Twisted Suzuki Jimny review: Twice as Fast, Twice the Luxury, Twice the Price
Twisted Suzuki Jimny review: Twice as Fast, Twice the Luxury, Twice the Price. Jonny Smith heads to the kings of Land Rover Defender restomods in Yorkshire to drive their first non JLR vehicle to receive their modified treatment.
The Twisted new Jimny is based upon the £25k commercial vehicle and uses suspension mods, a Turbo intercooler kit, revised Ecu and the usual high calibre hand-stitched upholstery to create the ultimate Jimny. But then again it is £50,000.
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Jonny Smith
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
#newjimny #4k #modifiedjimny #thelatebrakeshow
Like a land rover but the engine starts
Ha!
😂😂😂😂#truestory
And will be a bean can in 30 years, whereas my old Landie is still going and starts first time, every time.
@@red9zero Strange thing envy and perhaps ignorance !
@@red9zero no though, a Japanese 4x4 will outlast a Land Rover period, Land Rover doesn’t have the reputation like a hilux or Land Cruiser
I got rid of all my LR's but kept the Jimny and don't regret it... it's such a characterful looking car and the perfect size for the small village where I live and country lanes around me... Jimny's are classless, reliable and practical. Big thanks to you Jonny for highlighting the Twisted Jimny, - and well done to all the Twisted team involved.
This makes perfect sense. I like smaller cars and trucks. I've always wanted a Jimny, but not necessarily a larger off-road vehicle. The Jimny is not just an economical vehicle, there's nothing the same small size that can do what a Jimny does. So why not have a better Jimny that reduces it's faults? This looks much more comfortable to ride on the road, making it a more well-rounded vehicle. If I can afford a luxurious vehicle, why must it be large? Small size is often desirable. Besides, a small vehicle of the same high quality is less expensive. I know they're making an economical car expensive, but what else could you buy that is competitive with the Twisted Jimny? Nothing that I know of. I'd rather have this than a big expensive luxury off-road vehicle. This is a very capable off-capable small vehicle. I don't think I need larger size. This is more maneuverable and has lots of space behind the seats. International and domestic regulations often make it difficult to get different configurations of the Jimny, but earlier this year a five-door Jimny was released, initially in India. It looks great. Just slighly longer, and the reat seats fold down so it's a very versatile vehicle. Suzuki has announced an electric Jimny to launch before 2030, and there have been rumors of a hybrid. So this is probably a good time for Twisted to start working on upscale, upgraded Jimnys. I wish I could get this car in the USA! It sounds like maybe these modifications are just what the Jimny needed to turn into a car I'd enjoy driving daily, even on highways and in town. The Jimny was always great, but a little rough and basic. That simplicity made it inexpensive and had a charm, but these improvements make it a better vehicle. The regular Jimny is great off-road but isn't much fun to drive on roads, where it's rather loud, bumpy, and slow. Sounds like they can fix that now.
£50k, that's mental. I'm currently in NZ and can buy a brand new passenger one (with alloys, car play, rear seats etc) for £15k, suspension for £1200 and turbo kit for £2500. So £18,700 all up How can the other TWISTED extras cost £30k more 😮
Yeah it's a Jimny. Just give it more power and make it handle. It doesn't need leather padding. Saying that though they seem like a very cool company (bit of a naff name) so I hope they sell a few.
Wow, Jonny! Advertising the podcast too! Richard will be proud of your marketing skills 😂 Lovely, I think they've gone too far, but this is obviously their show car, and they're gonna run out of defenders at some point
Hello there. What turbo kit are you refering to?
its probably the anti noise material and the fancy leather crap
Because old mate in the work shop is spending 4 months solid fitting all the upgrades. I guess their market is wealthy clients who don’t know how to use a screwdriver.
I gotta say the production quality of the video is just spot on. The absolute silence except for the vocals which itself is slow and methodic, makes this such a laid back video to watch
Love this, drove my jimmy around Western Australia and it was faultless. The turbo and sound deadening I can imagine would completely transform the car, I also wouldn’t be surprised if this would be more fuel efficient than the stock car.
