Suzuki Jimny finally gets a digital speedometer, but prices rise sharply

After years of rocking an analogue cluster, the iconic Suzuki Jimny is finally receiving a digital speedometer. The modern-day feature is part of a broader technology and safety update for the 2026 model year, but it comes with a significant price increase in Japan, its home market.

What’s new inside the Suzuki Jimny?

The newly introduced change for the 2026 Jimny is Suzuki replacing the old monochrome display with a new, full-colour 4.2-inch screen positioned between the analogue dials.

This upgrade enables several new features:

• A digital speedometer, which provides a clear, numerical readout of the vehicle’s speed.
• Real-time displays for power, torque, and vehicle motion.
• Revised information for fuel economy, cruise control, and the odometer.

Beyond the cluster, the three-door Suzuki Jimny also gains the 9.0-inch touchscreen from the five-door Jimny XL. It runs updated software from the new Suzuki Swift and includes:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
• Support for the Suzuki Connect smartphone app.

Other cabin improvements include standard heated door mirrors, LED interior lights, and the standardisation of climate control and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel across all grades.

Jimny prices climb sharply in Japan

Suzuki has announced significant price increases in Japan for the new and improved Jimny:

• Manual models: Up between 13.5 and 16 per cent
• Automatic models: Up between 7.9 and 10.2 per cent

That means the Japanese lineup now starts at 1,918,400 yen (about $19,500 AUD) and tops out at 2,385,900 yen (roughly $24,300 AUD) for the three-door.

Given the Jimny’s current Australian drive-away pricing of $34,990 to $41,990, a similar hike could push the top-spec GLX auto past $42,000.

A significant step up in safety

The changes are not merely for convenience. The update introduces critical new safety technology, likely to ensure the Jimny’s compliance with Australia’s upcoming mandatory safety standards. Key safety additions include:

• A more advanced Dual-Sensor Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system.
• Adaptive Cruise Control for automatic transmission models.
• Low-Speed AEB in Reverse to help prevent parking mishaps.
• A traffic sign recognition system with a new ‘pause’ function.

Australian regulations, NVES, and release timing

The updated three-door Jimny is expected to reach Australian showrooms early in 2026 (January–March). However, Suzuki Australia has cautioned that Japanese-market updates may not exactly match the local model.

Pricing in Australia could be further affected by the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which reduces the legal CO2 emissions limits each year from 2025 to 2029. Brands exceeding these limits face financial penalties, which may drive up local prices.

• Jimny Lite (three-door): 146g/km CO2, exceeding 2026 limit of 117g/km
• Jimny XL (five-door): 161g/km CO2, also above limits

Updated safety regulations, such as Australian Design Rule 98/00, mandate compliance with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) from March 2025. The five-door already meets these requirements, but the Japanese-built three-door previously did not, leading to a temporary halt in its import.