Jimny running costs: fuel, insurance, tax and servicing
Cheap to buy is not the same as cheap to run, and the Jimny is an unusual case in both directions.
Fuel
Expect low-to-mid 30s mpg in mixed driving, and worse on motorways. The Jimny is short-geared, aerodynamically square and mechanically simple. Nobody buys one for economy, and you should not budget as though you did.
All-terrain tyres cost a little more fuel again. It is a worthwhile trade for the capability, but it is real.
Insurance
Modest for the passenger cars. Two things push it up: modifications and conversions. Both must be declared — a package fitted at point of sale is normally accepted without fuss, but it must be on the policy.
Imported cars can attract slightly higher premiums with some insurers and none at all with others. It is worth getting more than one quote.
Vehicle tax
Depends on registration date and classification. Commercial LCVs are taxed differently from passenger cars, which is one of the LCV‘s genuine cost advantages for business users.
Servicing
This is where the Jimny is genuinely cheap. It is a simple car: naturally aspirated engine, no turbo, no dual-clutch gearbox, no air suspension. Parts are inexpensive and any competent independent garage can work on it.
Do not neglect the transfer case and differential oils, particularly if the car is used off-road or wades regularly. They are not expensive services and skipping them is a false economy.
Tyres
Small wheels mean cheap tyres, even in all-terrain patterns. A pleasant surprise relative to larger 4x4s.
Depreciation — the unusual bit
Ordinarily the largest cost of car ownership. In the Jimny’s case, scarcity has meant clean examples holding value and in some cases appreciating.
Do not treat that as a guarantee. Markets driven by scarcity can correct, and if supply returns in any form the picture changes. Buy a Jimny because you want one, and treat the residual value as a pleasant characteristic rather than an investment thesis.
