Suzuki has taken the phrase “thinking inside the box” to charmingly literal heights with its latest accessory for the five-door Jimny. In a move that might sound familiar to owners of Toyota’s LandCruiser Prado, the five-door Jimny Nomade (the Japanese market version) now offers an optional 10cm-tall boot box to give the SUV’s cargo floor a flush finish with its seatbacks.
Why the box? The Jimny’s rear seats couldn’t manage the trick of folding flat, leaving a step between the seatbacks and the cargo floor. Enter Suzuki’s solution: a clever lift in the form of a raised box, perfect for those long flat-pack Ikea runs or anyone hoping to maximize every inch of storage.
For perspective, a similar built-in feature exists with the three-door Jimny but takes up less space. However, the five-door variant has decided to embrace the boldness of boxiness as an optional add-on to address the inconvenience.
Fans of Toyota’s 300-series Prado hybrid might raise an eyebrow at the Jimny’s box, which mirrors the hybrid Prado’s elevated cargo area—caused by mounting hybrid components in space otherwise meant for a foldable third row of seats. Both cars have faced some criticism for their pragmatic but divisive approach to cargo management, but the Jimny’s solution feels a little more self-aware, leaner on the price tag, and perhaps even appealing for budget-oriented adventurers.
Speaking of prices, the box will set you back 29,700 yen (roughly $US200). For a country where minimalism reigns supreme, a little extra height in the boot comes surprisingly affordably.
In the quirky world of Jimny fans, one must wonder: will this add-on find itself another cult following? Will owners stack yet another box on their Jimny’s rugged roof racks for a meta “box in a box” meme moment? Either way, Suzuki’s effort to keep things squared away is just another layer of personality in a vehicle that continues to punch above its (lightweight) weight class.
