Suzuki appears to be pushing ahead with an electric version of the Jimny, with a heavily camouflaged prototype spotted testing in snowy conditions.

While Suzuki has not shared any official details about the vehicle’s platform, battery, motors or launch timing, the spy shots provide a few early clues about what could be coming.

Most notably, the prototype still appears to use a solid front axle, suggesting Suzuki may be looking to retain the Jimny’s core off-road character rather than turning it into a more road-focused electric SUV.

That would be a major point of difference in the small EV space, particularly given the current Jimny’s appeal is built around its compact size, simple mechanical layout and genuine off-road ability.

Visually, the prototype keeps the familiar upright Jimny silhouette, with a boxy body, flat bonnet, near-vertical windscreen and short overhangs. The proportions appear broadly similar to the existing Jimny, although the camouflage makes it difficult to determine whether the bodywork has changed significantly.

The front end appears to have a more closed-off treatment than the current petrol Jimny, which would make sense for an EV. The grille area looks largely blanked, while the slim horizontal lighting elements sit high across the front fascia.

There are also lower openings visible in the front bumper, which may be used for cooling battery, motor or electrical components. However, the overall design still seems to prioritise approach angle and off-road clearance rather than a road-biased aerodynamic shape.

The test vehicle was also seen running through snow with another camouflaged Jimny-style prototype behind it, suggesting Suzuki is evaluating the EV in low-grip conditions. That is particularly relevant if the electric Jimny is being developed with serious off-road use in mind.

At this stage, there is no confirmation on whether the electric Jimny will use a single-motor or dual-motor setup. Suzuki already has an electric all-wheel-drive system in development through the e-Vitara, which uses the brand’s new HEARTECT-e platform, an eAxle layout and lithium iron-phosphate blade batteries.

The 2026 Suzuki e-Vitara is available with 49kWh and 61kWh battery options, with outputs ranging from 106kW to 135kW depending on specification, and both 2WD and AWD AllGrip-e layouts available.

However, it is unclear whether any of that hardware will be adapted for the Jimny EV. Given the Jimny’s off-road positioning, Suzuki may need a different approach if it wants to preserve features such as low-speed control, wheel articulation and rugged underbody packaging.

The current petrol Jimny uses a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine producing 75kW at 6000rpm and 130Nm at 4000rpm. It is paired with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, and uses a part-time 4WD system with a low-range transfer case.

An electric version would likely deliver a substantial increase in torque, especially at low speeds, which could suit technical off-road driving. The challenge for Suzuki will be balancing that with battery weight, driving range, durability and the Jimny’s famously compact dimensions.

The sighting of a solid front axle is arguably the biggest clue so far that Suzuki may not be abandoning the Jimny’s traditional off-road formula. If retained for production, it could help the Jimny EV stand apart from most compact electric SUVs, which typically use independent suspension and are designed primarily for urban use.

For now, the electric Jimny remains unconfirmed in production form, and Suzuki has not detailed when it could launch or whether it will be offered in Australia.

But based on these early spy shots, the Jimny EV appears to be shaping up as more than just a lifestyle-focused electric runabout. Instead, Suzuki may be preparing an electric 4x4 that stays much closer to the petrol Jimny’s original purpose.