Is the Suzuki SJ is the Greatest 4x4 in the World?

[@swisscarguy]

Have I gone over the top or is a small truck like this really all the 4x4 you really need? 🤔

[@sunsetlights100]

Mario the Jimmy 4wd is all u need get to most places regular 4wd do!

[@shankarbalan3813]

This engine is 970cc. Near enough to 1 litre hence the 410 name. It’s a good vehicle perfect for hill farms and narrow roads and hill towns and all. You dont need brute power. It is one of the best out there for 4x4 work and is legendary in India because for nearly 40 years it has been the first preference of our Armed Forces and Police and Forestry Services. Ideal for rapid deployment.

[@ArrestedSun]

I have owned several SJ410's and a 5th gear would have been too high for the power available. 4 speeds get the job done just fine. Awesome trucks.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

Except if you need to drive over 35mph. I have done over 60mph in mine and it really does need a fifth gear (they even made a five speed gearbox for the 1.0l).

[@ArrestedSun]

I drove my SJ410 daily for 2 years on I-95 and I-495 up in Northern Virginia and never had a problem keeping up with local traffic. Sure, it revved high, but it seemed happy doing so. I have also owned a couple of SJ410K pickups that drive the same. That said, perhaps an overdrive for 4th gear would possibly work, but having owned several Samurai's as well, even they had a problem keeping speed in 5th gear on the highway, always requiring constant downshifting to re-gain momentum. My experiences, of course. @@DavidB-rx3km

[@johnarmstrong6940]

Just some advice, do not put it into either 4x4 High or Low on tar road or even a very grippy dirt road. its not an all-wheel drive system, it is called part time 4x4 , it has a transfer case that centre locks when in 4x4, meaning the front and back axle are locked into one another when in 4x4. When turning, your front axle will spin at a different speed to the rear and when on loose ground its ok, it will just correct itself, but on tar, the grip will cause axle wind up and will suddenly kick and release, either causing an accident or breaking an axle. The SJ 4x4 is for off road only and 2H for tar.

[@olivert1289]

Great little car, and a fitting backdrop for it

[@voidfalse]

If you're afraid of scratching your Jimny, then you've bought a wrong vehicle. These trucks are made for a proper off-road. Name me another modern-day car which is body-on-frame with 2 solid axles, except for a Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki Jimny :D

[@lbproductions3613]

After this review I want one! How much was it?

[@swisscarguy]

This one was 3600 Euro. The mystery 3rd one my uncle has at the bodyshop was 250 Euro. He's counting on spending around 700 Euro there for some work on the floors and then it's for sale. Most likely again for around 3500 Euro.

[@lbproductions3613]

@@swisscarguy think your uncle shouldn't have crush the one he had. Maybe just put a new engine in it.

[@swisscarguy]

I agree. He did however receive 8000 Euro in incentives towards his new car for scrapping it. At least monetarily it was well worth it. Even though I do not agree at all with these nonsensical scrappage incentives that often get perfectly good cheap cars off the road obly to replace them with some modern monstrosity.

[@jerobd1jay261]

It's a great car but lada it may be at same level😂

[@matauboy]

I was wondering if that's the access track for servicing the power lines? Most of the new Suzukis that I know that are actually used off road get a clear plastic wrap on the bonnet and sides. The local forestry people think these are better than quad bikes

[@andyblain7918]

I am confused as the SJ410's stopped production in 1985 or 1986. I have the same vehicle being restored and it is a 1989 SJ413 and the 1300 was the only one available in 1989 for the Samurai/Sierra/SJ, so something has been changed, be it badges, or motor or registration papers, unless It sat in the dealership for 3/4 years

[@rumighazali8984]

This car known as samurai in US, and katana in Indonesia. In indonesia this car still popular as affordable and durable 4x4 car, a lot of mechanic can repair it everywhere, also spare parts really easy and cheap to get it. I have long version of this car, fun to drive. Thanks mate for the video

[@offgridliving4128]

This car was also called the SJ410 in the US until 1985. (I owned one) The Samurai came out in 1986 with a 1.3l engine, plastic grill instead of metal slots. Different axles and also the transfer case and 5 speed transmission.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

I changed the cam belt on mine at the side of the road when it jumped off :D They are non-interference engines so the valves don't touch the pistons (thankfully).

[@andyblain7918]

The new version is a Jimny, not a Chimney.

[@johnog8358]

I have this exact same spec but '85 registered as an 86 and it's really never had any major issues or failures , its a santana made car and they really made them great! I wouldnt part with mine.

[@IkeVMAX4]

Brings back memories... We sitll have the SJ410 I learned to offroad. Changed the engine to a tuned powerplant which was way more powerful than the original one.

[@maxheeschter3009]

although the SJ/Jimny/Samurai etc are great cars, for me there is only one choice for your mentioned use cases: the Panda 4x4! yes I know, they became rather valuable and there are quite a few fancy restomods and a lot of over-restored 4x4 Panda Sisley cruising through Kitzbühel, Gstaad or St. Moritz, but I think that's the true form of a southern/central European 4x4 people mover. My uncle had a little off-grid Chalet in Wallis in the late 90s and i remember him vividly picking me up (I'm from Germany, just a few kilometres north from Basel) and getting up to the mountains. In the summertime, he was (still is...) more of an Alpina BMW/Ferrari guy, but in winter, he resorted to the best car option you could have: that little slow rust bucket with 4wd. Everyone drove them, the postal service, all the neighbours. Slow as heck but no incline was too steep and it climbed over incredible amounts of snow. Lightweight, 4wd, that's all you need. Larger and heavier cars would get stuck while the nimble Panda proved itself to be (almost) unstoppable. Well of course except for the rust, it was a late 80s Italian car after all :)

[@swisscarguy]

The Panda is very capable but it does not have a low range gearbox, which in my opinion makes a big difference offroad. Also, they are way more expensive nowadays than a small Suzuki 4x4.

[@maxheeschter3009]

@@swisscarguy definitely true (although the 4x4 was quite low-geared, especially the really low 1st gear to at least partially make up for that. I'd have to look up the exact gear ratios, but if I remember correctly, the 5th gear in the 4x4 had roughly the ratio of the 4th in a normal Panda. Of course it still lacks capability to vehicles that were designed to be offroaders, but makes up for that with its low weight). absolutely agree on the current price situation though.

[@SteveRobertsTheNurdler]

Did you lock the front hubs?

[@DenisKz]

Kidney breaker!

[@tomekk.2620]

The best advantage of an offroader is simplicity of construction that gives easy way to repair somewhere without service with simplest set of tools. No electronics. Jimny 3 or 4 are just SUvis.

[@dpsilver1]

funny enough that does have rear diff locks, its not regular diff lock for off roading but is the one used for the park brake, some guys have modified theirs so they have access to it while in motion

[@oliverhalaszy5548]

❤ i know this car 😂