I have a lot of respect for Twisted with what they do for Defenders and for this, as a Land Rover devotee I love the Jimny too and given the money I would've bought one instead of my cheap Freelander. I wonder how one of these would go with the 2 litre engine I have in my MX-5, a 167hp naturally aspirated, as weirdly the Jimny is lighter than my car with the folding hard top.
bored out mx5 engine, or something different?
@@throwback19841 Sorry instead of NA I should've put naturally aspirated, 2012 3rd gen. car with standard 2 litre and 6-speed.
@@MattTesteryour mazda 2ltr lump is basically a copy engine of the J20a engine thats a Suzuki engine to begin with mate. Suzuki and Mazda are bezzy mates
K-swap it
I have followed this very car out of the industrial estate off York road a few weeks ago, it’s not too far from Twisted, I deliver to a couple of kitchen manufacturers on there. I remember it’s registration plate and thinking “it’s got to be something to do with Twisteddown the road”. And now it’s on here to prove I was correct 👍🏼👍🏼
I think the jimny is a fabulous car. I think it deserves this treatment. Fabulous review and thank you Jonny for shining a light on this! Would love to see you back to review one of the defenders!
Fitting a turbo. Fixes 99.6% of all Car problems. lol
True true - take any car and add enough power, and it’s a decent car - pick any car, and the basic engine one is usually ballcocks, and the sporty ones are decent
Ooh yes please. It sounds amazingly quiet on your in car commentary :) I love to see it perform off-road, to see if it has lost any of its ability with the fitting of a turbo and a rear roll bar (I know it's not the car's most likely stomping ground, especially after it's been twisted).
Loved every minute of that! In fact, you didn't need to say anything, your chuckle says it all
BTW - it was not 100% emissions on why we don't get the non commercial Jimny any more. The Jimny was pretty clean with 154g co2/km. Cleaner than pretty much every other 4x4 on sale. It was more an issue of it weighing so little that silly EU regs penalised it. Had it weighed a tonne more, it could quite happily have doubled its emissions and been fine. They also tow fine, way more than 300kg. I guess you haven't ever tried. And there are no paved roads in the UK where you'd be in trouble in 2nd gear, that is utter BS.
I'd have one and I'd never thought I'd say that. My father in law had the last shape and its characteristics made it. Crude but fun. This twisted version is great ❤
my husband has a Land Rover. I am very soon buying my second Jimny. Love my Jimny more than my husband will always buy a Jimny
It's a yes from me too. Love it. I'd have a black one without the decals. Brilliant.
what a legendry work... those Defenders are absolute work of art.
Have you seen the price......Bonkers !!
Absolutely love this thing, I think so far they Twisted have done a grand job with this. Shame no diesel though.
Whoosh, Everytime Jonny you cracked a grin, Mind so did I lol.
Awesome review of an awesome car. When you pointed to the new rear swaybar, I think you were actually filming/pointing at the Panhard Rod that locates the rear axle against sideways movement. Cheers
I spend a lot of time in South Africa. The Jimny passengers are incredibly popular out here. It wouldn't surprise me if some of these eventually make their way to the UK now Suzuki have discontinued the passenger model there.
Nice video Jonny. Nice to see James May's Caterham from the Grand Tour get a small feature.
This was so nice and relaxing to watch ❤
I would love to hear your take on Bowler conversions. I had a full Defender 110 conversion done (with plaque and build number 😉) about 4 years ago and it’s transformative, especially power and handling, and yes I know that’s all relative with a Defender! I’m sure the folks at Bowler would love to show what their years of Dakar and rally experience have brought to this area of Defender conversions. There’s more to them than just this of course and their story is fascinating.
Bowler is a great shout.
Great intro. Very well articulated.
I used to own an old Jimny, I would adore that Twisted one!
I'm looking to get a silver jimny this month and was thinking of a tan roof with tan rear quarters wrap. Seeing that interior has cemented the idea. I thought my Panda cross was an expensive dog crate on wheels, but I think the Jimny is going to beat it.
I love the calmness of this video.
✌🏽
I bloody LOVE this thing. Amazing!! Just amazing.
