performance

Hi,
New to this forum and just the other day had an interesting and useful first drive on snow with my Suzuki Swift 4 x 4. Quite difficult conditions, long fairly steep gradients up and down but the most challenging conditions from other vehicles going slower so had to drop down a gear going uphill and going down trying to control speed in 1st whilst keeping a good distance from vehicle in front especially as lorries/vans coming uphill had little control so they had to "tack" to get up so had to avoid hitting them coming down.

So methinks when we replace our trusty old Yaris what about getting a Jimny. We do live at 740 ft in Hampshire and I am old enough to remember 1963 when I left school and just biked everywhere, snow, snow, freeze, freeze and no thaw for 3 months, So what happens if we get another 63.

Interested in what Jimny owners have to say who have recent experience in all types of snow conditions up and down hills including ice? Should add that in those far off days when money or lack of it was the main driving force had many Citroen Dyanes which valliently drove up on the M6 and Hardknot Pass etc so used to seat of the pants driving.
Also what depth of snow is the Jimny capable of driving through?

Many thanks.

Regards,

Frank

Welcome to the forum. With the right winter tyres a Jimny is exceptional in snow. Couple of years back we were drifted in with some taller than me . Those were an issue but the drifts up to the top of the lights were almost not there. Hard packed ice is always an issue for any car but if you're sensible there are very few places a Jimny won't get.

Hi Frank and welcome to the forums.

I've no personal experience (yet) I just missed out last year on the snow - but Im sure there are plenty of others here that can answer your questions admirably

Having spent yesterday driving across a variety of frozen surfaces (on and off-road) I am mightily impressed with performance of my standard, just out the box Jimny. Haven't been through snow above axle height but it was a steep descent on an ice covered track that impressed me most - especially as there's a 90 degree RH turn, steel farm gate and tractor ruts just to test the Jimny's (and drivers) capabilities. It all ended well - although today's drive was technically less challenging - we made it down to Morrison's supermarket.

I would say its really about what tyres you have, and 4 wheel drive...
I know of a wide tyred auto merc estate with winter tyres that romped up a snowy slope that a range rover with normal road tyres could not !

Once the snow is much deeper than the axles then any vehicle will probably be brought to a halt as axles don't make very good snow ploughs

Bomb proof with good tyres.....



Rescued two from each car in the top picture, Ford Ranger 4x4 on the right. I drove around all sorts of fancy "trucks" last year and my car was pretty much standard with BFG AT's. I would put a Jimny in the top 5% of cars in snow, always with the caveat that the driver is competent......

Flat snow to 8" was no problem, only bumper high drifts stopped it and then there was no issue with backing off and turning around.

sniper