It has been eight years. The fourth-generation Jimny is showing its age, but in Australia, it remains the undisputed king. It outsells every other Suzuki on the market. That stat tells you less about the brand’s engineering and more about a specific Australian appetite: tiny, capable four-wheel drives that don’t take up much space. Suzuki knows this. They aren’t letting the momentum fade.
Enter the Rhino.
Suzuki Australia calls it a “unique beast.” The marketing team leaned hard into the wildlife aesthetic. The teasers look like nature documentaries gone wrong, with mud splattered over the lens and dramatic lighting. It’s styling. Purely. Unlike the previous Rhino edition sold in Malaysia, which used the compact three-door platform, the new Australian special builds off the Jimny XL.
Yes, the five-door model.
The Stickers Carry The Weight
Don’t expect a heavy metal cage. This is mostly paint and plastic.
The main draw is the side cladding. A rhino emblem sits next to retro-inspired stripes. They are louder, bolder, and frankly a bit louder than the heritage decals that rode on the regular Jimnys in 2023 and 4. The front grille stays hidden in the spy shots. The headlights remain stock. Nothing changes there.
The wheels get a makeover, though. They adopt a darker finish and a chunkier tread pattern designed to look tougher on the trail. Then there is the color story. This is the kicker. The Rhino wears Kinetic Yellow on the body and a Bluish Black Pearl roof, a combination that was strictly reserved for the shorter three-door version when the gen four launched. Now? It’s available on the longer body. It feels exclusive, even if the car itself is familiar.
Inside? Probably boring.
We have no confirmation of special floor mats, unique badging behind the steering wheel, or anything to mark the cabin as different from the standard XL. You get the 9-inch touchscreen, the dual camera brake support, and rear parking sensors. Standard tech for 2025, at least in the compact SUV segment.
“The Jimny community in Australia is thrasing so yes, news of any news Jimny is hugely exciting.”
— Michael Pachota, Suzuki Australia
That enthusiasm is real, even if Pachota’s quote trails off slightly on the mechanics of why. The underpinnings won’t change. The 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine stays. It makes 101 hp. Not a lot, but enough to haul this thing up a gravel driveway. It keeps the AllGrip Pro 4WD system, which is actually the star of the show here, capable of things the stickers imply.
The gearbox choice is murky. The Heritage editions forced buyers into manual transmissions only. The standard XL offers both a five-speed stick and an automatic. The Rhino? Unclear. You might be stuck with a manual if you want this badge. Or Suzuki might play it safe and offer both.
Applications are open right now. Not orders. Just interest. They want to see who bites. The model will be limited, meaning it will cost more than the AU$40,498 entry price for the base XL. How much more? Unknown. Usually, these specials command a premium for the right to be slightly different from the other people in the car park.
Is it necessary? No. Is it desirable? To the people buying these, probably yes. The wait list forms are being sent. The Rhino is coming.