Enjoyed the video Johnny....Often wondered what 'Twisted' did... I've passed their works in Thirsk many times and wondered why all the Defenders were outside for!....Cheers.
The way Jonny smile every time turbocharger makes pru-tu-tu-tu-tu it's just brilliant description of how it goes :)
I was in Thirsk the other day, drove past twisted and saw all the jimnys parked down the side. Cool company progression. Cool product
What a wicked little car. Love the inside and the little turbo flutter to give it some real character.
Brilliant !, Gives me so many ideas for some DIY customisation 🙂
I love the standard Jimny for how fit for purpose the design is, a utilitarian, capable off-road vehicle with charm and classless style. For me a lot of that has been lost here 😢
All of its charm and classless style has been lost
It’s ok it’s been lost if you’re not taking it off road. If you properly go off road, the stock car is better
Thanks for another wonderful video! Where can I find the link for the podcast please? Greetings from the Netherlands
My wife has had a Jimny since 2000 and it’s only done 76k and it’s been to New Zealand and back to the UK great little car
Man I wish the Jimny was Available in the States! I so want one.
You can import an older JDM. It is not a new design.
@volvo24091 if I remember I believe it had to be older than 25 years, The newer Jimny came out what 3/4years ago?
met the twisted crew at the finsh line of the 2014 Miami to Ibiza gumball 3000 ..free merch too ..top team
My favourite thing is they haven't gone stupid with the power or mods, very tastefully done :)
I have personally owned two Jimny's from new, and just loved them, and boy do I miss owning them, but I would have a Twisted Jimny in a heart beat! So🤞 crossed for now. Thanks Jonny another great video.👍
Many thanks!
@@TheLateBrakeShow do they do a turbo kit.. to fit.. a good friend has a half ton flat deck with 600mm extended chassis from the factory.. but needs a lot more power.. great review, 👌👌🇳🇿🇳🇿
Turbo and damping would be good enough for me. Thanks for the review.
Hi, I need to get mine over to the UK for an engine mod. I'm with you. I love the interior as it is but the outside mods... worth looking into 🙂
Another Enjoyable Review Johnny, i think i would be grinning every gear change when it goes petcheooo....😂
That is bloody brilliant!!
It's nippy
Love this job ! Well twisted
Any info from Twisted whether the power increase and handling kit increases the towing capacity? I'd love one to tow a teardrop camper but the one I like is 1,200kg
I love his enthusiasm about the car
I think that Jimny is great N/A for reliability and longevity purposes.
Glad to hear a reference to Chops, I was worried she wasn't around any more with all the holidays for 3 mentioned in the podcast!
I’d like to know the rpm at 70moh. That was the issue for me. It was something like 4000rpm I do recall. Has that changed on the twisted version?
I love my (slow) Jimny, but great to see what's possible!
Very cool Jimny!
I have always loved Jinny’s. I drive EVs now, but a Twisted Jimny would persuade me to drive an ICE again (I would want heated seats and preferably an automatic). Great video - as a Jimny enthusiast, you are definitely the right person to review it 😀. That interior is gorgeous- my favourite colour (I drive a Smart ForTwo EQ Racing Green, with the brown Brabus interior 😍).
Wonderful little thing. Twisted have taken a great little recipe and improved upon it. But 50k? You would have to have enough money not to worry about money. I am sure that small target market is out there. We need companies like this in the UK. Great vid Jonny, keep up the great work. :-)
I also wondered if adding a turbo would impact its off-road credentials vs NA?
I know the whole fleet emissions are what did for it, but I never understood why Suzuki didn’t stick one of their excellent small capacity turbos in it from the factory. Even if it didn’t make big power figures it would have helped with the torques.
I have SO wanted to do this as soon as the latest Jimny came out, would be hilarious fun on the road, if only you could do a 2.0 diesel.
At 13:46 what you are showing i s the rear panhard bar which is the stock one, there's no visible sway bar there, the front one looks pretty new, perhaps they upgraded the stock one with a thicker one?
That rear anti-roll bar looks more like a Panhard rod (????). I would have thought that a M62 supercharger would be more suitable to give power low down for off-roading and low speed pick-.up whilst still delivering the same 165bhp .
