If you’re based in the UK and are looking to buy a current generation Suzuki Jimny, chances are you will have been looking at cars that have been unofficially imported from Japan. While this might seem quite daunting at first, there’s nothing to be worried about! Here we’ll run through the ins and outs of buying your dream Suzuki Jimny.
Background
First, we’ll start with a little bit of history and rewind back to 2018. Suzuki UK began selling the new Jimny in two different trim levels, both offered with four seats. The SZ4 was offered as the entry-level model, with halogen headlights, unpainted door handles and manual climate control. In contrast, the SZ5 was offered as the premium model, with LED headlights, heated seats, digital climate control and a double DIN radio with Apple CarPlay as standard.
A pair of brand new SZ5-specification Jimnys for sale at a UK dealer in 2019. We bought the one on the right and it has been with us ever since!Fast forward a couple of years and both of these models were no longer available, thanks to them throwing off Suzuki UK’s average CO2 emissions figure due to them being much less frugal and aerodynamic than the likes of the tiny Ignis or compact Swift. This resulted in Suzuki UK exploiting a loophole that ensured that commercial vehicles were exempt from these average CO2 figures.
As a result, the Jimny LCV (light commercial vehicle) was introduced, which was essentially an entry level SZ4 specification car minus two seats, and, if you could find one that hadn’t been pre-registered with an artificially inflated price, officially sold for the same price as the now discontinued top-spec SZ5 model.
It didn’t last very long - the final batch of LCV Jimnys were delivered to dealerships a few years later before quietly being removed from the Suzuki UK website, never to be seen again.
Shortly afterwards, Japanese import specialists clocked on and realised that there was a constant supply of Jimnys available in their native Japan, the vast majority specified with an array of creature comforts that were never available on official UK models and, more often than not, offered in immaculate condition.
So-called “grey imports” are nothing new here in the UK; for decades, specialists have taken advantage of both Japan and the UK driving on the left-side of the road, importing everything from cult classics such as Nissan Skyline GT-Rs through to hugely popular minivans such as the Nissan Elgrand and Toyota Alphard. The UK has a fantastic trade relationship with Japan that allows such cars to be imported with very low import duties, and they can be UK-registered very easily thanks to a Japanese certificate of conformity.
Imported Suzuki Jimnys for sale in the UK at a dealership
Creature comforts offered on “JDM” (Japanese Domestic Market) Jimnys include power folding mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, stop/start functionality, heated seats and additional sound deadening and insulation. The Jimny has continued to be developed in Japan, meaning that the latest Series 5 (3-door) and Series 2 (5-door) models feature a whole host of technology never seen on the official UK models, such as radar cruise control and front and rear parking sensors.
Whereas the Jimny was only sold in the UK with a four cylinder 1.5 litre engine, in Japan you can choose between this (known as a "JB74" in 3-door form, or "JC74" in 5-door form) or a kei car model, referred to as a “JB64”, with a tiny 660cc engine. Kei cars are popular in Japan thanks to low road tax and ease of parking, but the 660cc engine can be lacking on UK motorways and country lanes. The JB64 model is easily identifiable by its lack of wider wheel arches, which are a standard feature of the 1.5 litre Jimny model (also known as a "Jimny Sierra" in 3-door form). Almost all of our UK-based customers opt for the 1.5 litre JB74 or JC74 model, as this is much better suited to UK roads and driving habits.
The Suzuki Jimny JB64 "kei car" with a 660cc engine. This model is identifiable by its lack of black plastic wheel arch extensions
3-door or 5-door?
The 3-door JB74 model has been manufactured in Japan since 2018. In contrast, the 5-door JC74 model is manufactured in India and was introduced to the Indian domestic market in 2023, with a more “bare bones” specification compared to the 3-door. It was gradually released in the likes of Australia and South Africa until it officially became available in Japan in early 2025, now fitted with the creature comforts that Japanese customers had come to expect from the 3-door model.
Both the 3-door and 5-door models share a large proportion of their components with one another, including the 1.5 litre engine and choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. The vast majority of body parts and panels are shared between the two (aside from the obvious doors and other associated items), while the suspension setups of both are the same. This allows for excellent cross-compatibility of both OEM and aftermarket parts and accessories!
As you would imagine, both models drive very similarly, although the slightly longer wheelbase of the 5-door model does encourage a bit more stability at higher speeds. All things considered, the 5-door is only slightly heavier, which ensures that acceleration and braking performance is barely affected.
Thanks to the added length of the 5-door, rear passenger legroom is improved when compared to the 3-door model; with the driver's seat in its most rearwards position, a 6 foot tall person can sit in the seat behind quite snugly. The front doors are slightly smaller than those of the 3-door though, while the rear doors provide quite a small aperture in which to climb in and out of when fully open.
