With the Suzuki Jimny being a bit long in the tooth and the crossover and SUV market booming in recent years, the Japanese carmaker decided to bring a funky-looking supermini crossover to the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Called iM-4, the concept was shown alongside the iK-2 supermini, both featuring a new Suzuki platform.

Unlike the lionhearted Jimny, whose current generation is heading toward its 20th birthday in 2018, the iM-4 Concept is a lot less rugged- and more urban-looking, not to mention that it features five doors instead of just three. With a "love it or hate it" exterior design that harks back to Kei cars like the Suzuki Fronte Coupé and the first-generation Cervo, the model could make quite a splash in the segment if it gets produced with a similar look.

Updated 03/03/2015: Suzuki iM-4 concept car made its world debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. It features a new-generation platform and a SHVS mild hybrid system.

Click "Continue Reading" to read my full preview of the 2015 Suzuki iM-4 Concept.

2015 Suzuki iM-4

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Suzuki iM-4
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The front end has a Volkswagen Amarok combined with Kia Soul vibe, but I can't really put my finger on any car used for reference by Suzuki. The retro Kei car look is present from just about any angle, with only a couple of modern details keeping it from looking like a Japanese micro-car from the 1970s.

The side profile is very angular, while the greenhouse-to-door height ratio is clearly that of a concept car with poor all-around visibility. The engine has a pair of side outlets that remind me of the old Vitara, while the blacked out A- and B-pillars hark back to the Swift and create a so-called "floating roof" effect, especially on a white car like the iM-4 Concept. The model's rear end does look a bit like a distressed cartoon animal, courtesy of a pair of "surprised" LED taillights accompanied by two more LED strips integrated into the bumper.

Exterior Dimensions

Overall length

3,693 MM (145.39 Inches)

Overall width

1,709 MM (67.28 Inches)

Overall height

1,566 MM (61.65 Inches)

Wheelbase

2,438 MM (95.98 Inches)


Interior

Suzuki hasn't revealed any details or photos with the iM-4 Concept's interior, but I think it safe to say that the production version (if there ever is one) will probably share some of the knobs and buttons with the Swift and/or the production version of the iK-2 Concept. Don't expect anything too upscale, in other words.

Drivetrain

Based on an new Suzuki platform that is shared with the iK-2 Concept, the tiny crossover comes with four-wheel drive, albeit the carmaker doesn't specify if it also includes a low-range transfer case like the more hardcore Jimny – I suspect not. Power comes from a 1.2-liter Dualjet four-cylinder, which is called that because it features twin fuel injectors on every cylinder. Shared with the Suzuki Swift, the powerplant delivers 89 horsepower and 89 pound-feet of torque, so don't expect any mind-boggling performance figures. Thanks to low weight, small dimensions and a 4WD system, the iM-4 could be as plucky as the Jimny in off-road.

Competition

Fiat 500X

One of the few competitors I can come up for a possible production version of the iM-4 is the Fiat 500X. The tiny Fiat seems just about as “useful” as this Suzuki, but at least it looks better. The 500X starts at a relatively low $20,000 for the front-wheel-drive Pop trim level, but to get into all-wheel drive, you’ll need to upgrade to the Easy trim for $22,300 and add in $1,900 to bring the total to $24,200.

In the U.S., the 500X comes standard with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that produces 160 horsepower, while its optional 2.4-liter engine puts out 180.

Mini Countryman

The Mini Countryman is another tiny hatchback with optional all-wheel drive. It arrives with a better look than both the Fiat and the Suzuki, and its base price is competitive at $22,750.

Under the hood, the Countryman starts out with a 121-horsepower four-cylinder, while the S and S All4 models get a 181-horse turbocharged engine. Moving into the wild-and-crazy John Cooper Works model adds a 208-horsepower version of the four-pot. While reaching for that JCW model may seem enticing, allow me to warn you that it runs into the $30,000 range.

Conclusion

Suzuki is like many other manufacturers: it’s great at making cool concept cars, but rarely follows through. Well, this one seems to miss the mark in the “cool” area from some perspectives, so maybe it will actually make it to production. I am really not trying to lash out at Suzuki, but I am growing tired of these lifted up hatchbacks posing as crossovers. Why not just make all-wheel-drive hatchback and leave it at that? No need to go lifting them up and messing with the aerodynamics and driving dynamics. Then again, with the Jimny appealing to a very specific type of customer generally based in the countryside, the production version of the iM-4 could appeal to their more urban relatives.