Welcome to my manor Mr Smith. Shot quite literally on my doorstep and recognise all the roads you’re on. I even drop into the old cinema for a coffee and salted caramel blondie courtesy of Charle’s sister. Yorkshire Outdoors just a couple of miles away would have made a good spot to test the Jimny off road (run by Charle’s father nonetheless). I’d like him to dip his toes into a bit of older G wagon restoration and modification (not the newer 463/464 bling wagon stuff - yuk) as I have a 35 yr old, rather modified example sat on the driveway and love it. Will people take a £50k Jimny and off road it or will it be just another lifestyle trinket? Who knows. I certainly get the old G muddy, it’s what it was built for.
Like the Jimny but £50k+. Would like to see them do a Panda 4x4 twisted
Now there's an idea...
So much want, loved the Samurai when I was a kid and would love to have a Jimny here in the states
They should really fill in those intendations under all that leather. Easiest and most practical way would probably be to 3D print some fitted inserts for the bolt heads and wrap the leather over those. Those dimples give an unfinished look.
My 2023 Jimny GL came with heated front seat straight from the factory. It will ne nice this coming winter😁
The Land Rover with the DJ booth on the back they did for Red Bull was something else.. Saw one lightning up all four tyres one day🤣. Definitely not an old 2 1/4 petrol. The inside of the old cinema looks great. Better than when the tyre place had it.
Having owned 4 Suzuki Vitara/Grand Vitaras, I would have loved to see twisted mods on those. If I was after a new vehicle I would buy a Twisted Jimny but unfortunately they don't sell them in Australia. It's amazing what a couple of Yorkshire blokes can do in a shed. Mind you my dad is a Yorkshireman & he was always creative mechanically. Another great video Jonny.
Is it just me or is there no more new small to medium vehicles that are designed with driving off road in Australia ? My Father has a grand Vitara 2009 model. It seats 5, low range, lockers, is constant 4wd and it's a medium sized SUV. Now he wants another new 4WD and it seems the only options are large SUVs these days.
@@Jwalker76 The new "Vitara" is a soft roader. There's nothing proper in the medium segment.
older Grand Vitaras were the best of the lot. The 06 Grand Vitara can eat jimnys offroad and do 120mph without wandering all over the road even with BFGs on them
@@bigduphusaj162 you talking about the V6 doing 120mph? My Father's is the 2.4L four cylinder, I know some are 2.0L and there's some other engine types. I havnt driven it on a highway before but it out corners my Carolla on a hairpin corner.
My first Vitara was a '92 model & I was towing out the bigger Landcruisers & Patrols when they got stuck in the mud. Why? Cos the Vitara was lighter. The 2nd one was a '97 2L and that went through flooded roads a treat until it was run up the backside by a woman in a Landcruiser on her phone. The 3rd was an '07 5dr V6 which was fine & liked highways. 4th one was an '09 3dr that went over railway tracks constantly, through flooded waters & loved sand dunes. It was my longest Grand Vitara I ever had from new. 10 years of ownership & I sold it to a 20yr old girl who wanted something to catch her older brothers with. Down the track I'll buy a Jimny cos I miss the older Vitaras.
I’m sure this version is lovely, but I’m happy with my stock Jimny (in the frankly mandatory Kinetic Yellow 🙂). A lot of its charm is in its cheapness/low power. It is still insanely agile off-road. And it has appreciated in my period of ownership - I’m happy with that vs spending more money on upgrades!
Yes it’s alot of money to spend
Yes, I find the same with my Defender - knowing that the parts on it are cheap/easy to fix or replace, makes it so genuinely relaxing. E.g. I could get fancy LED headlights, but resist the temptation and keep it stock - the simpler/more analogue/cheaper the better. Twisteds looks cool but not as good as the unmodified.
@@_P_F I used to think the same but LEDS make a big difference when driving at night, also you never need to replace globes again.
When it comes to insuring one of these or a Landy, how would you go about it? Modified insurance and you have to declare every mod or are the insurers aware of Twisted and what they do?
Great video. Magic transformation. I can only afford a Twisted T-Shirt.
Wow love it, wish this was accessible to Aussie buyers!!
