Suzuki Jimny And Tata Sierra Make A Comeback At Auto Expo 2020: Are The 90s Here Again?

Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors unveiled the new Jimny and Sierra sport utility vehicles (SUVs) at Auto Expo 2020. These two have been among the most popular and fondly remembered SUVs in India. The Gypsy, launched in 1986, and the Sierra launched in 1991 became household names in the 90s, featuring in movies, music videos and television commercials. We take a look back at what made them great three decades ago and why we still love them in 2020.

The Early Days Of The Jimny:

In India, the Jimny was called the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. The SJ40 Jimny first saw production in Hamamatsu in Japan in 1981. India got the long-wheelbase version in December 1985. It came with a 1.0-litre Suzuki F10A engine initially, but was given a much-needed 1.3-litre G13B later.

Few SUVs were available in India at the time, and none were more affordable than the simple yet Teutonic Gypsy. No mountain road was too steep for the Gypsy, no rutted track too muddy. It quickly became popular with India’s armed forces and the police, both of whom had used Mahindra Jeeps prior to the Gypsy’s arrival. In contrast with those rattly metal cages with bench seats, the Gypsy’s proper doors, plastic dashboard, and car-like seating position were a welcome change.

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As for off-roading, the Gypsy’s lightness and kit quickly established it as a legitimate go-anywhere vehicle. It had a low-range gearbox, manually locking hubs, and a ladder frame chassis. The function-over-form aesthetic helped keep costs down and reflected an honesty in Suzuki’s design.

How Does It Compare With Today’s Jimny:

The new Jimny looks the part. Its short, stubby bonnet and scaled-down-G-Wagen proportions are attractive and refreshing. It looks nothing like any of its predecessors but is instantly recognizable as a Jimny. There are design cues from each of its three generations. For one, there are two faux vents on the bonnet line right below the front windshield, similar to our Gypsy. Know all about the Jimny by reading our story. 

With coil springs all-round, the Jimny is likely to be more comfortable than the leaf-sprung Gypsy. It has rigid axles in the front and rear, a ladder frame chassis like before, and a low-range transfer case. Under the bonnet, its 1.5-litre K15B engine is more powerful than the G13B, at 105PS and 138Nm.

Although it retains a lot of its old-school mechanicals, the new Jimny also has some clever tech up its sleeve. Its Suzuki All-Grip four-wheel-drive system distributes power between the front and rear axles using viscous coupling and maintains traction by braking the wheel with less grip.

History of the Tata Sierra:

Tata launched the Sierra in 1991. It was the first made-in-India lifestyle SUV and what an icon it was! It had air conditioning, power windows, and a power-assisted adjustable steering wheel. Those were uncommon features back in the day, reserved for plush luxury cars.

Underneath the Alpine windows and humongous proportions of this three-door SUV lay the chassis of a pick-up truck. And Indians don't hold pick-ups in as high a regard as Americans do. Ours have always been noisy and rattly, billowing smoke while carrying dangerously large payloads of milk containers. But despite its crude engine, the Sierra maintained dignity in its cushy seats and electronic features.

How’s The New Sierra?

What we saw at Auto Expo 2020 was a concept. The production version, if there is one, is likely to retain its Harrier-like proportion, alpine windows, and tall and boxy stance. Will Tata build an actual three-door SUV in 2020? We are not used to carmakers taking such risks these days. To know how the modern Sierra differs from its predecessor, read our story.

But if it does, the Sierra is likely to be welcomed with arms wide open by an SUV-loving India. Going by the Nexon and Harrier, the new Sierra will be packed with the latest infotainment system possibly paired with that impeccable Harman audio system we’ve seen in all new Tatas. Cruise control, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and a panoramic sunroof are also likely to be in the Sierra’s features list.

Tata is known for putting easter eggs in its cars. We can't help but love this concept -- it has memory beyond its history. That's not something we've seen in Indian cars. 

Tata says that the Sierra could be an electric vehicle. We’ve seen this trend in other cars such as the VW Buzz which harks back to the original Type-II Volkswagen van. This year’s expo saw another Tata edge closer to production -- the HBX SUV. If the pre-production Sierra is anything like the HBX, Tata’s got a big thumbs-up from us.

What the Jimny and Sierra signify for India in the 2020s:

The Indian automotive industry was started by the government with help from multiple foreign carmakers and domestic industrialists to provide mass transportation, both public and private. For this reason, we haven’t had many lifestyle products like sports cars, cabriolets and convertibles, trail-rated SUVs and many other niche vehicles. The arrival of these two vehicles means that despite the recent and far-reaching automotive slump, worsening domestic and international economies, and changing emissions and crash regulations, carmakers still have a sense of humour and a positive outlook for the future. And it means that they will continue to delight petrolheads for many more years.