However, for us, the main consideration is that, with the rear seats in use on a 3-door model, the boot space is almost non-existent. Compare this to the 5-door, where you can carry passengers in the back while still having access to storage space in the rear. For those who are transporting their family regularly, the 5-door presents a much more practical use case. For couples or solo explorers, the 3-door is usually the preferred option, as there is a healthy amount of luggage space with the rear seats folded down (and you can always explore other storage options, such as roof racks!).
A quick word of warning regarding 5-door Jimnys: even though all 5-door Jimnys are made by Maruti Suzuki in India, the specifications vary greatly between cars built for the Japanese market compared to the local Indian market. In general, Indian-specification 5-door Jimnys have a much lower specification and lack many features and creature comforts, such as ADAS safety systems (automated emergency braking etc.). These cars are easily identified, as Indian-specification Jimnys will not have a camera system at the top of their windscreens (for example).
Servicing
A question we get asked regularly is how easily can an imported Jimny be serviced. At the end of the day, all of the most important components (engine, gearbox, drivetrain etc.) are shared with the official UK models and are serviced in the exact same way. While some Suzuki UK dealerships will refuse to service a non-UK supplied model, we are finding that more and more are happy to service these imported models (some official Suzuki dealers are even selling imported Jimnys themselves!).
It should be noted that some parts on newer imported models supersede those supplied on official UK cars, and so Suzuki dealerships will struggle to supply these parts through official channels. This includes rear bumpers (on Japanese models supplied with integrated parking sensors), windscreens (the 5-door models and latest 3-door models have a different “ADAS” camera system) and front bumpers on the newest models with integrated front parking sensors and radar cruise control sensor.
Fear not though, as it is not particularly difficult to source these parts from Japan, should the need arise. As the market for imported Jimnys continues to grow, availability of these parts in the UK will no doubt increase, and the installation procedures are largely the same as their UK equivalents.
Insurance
Some insurance companies simply won’t insure imported cars, but this isn’t the end of the world! There are plenty of UK-based companies out there who are happy to cover imports, with both niche specialists and a selection of larger mainstream companies only too happy to help. If you plan on modifying your Jimny, make sure that you use an insurer who is happy for you declare additional modifications during your policy's term.
Buying
If you have browsed the likes of Auto Trader and eBay, you will no doubt have seen plenty of imported Jimnys for sale! Of course, the usual caveats to buying a used car apply: choose a dealership that is reputable, has great reviews and is friendly, polite and good at what they do. With an imported Jimny, there are a few key factors to look out for:
Dashboard language - the LCD screen between the speedometer and rev counter will be in Japanese by default. Some dealerships offer examples with screens translated to English, while others do not. The LCD screen displays information such as range, economy and other general car settings. If the LCD screen has been translated, it will show distance information in miles, whereas a non-translated screen will show these figures in kilometres (for example).
The central LCD screen on the dashboard that shows various pieces of information, such as fuel range, fuel economy and more. On this car the screen has been translated to English. This car also has the correct speedometer displaying both miles per hour (outer numbers) and kilometres per hour (inner numbers)
Speedometer - this should have been converted into mph (miles per hour) as part of the car’s import process into the UK, but we have seen some examples that have been left in kph (kilometres per hour). Look for a car that has a proper mph and kph speedometer dial, as opposed to a kph dial that has had an "mph" sticker applied to it.
Rear fog light - a rear fog light is a legal requirement on UK vehicles, and it should be located on the right-hand side of the car. In Japan, a rear fog light is not a legal requirement, and so you will find that imported 3-door models are not equipped with a rear fog light as standard (although, bizarrely, 5-door models are!).
Here you can see the integrated rear fog light; it is the red portion of the tail light closest to the number plate
As a rear fog light will likely have been retrofitted as part of the import process, be sure to check the quality of the work. The importer should have used a suitable fog light switch that is integrated neatly into the dashboard, utilising one of the blank switch locations near the start/stop button. The fog light itself should be integrated into the driver's side tail light, as opposed to an additional auxiliary fog light having been fitted underneath the rear bumper.
An aftermarket head unit fitted to a 5-door Jimny Nomade, featuring Apple CarPlay
Head unit (radio) - by default, many Japanese Jimnys are supplied without a radio (it’s commonplace for Japanese owners to specify their own head unit afterwards from the local equivalent of Halfords!). Therefore, it’s imperative that the importer has fitted a suitable English-language unit. Setups that incorporate Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are preferable, while head units that also incorporate a reversing camera are an added bonus.
Keys - make sure that your imported Jimny is supplied with two key fobs. While on the surface the key fobs appear to be the same as those used on other Suzuki models sold in the UK (such as the Ignis), they use a different radio frequency, making it difficult to obtain a spare without the help of a dedicated specialist. As official UK Jimnys did not feature keyless ignition or locking, they use an old fashioned physical key, which is different to the fob supplied with imported models.
Handbook - while physical handbooks are a rarity with any new car these days (not many people read them!), an English language version is available for imported Jimnys. If having a physical handbook is important to you, make sure to ask the seller for one.
