Why is the explosively popular Suzuki’s “Jimny Nomad” 5-door model now being introduced in Japan? (BUSINESS INSIDER JAPAN) – Yahoo! News
Suzuki announced the “Jimny Nomad” on January 30th, 2025. Japan’s first Jimny 5-door model received 50,000 orders in just four days after its release, making it so popular that it stopped ordering.
Why did the Jimny, which has been loved for many years as a compact, three-door cross-country car, need a five-door home? And what challenges did Suzuki face in developing this new model?
Did you buy the Jimny from outside? –Hope Automobile, the predecessor of play equipment manufacturer
The Jimny has now become one of Suzuki’s most representative machines, but surprisingly, its creation was not by Suzuki’s hands. The prototype dates back to the “Hope Star ON type 4WD” developed by Hope (Hope Motors) in 1967. It was the company that produced the “Wani Wani Panic,” which we later saw at game centers. Hope Motors developed a groundbreaking small off-road vehicle for the time, but due to financial difficulties, the model was sold to Suzuki. Suzuki made its own improvements based on this, and released it in 1970 as the first Jimny LJ10. Since then, the Jimny has evolved for four generations. Among these, “it’s compact three-door” was an absolute requirement for the Jimny. That’s why Suzuki didn’t even plan to develop a five-door model.
Why were you asked for 5 doors now?
The Jimny is a full-fledged off-roader with a “functional design.” However, in recent years, demand for “town-riding SUVs” has been increasing rapidly in the SUV market. According to “All About Suzuki Jimny Nomads” (Sanei Shobo, 2025), former Jimny users were mainly professionals who really needed 4WD, such as the forestry and construction industry. However, more and more people have purchased the product from the fourth generation Jimny in 2018 because they liked this style. The retro and minimalist boxy design matches the current design trends, and with the support of the outdoor boom, it has now become a fashion icon. As a result, it was a natural trend that more users were calling for more practicality. The Jimny originally had a two-door layout, so access to the rear seats was poor, making it unsuitable for family use. Especially amidst the growing demand for outdoor activities, calls for luggage loading and comfort in the rear seats are getting stronger each day.
