Pull up a camp chair, Jimny fans. This one is legendary.

In 2007, two Chileans, Gonzalo Bravo and Eduardo Canales, looked at Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on Earth, and thought: “Let’s drive up that.”

Their weapon of choice? A modified Suzuki Samurai, an SJ-series Jimny. Wheel by wheel, they pushed their little rig up the Andes to a jaw-dropping 6,688 metres, setting the record for the highest altitude ever reached by a four-wheeled vehicle at the time. For context, that’s higher than any mountain in Australia by about 4,400 metres. Mount Kosciuszko could never.

But the best bit? A Jeep team had made the climb earlier and left a “Jeep Parking Only” sign on the mountain. When the Suzuki crew got there, they reportedly pulled it up and took it home as a souvenir.

Little car, big attitude. The rhino would be proud.

So the next time someone calls your Jimny “cute,” remind them it once took a Jeep sign off a volcano.

For more than 50 years the Jimny was a strictly two-door affair. That was great for off-road agility, less great for anyone climbing into the back seat with the grace of a rhino on roller skates.

Then in January 2023, Suzuki unveiled the first factory five-door Jimny in India, and the Jimny world lost its collective mind.

So what changed? The wheelbase got stretched and two rear doors were added. That means your mates can hop in the back without a yoga warm-up, and there’s more room for camping gear, snacks and the dog.

What didn’t change? The good stuff. It still has the trusty 1.5L engine and the proper off-road bones that make a Jimny a Jimny. Same attitude, just a little longer.

It’s one of the biggest shake-ups to the Jimny formula in decades, and here in Australia you’ll know it as the Jimny XL.

So if anyone says the Jimny is “too small for the family,” you can tell them it’s got a door for everyone now.

Pat (@pattyliciousaf) is a scientist by trade. In his spare time he loves off-roading in his Jimny, making music, gaming, or just standing back and admiring his Jimny! Depending on his mood and who he’s with, he’s just as happy indoors as he is out exploring.

His Jimny is called “Nimny.”

His most memorable experience was his very first drive, from the dealership in Caboolture home to Brisbane. Nimny was a spontaneous buy. He never test drove a Jimny, but while browsing new cars one day he spotted the Kinetic Yellow, called the dealer and locked it in! Coming from V6 and V8 cars, the only thought in his head on that first drive was “what have I done?” But with every minute behind the wheel, he fell more and more in love with Nimny.

Pat’s most drool-worthy rig is Anastasia’s retrozook (@retrozook). He says it’s the most unique and creative Jimny he’s ever seen!

Cape York sits at the top of his bucket list. His off-road rec is Fraser Island – a beautiful sand island where you can drive the beach and camp. There’s plenty to do, but his favourite part is heading north along the coastline, especially past South Ngkala Rocks. It’s by far his favourite island he’s taken Nimny to!