“Fifth gear is mostly theoretical.”
There’s a tiny, boxy SUV that off-road enthusiasts around the world adore, reviewers can’t stop praising, and Americans are becoming obsessed with.
One expert calls its drivers “fools,” then makes a surprisingly strong case for why the Suzuki Jimny deserves exactly that kind of devotion.
The clip from U.K.-based TikTok creator Tiger Johnson (@tigerjohnson04) makes the Jimny seem like an elusive and mystical automotive curiosity, and one that should be sought out even if it’s far from being a heavy-duty workhorse.
“The engine is roughly the same size as an espresso machine, and fifth gear is mostly theoretical,” Johnson said in the clip, which has been viewed more than 868,000 times. “And yet, it is one of the coolest, most charming vehicles that money can buy.”
That contradiction of mockery wrapped around genuine affection is the heart of why the Suzuki Jimny keeps going viral. Johnson’s video plays like a roast, but it lands as a love letter, echoing a familiar line often attributed to Jeremy Clarkson about off-road vehicles being “daft” and their drivers “fools.” The joke works because the Jimny so clearly rejects modern SUV priorities—and then thrives anyway.
Johnson leans into the Jimny’s limitations. Acceleration is leisurely. Highway passing demands patience and optimism. Interior space is tight enough that “boot space” becomes a punchline rather than a selling point. Yet each jab reinforces the same conclusion: despite all of that, the Jimny is immensely fun.
The clip’s rhythm mirrors how many enthusiasts talk about cars they love; teasing the flaws because they’re inseparable from the charm.
That tone resonates online. Commenters who have driven Jimnys, or wish they could, chime in to say the same thing: it’s not impressive on paper, but it’s deeply satisfying in practice. The praise isn’t ironic. It’s experiential.
The Jimny is a true, old-school off-roader built around fundamentals that have mostly disappeared from modern SUVs. It uses a ladder-frame chassis, solid axles, and a proper low-range transfer case. Its modest engine output and small footprint aren’t oversights; they’re part of a design that prioritizes low weight, simplicity, and mechanical grip over speed or luxury.
Globally, Suzuki positions the Jimny as a tool for rough terrain, narrow trails, and rural roads, places where size and complexity work against you. That approach helps explain why it’s popular in markets as varied as Japan, Europe, Australia, and parts of Africa, and why it’s often compared more favorably to classic vehicles like the original Jeep or early Land Rover than to today’s crossovers.
Johnson’s clip doesn’t discuss the Jimny’s short wheelbase, excellent approach and departure angles, or how its low curb weight allows it to climb and crawl in places where larger, more powerful SUVs scrabble for traction.
Automotive testers have made the same point repeatedly. Outlets like Top Gear have noted that the Jimny’s lack of power becomes almost irrelevant off-road, where control and traction matter far more than horsepower. In that context, the Jimny’s “slow” reputation turns into a strength rather than a weakness.
The most frustrating part of the Jimny story is its absence from American showrooms. Suzuki exited the US passenger-car market in 2012, and even if it hadn’t, the current Jimny would face steep hurdles. Federal safety standards enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and emissions requirements overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency make it costly for small, low-volume vehicles to comply without significant redesign.
Those regulations tend to favor larger, heavier vehicles with more room for crash structures and emissions equipment, which partly explains why compact, utilitarian off-roaders have largely vanished from the US market. The Jimny isn’t missing in America because motorists wouldn’t enjoy it; it’s missing because the regulatory and economic environment isn’t friendly to vehicles like it.
That absence only adds to the Jimny’s appeal. For enthusiasts weary of oversized SUVs packed with touchscreens and drive modes, the Jimny represents a different philosophy where character matters more than convenience, and capability is earned rather than simulated. Johnson’s line about modern cars being “over-complicated, over-engined, joyless gray bricks” lands because it reflects a growing frustration among drivers who feel disconnected from today’s vehicles.
The Jimny doesn’t pretend to be everything. It’s not fast. It’s not luxurious. It’s not especially practical for American highway life. What it offers instead is clarity of purpose, and that’s increasingly rare.
Johnson’s gambit of calling Jimny drivers “fools” works because it flips the usual logic of car buying. In a market obsessed with numbers for horsepower, screen size, and zero-to-60 times, the Jimny asks a simpler question: is it fun, and does it do what it’s meant to do? For many who’ve driven one, the answer is an emphatic yes.
Motor1 reached out to Johnson via email and direct message. We’ll update this if they respond.
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