Japan drives to its own rhythm. Suzuki just moved along with it, giving the Hustler a refresh six and half years after generation two dropped.
It’s a mid-lifecycle update, not a rebirth.
But look closer. The new front end actually mirrors the Jimny’s grille. The Tough Wild trim swaps out the old look for one that screams “look at my ruggedness,” complete with unpainted plastic bumpers and metal-style accents. It’s subtle if you want it to be, obvious if you’re leaning into the pseudo-off-roader aesthetic.
New paint too.
There are two fresh combos: Fusion Yellow Pearl Metallic with a Gunmetal roof and Woodland Khaki Metallic paired with Urban Brown. They fit the tall-kei adventure vibe perfectly. Inside? Not much has changed aside from some new color schemes and an electronic parking brake that finally replaces the lever.
The real shift happens with the tech.
Dual Sensor Brake Support II is standard now. So is Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Safety gets a serious boost without asking for extra cash.
Underneath the metal, engineers tweaked the steering and active cornering support. It drives smoother, a bit more polished, while keeping the kei-car bounce you expect.
Power? Same old story.
The 660cc three cylinders stay in place, mated to a mandatory CVT sending juice to either the front wheels or all four.
- Naturally aspirated: 48 hp.
- Turbo: 63 hp.
Don’t expect drag-race speed. This isn’t for that.
Selling starts right now in Japan. Prices hover around the $10,00 mark, specifically ¥1,599,4 roughly $10k USD. Go fully loaded with the Hybrid X Turbo 4WD and you’re looking at $12,400. The Tough Wild trims sit right in that sweet middle ground, ranging from $11,5k up to nearly $13k.
Who needs 48 horsepower anyway?
Maybe someone who wants to pretend they’re exploring the countryside from their suburban driveway.
Or maybe they just like how it looks parked next to the recycling bin.
