Wrangler vs. Jimny

I'm running a Wrangler for a week, and it's already turning up some surprising comparisons.

For instance, you'd expect the Wrangler to feel much more spacious, but it isn't. Cabin space is only four inches wider in total, but the Jeep's door trim intrudes so much that the Jimny feels more accommodating. Jimny has far more headroom, too - if I put my seat back, my head hits the Wrangler's rollbar.

Adding to the cramped feeling is that there's nowhere to put your left foot in the Wrangler, thanks to transmission intrusion. Part of the reason why there's no manual model is because there is literally nowhere to put a clutch pedal, but in the auto you're left with no choice but to leave your left foot underneath the brake pedal.

The Wrangler is quick, though. This is the 2.0-litre turbo petrol and although it sounds like a bag of spanners in a washing machine, it gets off the line pretty smartly. My Jimny, by comparison, is wilfully underpowered.

More than three times the price, mind.

Which would you pick for a day on the lanes though?

Lambert wrote: Which would you pick for a day on the lanes though?

Easy - Jimny. Two reasons:

1. Driving the Wrangler through our forest test course made it feel unwieldy and difficult to place. Visibility ain't great, either. Jimny goes anywhere and fits anywhere, all with very little effort. Gotta love that steering lock, too.

2. At the best part of fifty grand, you have to really question whether you want to take the Wrangler off-road at all.

Thought you might!

Funny, i just dont feel the jimny is under powered. As others have said, it certainly isnt fast, but i would never be able to describe it as slow either.

Ive never felt that it was under powered off-road either. It just happily beavers its way up steep inclines, and in 4L its just amazing, and more than enough ooompfhh to get ye out the muck.

Another thing.... but......Maybe cus i play my music moderatly loud on motorways, and my journeys are quite short (22 miles each way most days) ... but.... i never feel uncomfortable, annoyed or agrevated driving about, at around 65mph - 70mph. It just never bothers me. I get a strong feeling that this little suzuki loves being revved!

I think if youve jus stepped out of an ST or RS then you'll feel like youve stepped into a reliant robin speed-wise. But for myself stepping out of a 1.2 polo, i feel the jimny is perfectly suited for my needs and im well happy with its performance. If anything and from reading reviews prior to purchase, i was expecting it to be bloody aweful, and .. . IMHO.... it just isnt.

I just really love my jimny, no other car has made me feel like this does. Every drive is a pleasure and it still has the effect, of me looking at it at night when i lock it up and go in home. A real corny love affair going on with my jim

I have 215 MTs on mine. Hills are something of a challenge.

In other news, there's no way I could live with this absolute park bench of a front bumper...