A Game-changer for the Jimny 5-Door Interior
A quick tour of our toughest and most rewarding project
We’re Jimny specialists, so adding a Jimny 5-Door to the fleet was a total no-brainer. But Suzuki’s elongation and cushioning of the short wheelbase and no-frills JB74 did initially make us feel a touch uneasy. Would it still feel like a Jimny?
Overall we were pleasantly surprised with the ‘long boy’. We found the 5-Door’s long wheel base had its benefits (eg. stability and hill climbing), adding a couple of passengers in the back was now realistic (even spacious!) and the interior felt like it had undergone a decent upgrade in terms of comfort.
There was just one thing that didn’t sit right with us – the rear interior setup. One of our favourite things about the Jimny 3-Door is the way the rear seats fold to create a flat loading area, level with the boot space. The Jimny 5-Door seats hit about 45 degrees, and even if they were flat, there is a drop in height to the boot space.
The Jimny 5-Door has major touring potential, but the rear interior needed a re-think. The goal was to fix the issue above while adding value to the rear layout in the process. And doing it all non-destructively, so the average Jimny owner could achieve exactly the same without a workshop or power tools. The rear seats also had to remain entirely functional.
It took us about a 6 months longer than we expected…
Step #1 – Seat Levelling System
Levelling the seats was a head scratcher. The seat hinge wasn’t the issue, it was the plush foam in the rear seats holding the seats at a 45 degree angle. But we knew if we could safely tension the seat down, it would be problem solved.
With a shortage of fixing points, we had to get creative. Our upper brackets utilise the headrest rod fixings – with custom designed rods that safely secure in the same way the headrests do. Below the seat we designed a sandwich clamp utilising the square void beneath the seat – easily accessible under the carpet. By making a micro hole through the carpet (in our kit we provide you with a bradawl to do this) we were then able to securely attach a stainless steel tie-down hook, allowing us to safely tension the seats flat with a simple tie-down system.
We tested this system over a 6 month period, sometimes with the seats tensioned down for 2-3 weeks straight. In all our testing, the seat foam returns to its original form within a couple of hours. The design intention is for this system to be used when it is required (eg. a camping/overland trip) and then for the seats to be released in between trips. It pays to be on the safe side, and when releasing the seats takes about 30 seconds, it’s a no brainer.
Step #2 – False Floor & Storage Compartments
The seats were level, now we had some work to do to bring the boot space to the same height, a 120mm difference. This presented the perfect opportunity to incorporate two storage compartments. We wanted the entire unit to have a quality ‘factory’ feel, completely in keeping with the Jimny’s existing interior.
Our false floor/storage compartment unit is constructed with a combination of marine-grade aluminium, European birch plywood, with heavy duty short pile carpeting to finish and stainless steel fixings – always!
Step #3 – Integrated Tie-Down System
When designing all of the above, it only made sense to incorporate Quick Clip tie-down slots, as seen on our roof racks and interior tie-down system for the Jimny 3-Door. We added a load of tie-down points to the headrest brackets, a slimline rail between rear seats and storage compartments, and then another rail at the rear.
A tidy interior tie-down setup is one of the most underrated upgrades you can give your Jimny, if you ask us. Loading on a open, flat surface is great, but it does mean cargo is prone to jumping about when the roads get rough.
So there you have it. The finished product fixed a major problem for us, restored some of the JB74 DNA, andadded a whole load of value on top. It took us forever to get there, but now it will take you about half an hour. Happy days!