How’d you like to be able to buy a brand-new five-door SUV – a real one, not a crossover – with 4WD (not AWD) and a manual transmission for about $17,000?
Too bad – you can’t.
Because the federal government won’t allow you or me or anyone else living in America in America to buy it. And even if we went to Japan – where you are allowed to buy it – you’d never be allowed to drive it in America.
Not legally.
Because we’re not allowed to register – and so cannot get license plates (that is to say, government permission) to drive vehicles like the 2025 Suzuki Jimny Nomade. Because the government claims it is not “safe” – or “clean” enough – to be allowed on American roads.
Neither of these lies is true, of course.
The truth is that the Jimny Nomade is not compliant – a rather different thing the government of this country would prefer you not understand. I will make it easy to understand:
It is legal – for now – to drive a Mercedes S-Class sedan that was compliant back in 2000, let us say. Was this car – which is the largest and heaviest and sturdiest car Mercedes sells – “unsafe” when it was sold?
The suggestion is ridiculous.
This car is – even today – one of the safest cars on the road in terms of how well it would protect you from being injured or killed in a wreck. It is the kind of car a parent would (or ought to) feel very good about passing down to a teenaged kid as a first car because it is extremely safe, in terms of how well it would hold up to impact forces in a crash. It is probably much safer to be inside of than a brand-new small car such as a 2025 Toyota Corolla that is compliant. Not because the Toyota isn’t “safe,” by the way. But a Mercedes S-Class (even a 25-year-old one) is still probably safer.
The big Benz is also not likely to crash – implicitly suggested by the word “unsafe” – because it is not an unstable or erratically handling car with weak brakes or some other such attribute that might tend to increase the chances of a crash.
And yet it is “unsafe” – now – according to current compliance standards.
This distinction – between safe and compliant – is one many Americans do not understand because they have been deliberately misled. The government equates “safety” with compliance. Thus, a vehicle that is not actually unsafe to drive or be in if you crash it – such as a Mercedes S-Class made in 2000 is “unsafe” because it is not in compliance with the latest federal “safety”requirements.
See how that works?
The same goes for the 2025 Jimny Nomade. There is nothing about it that would or should worry a reasonable person – or government – as regards its “safety.” This includes the Japanese government, which allows people in Japan to buy it.
Chew on that.
But we are not allowed to buy it because the American government decrees different “safety” standards that this little SUV does not fully comply with. In order to be able – legally – to sell this little SUV in America, Suzuki would have to redesign it and then it would no longer be a little SUV and it would probably cost $40,000 rather than $17,000.
And not just because “safety.”
There is also the matter of “emissions” – which have very little, if anything, to do with pollution. In the first place, because nothing meaningful is being “emitted” by this little SUV in terms of combustion byproducts that either cause or worsen air pollution. Nothing that is fuel injected and computer controlled that is fitted with with exhaust gas scrubbers – i.e., catalytic converters – “emits” much of anything other than water vapor and carbon dioxide, which is only a “pollutant” in an etymological flim-flam sense.
The Jimy has all of that, as every vehicle made since about 30 years has had (and has).
But the federal government – during the Obama years – redefined what “emissions” subject to regulation were to include carbon dioxide, a gas that does not cause or worsen pollution. Presto! Vehicles that had achieved near zero-emissions status under the old regulatory requirements were transformed into “polluters” via the magic of politics. By the politicization of language in a deliberately – maliciously – obfuscatory way. To trick people into regarding clean vehicles as “dirty.”
And to deny them the opportunity to buy safe and clean and most of all affordable little vehicles like the Suzuki Nomade.
Which, it is worth explaining, is almost certainly “cleaner” in terms of whatever gasses it “emits” – than almost anything Americans are allowed to buy, including hybrids and absolutely EVs. This little SUV has a little engine – just 1.5 liters – that is not turbocharged because 103 horsepower is sufficient to move it adequately, because it is not an over-heavy fatty (so to speak) in order to be “safe” per the federal government’s standards. Thus it can get by with such a small engine that doesn’t have to make 150 or 200 horsepower to move it adequately that would burn (and so “emit”) more gasses.
It also does not need a transmission with more than five speeds – and its optional automatic has only four, just one of them being overdrive. Not two or even three, as most of the automatic transmissions that are found in American-legal vehicles have.
