2026 Suzuki Jimny: Updated off-roader locked in for Australian launch
Technically, you'll still find examples of the pint-size off-roader at local showrooms, but no examples of the Japanese-built three-door are currently being imported.
'Production restarts later this year, so it should be here in the first quarter of 2026,' Suzuki Queensland general manager Paul Dillon told CarExpert.
Suzuki Queensland is the distributor for not only the Sunshine State, but also the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
It's expected the updated three-door Jimny will also be available in other Australian states and territories in the same timeframe.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Suzuki Jimny. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Pre-update models remain at dealerships, with Mr Dillon noting: 'As far as Queensland dealers are concerned, it's something like around 350 in dealer stock at the moment.'
The Japanese-built Jimny three-door is getting a safety upgrade that will see it match its Indian-built Jimny XL five-door sibling.
A report from Japanese outlet Creative Trend earlier this month said the updated Jimny, due in Japan in August, will gain the following equipment: 'Dual camera brake support'
Reverse brake support
Adaptive cruise control
Backward false start prevention function
Of these, only the first will reportedly be fitted to both manual and automatic variants, with the others being exclusive to auto vehicles.
No other changes are expected, according to Creative Trend, apart from what it claims will be a 'significant price increase'. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Suzuki Australia confirmed in February 2025 that the three-door Jimny, among other models in its lineup, didn't meet newly introduced Australian Design Rules (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
At the time, it said investigations were underway into making the popular off-roader compliant and that its 'position on this product' had 'yet to be confirmed'.
Sales of the Jimny, along with other Suzuki models that fell afoul of the new ADR, have continued as the automaker secured sufficient stock complied before March 1, 2025, when ADR 98/00 came into effect.
The Jimny XL is unaffected by this new ADR. It features a stereo camera instead of a forward-facing monocular camera and laser radar like its three-door sibling, which allows Suzuki to offer both adaptive cruise control and night-time pedestrian detection. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
As of January 1, 2025, the Jimny is unrated by independent safety authority ANCAP. Its three-star rating from 2018 expired on December 31, 2024.
The Jimny is by far Suzuki's best-selling vehicle locally.
To the end of June, Suzuki Australia and Suzuki Queensland have together delivered 4365 examples so far this year. The Swift light hatch was a distant second with 1953 deliveries.
Not only does the Jimny outsell every other Suzuki, it's more popular than almost every other so-called light SUV. The only exceptions are the Mazda CX-3 (8221) and Toyota Yaris Cross (5887).
However, in the first half of 2025, Jimny sales dropped by 7.3 per cent from the same period last year. Overall, the Suzuki brand was down 18.7 per cent, with the only model to post a sales increase being the Vitara… despite shipments of this model to Australia also ceasing.
The updated Jimny isn't the only fresh metal arriving in Suzuki's Australian showrooms early next year. Also locked in are the Vitara Hybrid and electric eVitara SUVs, though only the latter is likely to be offered in Suzuki Queensland showrooms.
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom
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