All-weather friends: The Suzuki Jimny AllGrip Pro and Vitara AllGrip Select

Suzuki is the sultan of small cars, but when you look at the lineage of the Jimny and Vitara, you'll learn the carmaker also specializes in itsy-bitsy off-roaders, too.

The Jimny line dates back to the 1970s, and it became an off-roading hit with its boxy styling, capable body-on-frame chassis, and a rough-and-tumble appeal. These qualities, such as the three-door shape, are still alive in the current Jimny, so it's now admired by those appreciate "modern classics."

The Vitara came during the SUV boom around the '90s, but unlike the Jimny, it was pitched to families rather than farmers. The Vitara offered rear seats for three and two extra rear doors. What the Vitara did share with the Jimny, though, is the ability to travel roads less driven on, as evident in the Vitara's four-wheel drive (4WD). 

It's almost the same story with the latest Jimny and Vitara, whose 4WD systems fall under the AllGrip name. Basically, AllGrip is a feature that helps all four wheels of the vehicles tackle the rough and slippery stuff.

The Jimny uses the AllGrip Pro. This system places a transfer case between the driveshafts on the front and rear differentials, and uses it to switch between rear-wheel drive (2WD) and 4WD as required. AllGrip Pro kicks into action when the lever, bolted on the Jimny's interior floor, is used.  

When in 4WD mode, the system directly connects the front and rear wheels, which allows the engine to seamlessly send power to all four tires evenly. As a result of all of these, the AllGrip Pro, well, ensures the Jimny can grip any kind of terrain like Velcro. 

On the other hand, the Vitara is equipped with AllGrip Select. By toggling a push-and-turn dial on the center console, the AllGrip Select's 4WD driving modes (Auto, Sport, Snow and Lock) can be, well, selected. 

In auto mode, the Vitara sends engine power to its front wheels, and then to all four when the system detects that the rears are slipping.  When sport is activated, the system directs majority of the engine torque to the rear wheels. 

Snow mode, meanwhile, is pretty much self-explanatory, while the Lock setting uses the Vitara's electronic stability program to drive all of the wheels. While the AllGrip Select is at work, the multi-information color display in the instrument panel displays what AllGrip setting is in operation. 

The key difference between the Jimny's Pro and the Vitara's Select, it seems, is that the former's 4WD is mechanical while the latter's is an electronic one. But no matter how different the vehicles' AllGrip gadgets are, they're complemented by several qualities inherent to these two Suzukis.

To begin with, the Jimny stands tall with a 210millimeter ground clearance. With barely any overhangs as the 16-inch wheels are placed to the farthest corners of the body, the Jimny's approach and departure angles measure 37 and 49 degrees, respectively. 

In the Vitara's case, its clears the ground at 185mm. Its set of 17-inch wheels allow for approach and departure angles of 18.2 and 28.2 degrees, respectively. 

Being the all-terrain conquerors that they're pitched to be, Suzuki also equipped the Jimny and Vitara a number of tools to prep them when the going gets tough. Both SUVs have hill-hold and hill-descent controls, a compass, and displays that measure the altitude, lean and pitch angles, all of which are displayed on the vehicles' infotainment screens. 

Meanwhile, the Jimny and Vitara are far more advanced than their forefathers. The utilitarian Jimny has some concessions to modernity with touchscreen infotainment and automatic climate control, while the Vitara is as up-to-date as its peers with push-button start and automatic wipers. 

All you need to know about the AllGrip-equipped Jimny and Vitara are available in their spec sheets below.