Almost none of which offer a manual.
Such a vehicle would likely be very popular with cash-strapped, inflation oppressed American buyers – if they were allowed to buy it. It is extremely popular with Japanese buyers, 50,000 of whom signed up to buy one when Suzuki began accepting orders on January 30. So many orders that Suzuki could not build enough fast enough to keep up with the demand and so had to temporarily stop accepting new orders until the plant where this little SUV is made could catch a breather – and catch up.
Americans aren’t allowed to buy this little SUV. Or the little pick-up that Toyota sells for about $13k. Which is also neither “unsafe” nor “dirty.”
But isn’t compliant.
The Orange Man could change this with a stroke of his mighty pen. But he seems too preoccupied making Israel Greater than making America Great Again.
. . .
If you like what you’ve found here please consider supporting EPautos.
We depend on you to keep the wheels turning!
Our donate button is here. We also accept crypto (see below).
If you prefer not to use PayPal, our mailing address is:
EPautos
721 Hummingbird Lane SE
Copper Hill, VA 24079
PS: Get an EPautos magnet or sticker or coaster in return for a $20 or more one-time donation or a $10 or more monthly recurring donation. (Please be sure to tell us you want a magnet or sticker or coaster – and also, provide an address, so we know where to mail the thing!)
If you like items like the Baaaaaa! baseball cap pictured below, you can find that and more at the EPautos store!
The bitcoin code is: 3GAfymoqSUbaFvY8ztpSoDKJWCPLrkzAmi if you’re unable to scan the QR code above!
I was with you until the last paragraph.
Why throw out the screed?
I gather from it you are a disgusting supporter of islamic terrorism. GFY.
I take it that ‘SL’ is all about M.I.G.A..
At the expense of the girls in the drive-thu.
At the expense of the garbage man.
At the expense of every factory worker.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
…Let them all pay$ to improve another country.
“With us, or against us”.
Oy vey!
I’m a “disgusting supporter of Islamic terrorism” because I question the policies and actions of the government of Israel, which for some people can do no wrong – even when it kills 40,000-plus people and displaces may times that many in the name of combatting Islamic terrorism. I don’t “stand” with Israel – or any foreign country.
Eric,
Make yourself known to Musk and Trump.
Hi Gwyneth,
I suspect Musk knows who I am – and isn’t a fan! As for the Orangicus, I would very much like to have 30 minutes with him. If only . . .
Somewhat off-topic:
I’m seeing throngs of so-called leftists outraged (OUTRAGED I SAY!) about the un-elected billionaire Elon Musk going about un-Constitutionally ruling the country.
Yeah, and what about the hundreds of thousands of un-elected pricks who are responsible for forbidding our purchase of things like this vehicle, as well as myriad other un-Constitutional offenses?
I know — they’re such hypocrits! LOLOL
Meanwhile, Orange Julius Caesar is busy with photo-ops, including his signing of an order prohibiting males in female sports.
I understand the animosity against boys competing against girls. Tell me, however, what business the POTUS has in regulating sports? This issue is for the various associations that makes rules for the applicable sports, i.e. the NFL, NBA, etc. Now, perhaps the POTUS has some say when it comes to college sports, as long as the college is receiving federal funding, but this in itself should be a more urgent matter. The sooner that colleges and universities can be disconnected from the federal apparatus, the better.
Orange Man DOES have considerable pull when it comes to allowing (pff!) US citizens to drive vehicles like this tantalizing 4×4, which I love, BTW.
Check your priorities, Donny Decree. Gaza not included.
“Another One We’re Not Allowed to Buy”
This is what has REALLY been taken away from us!
4×4 XE-King Cab 3.3 V6 Five-Speed Manual
No nanny-tech – spyware or digital touchscreens.
Just analog goodness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81KsdX0a53E
MSRP: $18340
The takeaway is this.. all around the world no matter what they build from now on, it will be digitally controlled- by someone other than the ‘owner’.
Yes. That was a nice simple truck. Built during the sweet spot between 1998 and 2007. It’s a damn shame that’s not currently available for purchase right now.
I actually did just purchase it, that’s my truck. 🙂
..but yes, there is no moral reason for these vehicles not be available to us brand new, and super affordable too! It’s seriously criminal what they are doing to us.
