COMPARING A JDM IMPORT JIMNY TO OUR UK LCV MODEL

With Suzuki having now officially stopped sales of the Jimny (again) here in the UK, customers are turning to models imported directly from Japan, which are now available from various companies that specialise in grey imports. How do these examples compare to UK-specification Jimnys?

Japanese domestic market (or "JDM" as it's more commonly referred to) cars are typically sought after for a number of reasons. Generally speaking, cars supplied to the Japanese market will have a higher specification than equivalent models supplied to other parts of the world. The Jimny is no exception!

This Jungle Green Jimny has just been imported from Japan, and its recent visit to our new HQ provided us with an opportunity to delve deeper into how JDM and UKDM models compare.

First off is the colour; while our neighbours in other European countries were able to order a Jungle Green Jimny from their local Suzuki dealership, this colour was never offered to the UK market. It's a big shame, as it's a colour that suits the Jimny so well.

At the front, this particular car was equipped with the same OEM LED headlights that were supplied on the SZ5 4-seater UK specification Jimny. This means that the car features an automatic headlight levelling system on the rear axle (pictured above). By comparison, the LCV 2-seater model was supplied with regular halogen headlights (and no automatic headlight levelling system) from the factory.

Immediately noticeable was the keyless entry buttons on the Jimny's doors and tailgate; simply press one of the door buttons with the key in your pocket and you are granted access to the car. As a result of this, the key design is also noticeably different (note the funky looking JDM seat fabric, too!). 

When it's time to fire up the engine, there's no fumbling with any keys! A single press of the Start/Stop button is all that's needed. This also reveals the Jimny's next party trick; starting the engine triggers the neat power folding (and heated) mirrors.

It's also interesting to note that, due to the inclusion of the automatic Stop/Start button on the dashboard, the Lane Departure Warning and Collision Warning System buttons have been merged into one location, unlike the UK and European spec cars.

One downside with a JDM Jimny is that the on-board computer (the screen between the speedometer and rev counter that displays range, MPG etc.) is entirely in Japanese, and the language can't be changed. It's relatively straightforward to work out what the screen is showing at any one time, but it would be great if the language could be altered. Perhaps a solution to this will be found in the future.

Underneath the car, everything appears to be exactly the same as what you would expect to find on a regular UK-specification Jimny. Our JIMNYSTYLE Suspension Lift Kit fit perfectly, with an LED Headlight Adjustment Bracket having also been fitted to account for this particular car having LED headlights.

Over the coming months we're expecting to hear from many more customers who have purchased a JDM Jimny, given that they are now more readily available in the UK than ever before.

If you are looking to fit some of our products to your imported Jimny, please do let us know that you have a JDM model in your order notes. This is because some products (such as our JIMNYSTYLE LED Tail Lights) might require a slightly different specification compared to a UK Jimny. However, the vast majority of products are exactly the same, so you rest assured knowing that parts will be readily available for your imported Jimny!

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.