SPECIFICATIONS	Suzuki Jimny GLX Two-Tone 4AT	Suzuki Vitara GLX AT AllGrip Two-Tone
Length x Width x Height (mm)	3,480 x 1,645 x 1,725	4,175 x 1,775 x 1,610
Wheelbase (mm)	2,250	2,500
Tread (mm)	Front: 1,395 Rear: 1,405	Front: 1,535 Rear: 1,505
Minimum Turning Radius (m)	4.9	5.2
Minimum Ground Clearance (mm)	210	185
Approach Angle	37°	18.2°
Departure Angle	49°	28.2°
Ramp Brake Over Angle	28°	17.7°
Fuel Type	Gasoline	Gasoline
Engine Type	K15B	M16A
Number of Cylinders	4	4
Number of Valves	16	16
Displacement (cc)	1,462	1,586
Maximum Output	100hp at 6,000rpm	115hp at 6,000rpm
Maximum Torque	130Nm at 4,000rpm	156Nm / 4,400rpm
Fuel Distribution	Multipoint Injection	Multipoint Injection
Transmission Type	Four-Speed Automatic	6AT with Paddle Shift
Drivetrain	4WD AllGrip Pro	4WD AllGrip Select
Valve Train	DOHC with VVT	DOHC with VVT
Steering	Rack and Pinion	Rack and Pinion
Brakes	Front: Solid Disc  Rear: Drum	Front: Ventilated Disc Rear: Solid Disc
Suspension	Front: 3-link rigid axle with coil spring Rear: 3-link rigid axle with coil spring	Front: MacPherson Strut with Coil Spring Rear: Torsion Beam with Coil Spring
Tires	195 / 80 R15	215/55 R17
Wheels	15-inch Alloy Wheels	17-inch Alloy Wheels
Seating Capacity	Four Persons	Five Persons
Luggage Rear Seatback Capacity (liters)	Folded: 85 Raised: 377	Folded: 710 Raised: 375
Fuel Tank (liters)	40	47
Curb Weight (kg)	1,110	1,120
Gross Vehicle Weight (kg)	1,435	1,730
SRS Airbags	Driver and Passenger	Driver and Passenger, Side, and Curtain
Seatbelt	Front: Three-point ELR with Pretensioner, Force Limiter and Height Adjuster Rear: Three-point ELR (x2)	Front: Three-point ELR with Pretensioner, Force Limiter and Height Adjuster Rear: Three-point ELR (x3)
Isofix Child Seat Anchorages (x2)	With	With
Child Seat Tether Anchorages (x3)	With	With
Childproof Rear Door Locks	Without	With
Side Impact Door Beams	With	With
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)	With EBD	With EBD
Shift Lock	With	With
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)	With	With
Hill Hold Control	With	With
Brake Assist Function	With	With
Parking Sensors	Front: Without Rear: Two Sensors	Front: With Rear: Four Sensors
Reverse Camera	Without	With
Pedal Release System	With	With
Daytime Running Lamps	With	With
Remote Control Door Locks	Without	With
Keyless Push Start System	Without	With
Immobilizer	With	With
Freewheeling Key Cylinders	With	With
Electric Windows	Front	Front and Rear
Central Door Locking	With (Switch on Driver’s Side)	With
Outside Door Mirrors	Electric Adjust and Electric Fold	Electric Adjust and Electric Fold
Audio Display	Nine-inch Multimedia Touch Screen	10-inch Multimedia Touch Screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Navigation System	With	With
Speakers	4	6
Antenna	Pole, Rear roof mounted	Pole, Rear roof mounted
Steering Wheel Integrated Audio Control	With	With
Automatic Lamps	Without	With
Automatic Headlamp Levelling	Without	With
Automatic Front Wipers	Without	With
Rear View Mirror (Day/Night)	Manual Dimming	Auto Dimming
Automatic Air-condition	With	With
Cruise Control with Speed Limiter	Without	With
Rear Window Demister	Without	With
Available Colors	Solid Kinetic Yellow/Black  Metallic Brisk Blue/Black  Metallic Chiffon Ivory/Black	Solid Bright Red / Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic Prime Solar Yellow / Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic
PRICE	P1.215 million	P1.468 million

 

Photos from Suzuki Philippines, Inc.