This looks like a new version of my 91 Isuzu Trooper. I’m sure it is fuel injected, spark controlled, and computer engine managed. But so long as it works well and is unobtrusive, why not? Even the styling is kind of clean and purposeful. If they’re available in Mexico I may have to look into sneaking one in.
Right on Ernie I thought the same thing …Had a brand new 86 Trooper 2 tough as nails simple and lasted a long time …Wish I still had it.
“Jimny Nomade is equipped with adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and a collision mitigation system among other driver assistance/safety features.”
Lost me right there.
They can keep their digital Nanny Tech / Spyware laden touchscreen garbage-can on wheels.. at any price.
I’d agree with that, AMC Guy. It might further reduce the price as well on an otherwise snazzy little ride.
Apparently – the financialization psychopaths forgot that there is a finite limit to how much “safety improvements” and “emissions” reductions that can be forced down our collective throats:
https://socialmediaiskillingyou.com/2024/05/10/the-new-car-unaffordability-crisis/
Our company has some business with “smart” rearview cameras. It’s great: replace a $5 rearview mirror with a several hundred dollar monitor and (additional) rearview camera system. “But it’s safer – it has better night vision” Can’t wait until this system becomes mandatory.
Our industry is busy digging its own grave.
Today’s ADAS equipped are so safe today, that they don’t crash.
Hence the mass closure of body shops, parts distributors and plummeting auto insurance rates.
Oh wait, nevermind.
I forgot that all those .Gov regs are there to ensure legacy auto companies have a mini-monopoly and barriers to entry to any new auto companies that would dare sell an affordable vehicle.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this auto reg deal is all part of a nearly completely financialized economy that requires constant new debt to keep the plates spinning.
Half of Japan doesn’t drive. Those who do don’t drive anywhere near as much as the US population. The US “anyone with a pulse” licensing system means more crazy and stupid people on the road. They might not have any more accidents than anywhere else, but the perception of all these horrible drivers creates a fear of what might happen.
“Won’t someone PLEASE think of the children!”
The excuse of course is that the public transportation network is terrible. I won’t disagree, taking the bus is a miserable experience no matter how cheap it is (a notable exception is the bus service around Aspen Colorado, which is actually quite good… frequent buses, free for short trips into town …and no homeless people masturbating in the seat next to you).
But the interstate “public transportation network” which is made up of air carriers competing for your dollar, is overall not too bad. Sure there are plenty of psychopathic executives trying to torture customers into ever smaller seats and of course government doing it’s part to destroy it, but overall I’d say New York to LA in 5 hours as a routine event (and with very little infrastructure build) beats the hell out of any high speed rail network.
Where it all falls apart is once you get to your destination, thanks to the “public transportation network” being run by terrible city governments. Back before Uber and Lyft the highly regulated taxis, city buses and light rail were all tightly under the thumb of government. Imagine a network of Jitney buses, run by private entrepreneurs, competing to get your butt to the conference center. Imagine knowing that when you got to your destination that bus would be waiting and you’d know exactly what to expect. Maybe you would keep your car for around town, but if the buses were frequent and ubiquitous maybe not.
I bring this up because in Japan there are many such bus companies. The rail network is private (Japan Rail was privatized in 1987, but there were regional and local trains that were private for decades), and there are shops that don’t have to rely on the Walmart/hypermart model for doing business.
Of course cars are cheaper to run than busses or trains. And air transportation only makes sense at scale. So cars it is, and stupid people behind the wheel. And scared Karens living in fear.
The Suzuki does look top heavy, like the old Samurai. Americans have proven that they can’t accept responsibility to drive a vehicle like that responsibly and keep the tires inflated properly.
And that’s why Electronic Stability Control (EsC) now takes care of roll over mitigation.
You get to pay for that regulated safety feature via FMVSS 126 by since 2009.
I doubt that a sub-$20k MSRP could be sustained in this country anymore unless the manufacturers were allowed to sell direct. Look what the Ford dealers and their employees did to the Maverick.
@Eric – How many stories have you heard of anyone outside of a fleet purchasing agent managing to buy the Maverick for the $19,500 introduction price?
When my wife’s nephew bought a Maverick, the truck came from a dealer insider who purchased one on spec and resold for a $5000 premium with 100 miles on the odometer.