50 grand?! Thats the best joke ive heard in years!
Or good value compared to a £200k Defender...
@@TheLateBrakeShowsorry did you say the Twisted D is 200k Johny. Crap
Just another example of what I like to call "car culture appropriating"
@@TheLateBrakeShow are you pulling my plonker?! £200k ouch!
I happened past Twisted in Yorkshire and a chap there was only to happy to give me a quick tour(it was end of day) what I saw was very very impressive. Twisted are every bit as good as Jonny is commenting on. 10/10.
All great until you need to replace the windscreen. To be able to recalibrate the ADAS system it needs to be at factory spec( ride height,original wheels,) so expect to be turned away if you turn up to have the screen replaced in one of these.
Brilliant! I like that truck anyway and this makes it epic. Wish they sold them in the states but I’ll have to wait 25 years
The Jimny 4 seater is still on sale in South Africa and Australia... Would be nice to source from there as a personal import and then take to Twisted
Is that May's Caterham from The Grand Tour? Haha
I love the Twisted Jimny! ❤
Great video Jonny, that Jimny is great but they seem to go for a ridiculous amount of money for second hand one. I never understood why they did not put the 1.0 Turbo engine that was is in the Swift/ Baleno which is a great little engine.
A super charger would be cheaper and better for a 4x4.
The intro of the video is even better when playing "Let's get Twisted" by eam EVO/Moog from MCM on top :D
I grew up driving from 17 in British country lanes like these with national speed limits in my xr2i replica! It seems so surreal now having lived in Australia for so long that you could do that, those onboard shots are making me nervous! Would love to bring my Jimny back to the homeland for a razz.
Great little car... just a shame they did not do this to the SJ years ago!
British off road culture is its own wonderful thing and I love it. Props to Suzuki that they are invited into the club.
Jonny's segue into the black circles promo is flawless. I see 'thought for the day' calling soon... "You know, all terrain tyres remind me of the story of Jesus and... "
Don't tempt him...
Lots of small (narrow) cars are great on smaller country roads. I used to have a diesel Mk1 VW Caddy with 53bhp and because it was already a bit rough and slow you would just chug along below the speed limit knowing that its as fast as you could go......
I remember seeing your / your wife's Jimny at your show at Betteshanger Park near Deal a couple of years ago. That was a great show
Thank you so much for coming along. The family Jim was a cool, characterful thing.
Wait....why isn't the S on the front of the grille back to front? Other free marketing advice is also available!
Them indentations on the leather grab handle, need cutting and capping, for access and would be equally aesthetic 👌
Is all this on the standard transfer case and diffs? If so you are going to have many problems just a few thousand miles down the road. I miss my old jimny.
Liked the sound of the turbo install until l found out it only kicks in around 3500rpm, l almost never go above 3000rpm so there would be little advantage for me, if they could get it down to around 2250/2500 that would be ideal.
I used to own a '84 Suzuki SJ410L which was their long wheel base version. It was a great little car. Except for the rust
Missed opportunity to put a backwards Suzuki S on the grille... I'd love to DIY a lot of this build, but all the Samurai (USDM Jimny) are pretty well used up around here.
Procuring the four door passenger jimmy in New Delhi- India next week- with plans to fit a pop top camper at 4 x4 campers in harayana- India- A himilayian mountain goat - however a later visit to Twisted for upgrades now seems the move- excellant presentation
Can't wait for the 4 door. Hope it comes to UK.
Shame Richard couldn’t join you for his thoughts. Reckon he could be converted!, 🤪.
Its a real shame they didnt regear it. Do the emgine and transfer case still scream at 60? Love mine, but im glad I don't have to deal with distance or speed on my timy island.
Funnily enough there was also a write up on this on pistonheads yesterday as well I read 😂 My ex's nan had one I always used to work on it like a 03 & 06 plate both same spec and colour 1.3 autos 🤣🤦🏻♂️
Love the Jimney, what an icon
22:06 Eyes on the road, Jonny. 😀
I would love to know why Suzuki haven't put their turbo that's used in the Swift and Vitara into the Jimny. How awesome is Twi5ted!!!