For The Gypsy In Everyone

The quintessential Indian 4x4 returns in its modern and premium avatar nearly 40 years after it was first launched in the country. After admiring it at the Auto Expo earlier this year, we were in the hills around Dehradun to drive it both on and off the road to find out whether it is as good to drive as it is to look at

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There is barely anyone who has been around cars in India and whose life has not been touched by the Gypsy - the all-purpose vehicle deployed on the frontiers, by the armed forces and law enforcement across the country and also by the enthusiasts and has been the staple of Indian motorsport for many decades. We all remember its go-anywhere capability, its back-breaking ride when unladen, especially at the rear, the longitudinally placed bench seats and its macho appeal.

That was a derivative of the 2nd generation Jimny in its long wheelbase avatar when it was first launched in the middle of the 80s.

It had since then continued its own parallel development along with some changes to the track (for stability) and multiple changes to the engine (for emissions) to arrive at the MG413W when it was finally discontinued over five years back.

In the meantime, the Jimny moved on to its third and subsequently fourth generation avatars in global markets with India being one of the production hubs for the fourth-gen three-door little off-roader. Maruti Suzuki has modified the Jimny for its launch in India, adding 340mm to the wheelbase, putting in two extra doors for the second row of seating and with no change made to overhangs thus the length also increases by 340mm and the five-door Jimny also thereby gets a larger boot. Till the B-pillars, the "Indian" five-door Jimny is exactly the same as the three-door version. And despite the added length the five-door Jimny is still just 3985mm long including the spare wheel and its cover which is housed on the back door.

Compared to the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, it is still 25mm shorter and lower as well. However the Jimny is just over 10mm broader than the Gypsy. However it is both narrower and shorter (though by just 10mm if one also includes the spare wheel with its cover) than the other sub-4m SUV that Maruti Suzuki has in its portfolio - the Brezza.