It’s obvious the constantly changing and becoming more complicated regs to sell cars in the west are nothing more than a protection racket. As you say – an S class from a decade or so ago is now “unsafe” somehow…. as Im sure a Prius of that era is not “clean” enough to drive today…..
at the same time – Chinese car manufactures are making very impressive cars with more bells and whistles (some of them actually very innovative) at prices we cannot imagine in the west…. If it wasnt for these regulations preventing them from entering our markets – the western makers would be toast…
Ford still makes a Mondeo (think Fusion) sedan in China using the same platform as the Maverick. The car could be made in the same factory in Mexico which produces the truck, but Americans aren’t interested right now.
They aren’t interested in paying 22k for a 14k car. That’s the problem with small cars. They don’t have small car prices anymore.
‘50,000 signed up to buy one when Suzuki began accepting orders on January 30.’ — eric
Smash hit, innit? More so than Americans, marooned behind our oppressive regulatory walls, ever realized: Suzuki has sold 2.85 million Jimnys in 194 countries through September 2018, says Wikipedia.
And the hits just keep on coming: ‘The Jimny was launched in Mexico on 12 November 2020. The 2021 model year Jimny was sold out in 3 days after the first 1,000 reserved units.’
Comfortably numbed Americlowns, who subsist on a vehicular diet of boring, overweight, lookalike appliances have to step outside the US borders to see what they are being deprived of by the auto maker / Big Gov compliance cartel.
It’s like being resigned to a carping old Liz Warren-style fishwife. Then you look over the backyard fence and realize — with an electric jolt to the brain — that the girl next door is a 20-year-old swimsuit model with exhibitionist tendencies.
I wanna take you home
I won’t do you no harm, no
You’ve gotta be all mine, all mine
Aw shucks, foxy lady
— Jimi Hendrix, Foxy Lady
Amen, Jim –
Americans are now like Soviet proles were back in the ’80s – before the wall came down. They – and now, we – had no idea how good it was outside of their prison…
Yup.
We are all in that 80s Wendy’s commercial where all of the Soviet models are frumpy haus fraus in gray dresses.
For you youngins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpypTXccG2I
We had a Russian guy at work (aerospace) former Soviet tank commander. He came by to discuss engine buildup changes & I played this for him. He wasn’t amused, just couldn’t break thru that stoic shell.
We did hit it off, what he did enjoy was my group’s doom and gloom outlook on work, US gov, world issues.
ah ha ha ha …
Next: CROSSOVERS!
*fiddler saws away as buyers stare glassy-eyed*
Does anyone in America ever stop to ask themselves “Gee, if the vehicles sold abroad are so “unsafe” and/or “unclean”, then how is it that EVERY OTHER COUNTRY is able to do just fine with said vehicles?!”
bluegrey6124, you are slated for termination. Please report to your nearest Logan’s Run Carrousel.
You are posing forbidden questions./
Hi Blue,
Yup. Especially as regards Japan, a highly Westernized country. Then again, people in this country have been propagandized to such a degree for the past 50-plus years that “safety” has become a kind of trigger word. So also “clean” and “emissions.” The populace is PTSD’d with this crap.
Eric I do so request that you directly submit this article to President Trump and The DOGE branch immediately…as we Americans and the rest of the world could absolutely deserve and use this vehicle… I speak on behalf many Americans that the ( Government) safety regulations are a Hindrance to our well being as a nation. we can reduce our expenditure on new vehicles and increase production at home if we can remove these restrictions.. as well as bring jobs back home.. just my opinion… my 1994 s10 is just as safe as a new Colorado… I don’t need or want 27 airbags or cameras or other nonsense that I or anyone else has to pay extra for… we made it at least 10000 years without Government assistance without dying out… just saying. You have a much larger voice than I
“…we made it at least 10000 years without Government assistance without dying out… just saying.”
Exactly! Also, most people back cared more about SURVIVAL, than being popular.
*…most people back THEN…
How very true, BlueGrey. More people have died (flat out killed) since the government has taken it upon themselves to keep us “safe” (save us from ourselves). Heaven forbid there was a time when people actually had brains, used them, were responsible for their own lives, and did not ask a higher authority (gov’t) to take on such a duty.
This nails, it Shadow –
When people are taught – and expected to be – responsible, for the most part, they are responsible. People didn’t use to walk in the middle of the road because kids were taught not to play in the road. People could drive, for the most part, because they had to learn how. Etc.
