As Of Right Now, Suzuki Has No Plans For A Jimny Pickup

Although many have been hoping for a pickup version of the Suzuki Jimny for years, the chief engineer of the Japanese company has now confirmed that it will not happen.

Suzuki showed off the Jimny Sierra Pickup Style concept back in 2019 at the Tokyo Auto Salon, which many took as a hint of things to come. Speculation continued after the arrival of the longer-wheelbase Jimny in 2023.

Suzuki’s chief engineer, Takamitsu Sasaki, told Australian magazine Drive that a pickup based on the Jimny is not on the agenda. He explained that “there isn’t really much demand” for such a version.

In addition to market interest, Sasaki highlighted the technical challenges involved in adapting the platform for a real pickup. “If we were to make a Jimny like that, we would have to make it very durable, and that is very difficult,” he said. “To put a lot of weight on the rear, we need to strengthen the frame.”

Even if Suzuki decided to strengthen the chassis to increase the load capacity, the pickup version would probably need more power than the current 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that has 75 kW/102 hp.

When asked about the possibility of a more powerful version, Sasaki dismissed the idea. “We’re not looking at a bigger powertrain because this model is very specific with the body and the engine. It’s a balance; it’s just the right size, so we’re not looking at a bigger engine.”

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