What is the other name for the Suzuki Samurai?
The other name for the Suzuki Samurai is the Suzuki Jimny.
The Suzuki Samurai was the North American name for Suzuki’s compact 4x4, while in most other markets the same vehicle has been sold as the Jimny. This article explains how the model acquired different regional names and how the Jimny became the global branding for Suzuki’s small off-road line.
Global naming history
A concise snapshot of how the same vehicle carried different names around the world, reflecting regional marketing choices and branding strategy.
- Jimny — the official global name for Suzuki’s compact off-roader, used in most markets today.
- Samurai — the name used in the United States for the same model family during the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
- SJ410/SJ413 lineage — model codes that denote the underlying platform, familiar to enthusiasts but not the consumer-facing name in many regions.
- Gypsy — a regional name used in some markets (notably India) for the same family’s SJ410/SJ413-based versions, reflecting local branding.
Regional branding shows how Suzuki adapted the same vehicle to different markets, but the Jimny name has become the standard in most countries today.
Regional variants and current branding
How the naming played out in key regions, and what name is used now for new models and imports.
India: Maruti Gypsy lineage
In India, the Suzuki-Suzuki-driven model was long sold under the Gypsy name by Maruti Suzuki, reflecting a strong local brand identity. The Gypsy is based on the same SJ410/SJ413 platform, and its presence helped popularize Suzuki’s small off-roader in the Indian market for many years. In recent times, Suzuki’s global branding has shifted toward the Jimny name even in India, aligning with the worldwide Jimny lineup.
North America: the Samurai era
The United States and Canada used the name Samurai for the same compact 4x4 during the 1980s and early 1990s, a branding choice driven by regional marketing and trademark considerations. The Samurai branding has since faded from new-car marketing in North America as Suzuki aligned with the Jimny global naming.
Europe and other markets: today’s Jimny
Today, the vehicle is widely sold under the Jimny name across Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond. The Jimny designation reflects Suzuki’s consolidated global branding for its small, boxy off-roader, and it remains a recognizable staple in Suzuki’s SUV lineup.
In summary, the Suzuki Samurai is the former North American name for what the rest of the world now calls the Suzuki Jimny. Regional variants like Gypsy or SJ-series codes illustrate how branding varied by market, but Jimny stands as the current global identifier.
Summary
The compact Suzuki 4x4 is today known worldwide as the Jimny. The Samurai name lives on as a historical chapter in North American marketing, while regional variants such as Gypsy reflect local branding practices. The Jimny remains Suzuki’s flagship for this small off-road class, continuing a lineage that stretches back to the SJ-series and beyond.