Aaah, you bring back memories, Eric: Learning to drive on a standard trans, rear-wheel drive on icy roads, maybe had the seat belt on-or not, and showing how to parallel park to get a license. I read of how the newer vehicles will do that for you! Never in a million years did I think that one day, a person could sit in the driver’s seat and leave their brains back in bed, because that is how people drive these days, and that is how the Feds treat us with the “saaaafety” sh** they demand/mandate in new vehicles anymore.
While you seem to be on the right path, Never, in my wildest dreams, back well before, ‘The Before Times’, could I ever imagine Americans would plead before the emperor/empire in such a way. “Eric I do so request that you directly submit this article to President Trump and The DOGE branch immediately…as we Americans and the rest of the world could absolutely deserve and use this vehicle… I speak on behalf many Americans that the ( Government) safety regulations are a Hindrance to our well being as a nation.”
E-gads, man! You’re groveling. Stop it. Snap out of it!
“The DOGE branch” …what a puke. […It may develop into The Gestapo.]
Anyway, rock-on with your 94 S-10, I had one & it was most excellent. …It kept up with the Jeeps in the mud trails every step. Cherish yours.
Our Overlords undoubtedly reply this way, “You’ll have Nothing! And, Like it.”
IF, things go otherwise. … the disturbance in The Force will be welcome.
Hi Josh,
I’m doing my best! I wish I knew someone within the orbit of Orangicus Maximus. I would even travel to the imperial capital to make the case.
CO2 is so low that a mere 1% reduction could make the planet lifeless.
CO2 level at which plants begin to starve 150 ppm
CO2 level at which plants stop growing 150 ppm
Current CO2 level 385 ppm
https://shuncy.com/article/what-ppm-co2-do-planta-die
Ok so who is the team that’s supposedly working on making recommendations to Trump’s cabinet on EV’s? They are supposed to determine things to do within the first 30 days. It would be a stretch of the imagination to think it’s possible, but in keeping with the president’s word, that Americans will be able to buy the car they want(italicized) to buy, bilateral trade agreements could be reached, whereby we can sell more cars to Japan if we buy theirs. From a regulatory standpoint, all that need be done is to loosen import restrictions, doing away with the federal 30 year law. These kinds of cars would be on the market here as imports, and our car companies would be throwing up new factories trying to make competing products. The new factories would necessitate exactly the kind of de-regulation we’ve been promised.
Me: So how do I know if the pillars are thick enough to be compliant?
Government: Is there still room for your ugly face?
Me: But I have deep pockets.
Government: Not deep enough.
One more nice thing that you cannot buy.
You are being told what you can and cannot do.
Nein, you swine.
A Trump tariff would increase the price to 34,000 dollars and up.
It is a travesty of a mockery of a sham.
Klaus is a lout, just go someplace else, Klaus. Tanks in advance, see you later. Ain’t nobody wants to here a word you say, shut the hell up.
The midair plane collision at Reagan International is fishy.
hear, not here.
They’ll do it every time.
Groups like IIHS have driven this march to “safety”. The result?
Far more damage cost to cars which are increasingly easy to total.
Deaths per 100,000,000 miles were single digits since 1946.
The have been 1 since 1992
Given that in 1992, most of the cars were still from the 80s, therefore not containing air bags, crumple zones, plastic bumpers, super sized pillars, abs, crash avoidance, emergency braking, lane control, traction control, etc; what has all this “safety” purchased us?
Higher priced cars, which are easier to damage, and higher insurance costs.
Couldn’t find info on injuries.
The more important question is, will they be allowed to drive them in Gaza? That’s sarcasm, y’all.
Why, yes, every Palestinian kaffir left alive in Gaza will be allowed to drive one.
JFK was the last guy to actually believe he was president of the USA. Just take a look back at what the bankers did to him!
Since then, we have had nothing but phonies playing the part. Now we have one playing a Mafia don.. pretty sad stuff.
And no pushback on the Obama years emission nonsense, R’s scared of their own shadow “oh my they said something negative about me on Meet the Depressed”.
As soon as CO2 was redefined as a pollutant the pushback and shaming for being so stupid should have been massive. Jeebus anyone that had a 5th grade science book in the 60s knows better. The CO2 / O cycle of life on Earth.
All started with the ozone hole hoax and here we are.