Warranty
Official UK-supplied Jimnys were available with Suzuki’s service activated warranty. In effect, if your Jimny was serviced at an official Suzuki dealership, the car’s warranty would be extended for another year until the next service, and so on. Unfortunately, imported Jimnys do not benefit from this arrangement. While some Suzuki dealerships who are selling imported models might be able to offer some form of warranty, it will be with the dealership themselves, not Suzuki. Private dealerships might also be able to offer some form of warranty that is typically available when buying any used car, but the cost and type of coverage offered will vary between providers.
Truth be told, unless you plan to wring its neck off-road at every available opportunity, the current generation Jimny is a hugely reliable car and servicing is very straightforward. As mentioned earlier, imported models share the vast majority of their mechanical components with official UK cars, so consumables such as air filters, panel filters and oils/fluids are the same. The service schedule is also the same, so the servicing requirements can easily be checked against an official UK model.
Rust
The Jimny is what is known as a “ladder frame chassis" car. In other words, unlike the vast majority of modern passenger vehicles, the Jimny consists of a separate chassis and body. This arrangement, while it has shortcomings on-road, is hugely beneficial off-road and allows for excellent suspension articulation. Classic Land Rover Defenders, the modern INEOS Grenadier and the indestructible 70 series Toyota Land Cruiser are all examples of off-roaders that have ladder frame chassis.
The downside of cars with a ladder frame chassis is that the chassis is much more exposed to the elements which, in a country that likes to dispense salt on the roads in the winter, inevitably leads to corrosion over time. This can be prevented thanks to products such as Lanoguard that can be applied to the underside of the Jimny periodically to help fend off salt ingress and eventual corrosion. In Japan, they tend not to salt their roads in winter, which is why most cars sold for the Japanese domestic market are lacking in underbody corrosion protection.
It’s best to apply Lanoguard (or a similar product) as soon as possible before driving the Jimny on UK roads, purely because it is much easier to apply when the underside of the car is perfectly clean! Some dealers will offer to protect the underside of your Jimny before you take delivery. Failing that, there are specialists all around the country who regularly perform this work, day in, day out. If you live in a particularly rural area with a load of road salt in winter months, we highly recommend regularly washing the underside of your Jimny to wash off the worst of the salt.
Modifying
Now, onto the fun stuff! Modifying and personalising the Jimny is what makes the platform so special. We work with customers from all walks of life, and it’s fascinating to see the different jobs they are using their Jimnys for. From farm vets to beauticians, to those exploring the Scottish Highlands or touring Europe, it’s incredible to see Jimnys equipped with our products making so many memories!
The beauty of the Jimny is that you don’t need to do much to add your personal touch - it might be the addition of a simple cup holder or storage accessory that endears you to your new off-roader. However, as you might have seen when browsing our shop, the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing how you’d like to personalise your Jimny! If you head over to our Lookbook, you can see how some of our customers have modified their cars.
You can read much more about how to modify your Jimny using the links to our other articles at the bottom of this page. I should note that we will never knowing recommend a product or upgrade to you if we don’t think it will suit your needs. At the end of the day, we are Jimny owners ourselves and have a lot of real-world experience of the pros and cons of various parts. If you ask us for a suspension lift but we feel that a simple (and cheaper) spring and shock absorber upgrade would do the trick, we will not hesitate to let you know!
Jimnys are, by their very nature, wonderfully straightforward cars, which makes them much easier to work on than almost all other modern vehicles. We often joke that you could strip a Jimny down to its individual components with just a few sockets, a screwdriver and a couple of spanners! A large percentage of our customers have never worked on a car in their life but, after experiencing the joy and satisfaction of installing a small interior accessory, will often gain the confidence to take on bigger tasks, such as replacing the front grille. This is what makes Jimny modifying so fulfilling and addictive!
A 5-door Jimny with a 16" wheel & tyre package, Touring suspension kit and various LED lighting upgrades
For relatively more complex installations (such as a suspension lift kit), or if you’d simply prefer not to fit parts yourself, you can make use of our Fitting Service here at our warehouse and workshop in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, just off the M6. If you’re travelling from further away, why not make an adventure of it! Both North Wales and the Lake District are relatively short drives away on both the M56 and M6 respectively; there’s nothing better than testing out your newly upgrade Jimny with a road trip!
Other Jimny Technical Articles:
Suzuki Jimny 2018+ Modifying Guide
Turbo Kits for Suzuki Jimny (2018+)
TÜV-approved Wheels for Suzuki Jimny (2018+)
LED Tail Lights for Suzuki Jimny (2018+)
Wheel & Tyre Guide for Suzuki Jimny (2018+)
Installing Rear Luggage Bars on a Suzuki Jimny (2021+) LCV 2-Seater
Comparing a JDM Import Jimny to our UK LCV Model
Installing JIMNYSTYLE Inner Wheel Arch Liners
Proven Horsepower Gains for the Jimny!
Carrying Bikes with our Suzuki Jimny
