Next-gen 2026 Suzuki Jimny ute and hybrid take shape: Iconic 4WD won't be electric car as it could recreate Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series success in miniature

It feels like the Suzuki Jimny has been around forever, but compared to its predecessor, the fourth-gen 4WD’s six-year vintage means it is still a long way from a mid-life crisis. 

Thing is, for Suzuki to continue selling its popular off-roader in Australia at a reasonable price, it will need to navigate incoming efficiency standards — likely requiring emissions to be cut from the 1.5-litre four-cylinder currently under the bonnet. 

A more efficient engine could reopen Suzuki's prospects in other markets. It is about to be withdrawn from sale in Italy, while in the UK it has been sold as a two-seat van model only since 2020. 

We reckon the Jimny is much more likely to keep its rough-and-tumble shrunken Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series vibe than tread the metropolitan path of the latest Land Rover Defender.

A teaser image shared last year gives hints to a Jimny update and, although we thought it might go EV, we now know that isn’t the case. President Toshihiro Suzuki nixed the idea when he told Autocar heavy batteries would “ruin” the Jimny’s core appeal. 

Suzuki’s Australian arm has made similar comments effectively ruling out an EV version of a ladder frame vehicle. A mild-hybrid version though? That could be handy. Plus, it’d keep the manual transmission. 

We’ve imagined a midlife make-over for the Jimny to that effect with digital artist Thanos Pappas. The new-look Jimny gets fresh headlights, a sleeker front fascia and rear lip spoiler along with aerodynamic wheel designs and tidier door handles. 

It is likely Suzuki would enhance the interior technology and some safety systems, but don’t expect lashings of leather and a powerful sound system, given the Jimny’s basic charm. 

The biggest change would be under the bonnet where the Jimny’s 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder could do with an upgrade. Given the Jimny three-door’s low weight (1095kg) a 48-volt mild-hybrid system could lower CO2 emissions significantly. 

In the Swift hatch’s case, picking up just a 12-volt mild-hybrid system cut its CO2 outputs by an impressive 20 per cent in combined ADR figures. For reference, that’s good enough for the Swift to sail through until 2027 without a fine under Australia’s new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES).

A similar system could see the Jimny’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder get down to 117 grams of CO2 per kilometre (currently 146g/km) and a stronger 48-volt system could drive even better fuel savings. 

Aside from no BEV version, the other big revelation from Suzuki-san was the Jimny’s target audience in the United Kingdom: commercial users. Over there, it’s sold only in two-door ‘van’ form for use on farms but Australian and Kiwi buyers prefer pick-ups.

We mention New Zealand as the local Suzuki arm took a regular three-door Jimny and whacked on a tray back in 2020, reminiscent of early Suzuki LJ50 utes. But it’s not an official model from a Suzuki factory. 

“Let’s cut the back off an XL and make it an X-Ute. Could be cool,” Suzuki Australia General Manager Michael Pachota previously joked with CarsGuide, before admitting that he’s not close enough to Suzuki Global to make something like that happen alone. 

Still, we’ve imagined what one could look like, aligning with the facelift render. It trades in the GLX’s alloy wheels for rough-and-ready steelies wrapped in all-terrain tyres. Being based on the five-door Jimny XL gives the single-cab ute a relatively useable tray, too. 

We’d imagine the storage space could be around 1300mm long and about 1500mm wide. Some heavier-duty rear springs and lighter kerb weight should be able to improve a Jimny ute’s payload from the XL’s 360kg to a more reasonable 500-650kg. 

Not enough to trouble big utes like HiLux and Ranger, but plenty for mountain bikes, loveable cattle dogs and a hay bail or two. Plus, it could pull from an awesome back catalogue of names: Suzuki Stockman, or perhaps a rebirth of the Mighty Boy. 

Beyond its application as a commercial vehicle, a ute is the exact kind of vehicle that would resonate with private buyers at the moment — especially one small enough to thread through increasingly busy city streets. Come on Suzuki, make the Jimny ute happen!

For some extra background on Suzuki’s battle against emissions, the brand has just launched its first electric car in Europe, the eVitara. Another, smaller model is confirmed to be in the works but that might be it for Suzuki EVs for now. 

Instead, expect the Japanese marque to pivot and focus on what it does best: small, efficient cars with a bent on continuing to expand operations in India, where half of its global sales are made. 

In Australia, Suzuki continues to enjoy moderate success with affordable vehicles. A new Swift should aid its fortunes but undeniably it’s the Jimny, bolstered by the arrival of the five-door, that’s doing the heavy lifting.