Hill Descent Control and steep descents

Going down is where most steep-ground trouble starts. The Jimny's Hill Descent Control (HDC) helps, but it is a helper, not a replacement for the right gear, a slow approach and your own judgement.

These notes cover the 5-door Jimny in India. Check your owner's manual for how to switch HDC on and the exact conditions it works in, because those details are the maker's to state.

By Gypsy Overlanding Family ®

Hill Descent Control speeds A steep slope with a Jimny going straight down it. Suzuki says Hill Descent Control holds about 10 kilometres per hour in 4H and about 5 kilometres per hour in 4L. 4L about 5 km/h 4H about 10 km/h
Suzuki says Hill Descent Control holds about 10 km/h in 4H and about 5 km/h in 4L. Go straight down the slope.
  • The slowest, steadiest option: 4L
  • 4H, for easier and faster slopes

The short answer

Look first, select 4L and a low gear, and let the engine do the braking. Use Hill Descent Control to hold a slow, steady speed, keep the car pointing straight down the slope, and avoid sudden braking, stopping or turning.

Do

  • Stop at the top and look at the whole descent
  • Select 4L and first gear before you start
  • Let engine braking and HDC hold the speed
  • Keep the car straight down the slope
  • Steer smoothly with both hands

Do not

  • Coast in neutral or with the clutch in
  • Ride the brakes all the way down
  • Turn side-on to the slope
  • Brake hard on loose ground
  • Descend in 2H when the ground is steep or loose

What the Jimny gives you

Several systems help on a descent. They work together, but the engine's own braking is the one you rely on most.

Systems that help on a steep descent
SystemWorks inWhat it does
Hill Descent Control (HDC)4H and 4L, according to SuzukiHolds about 10 km/h in 4H and about 5 km/h in 4L by applying the brakes for you. It is switched on from a dash switch.
Hill Hold ControlAll driving modes, according to SuzukiHolds the brakes briefly to help you start on a slope without rolling.
Engine brakingAny low gearThe engine's own resistance slows the car. In 4L and first gear it is strong, and it needs no brakes.
Brake LSD traction controlAlways onBrakes a slipping wheel and sends drive to the wheel with grip.
HDC works through the brakes. Systems like this make the brakes do the work, so a long descent can heat them, and the makers of similar systems warn that the function can drop out if the brakes get too hot. Check your manual for the Jimny's limits, keep descents short where you can, and let the engine carry as much of the load as possible.

Engine braking comes first

On a long or steep descent, the engine is the brake you want, because it never fades. Select 4L and first gear (second on gentler slopes) and take your feet off the pedals. Do not press the clutch, and do not select neutral, because both remove engine braking at the moment you need it.

On an automatic, hold the lowest positions rather than leaving the selector in D. The automatic's engine braking is gentler than a manual's, so HDC and a very slow approach matter even more.

How to take a steep descent

  1. Stop at the top and look. Check the line, the surface, any ledges or ruts, and where the slope runs out. Walk it if you are unsure.
  2. Select 4L and first gear. Do it while stopped on level ground, as in the low-range guide.
  3. Switch HDC on if you want it. Follow your manual for the switch and the speed range it works in.
  4. Ease over the crest. Go straight, at a crawl, with both hands on the wheel.
  5. Let the engine and HDC hold the speed. Keep your feet off the pedals unless you must act.
  6. Keep the car pointing straight down. A crooked car on a slope is how rollovers start.
  7. At the bottom, stop and check. Look at the tires, the brakes and the underbody before moving on.
If the car starts to slide, ease off the brakes so the wheels can roll and you can steer, rather than braking harder. Then steer to straighten the car.

Ghat roads and long road descents

A long mountain road descent is a different job from a trail. Use a lower gear and let the engine hold the speed, rather than riding the brakes, which can overheat them. HDC is meant for slow, steep ground, so keep it for that. Stop in a safe place to let the brakes cool if they start to smell or feel soft.

Pick your descent

Tap the slope in front of you to see how to take it.

Tap a slope (6 to try)

How to take Loose gravel slope

Mode and gear
-
Technique
-

Common mistakes

  • Coasting in neutral. You lose engine braking and the car runs away.
  • Pressing the clutch on the way down. Same problem, with the added risk of stalling.
  • Relying on HDC alone. It works through the brakes, and it can drop out if they overheat.
  • Braking hard on loose ground. Locked wheels slide and you lose steering.
  • Turning on the slope. It puts the car side-on, which is how Jimnys roll.
  • Starting too fast. Speed is hardest to scrub off after you have gained it.
  • Skipping the look. A ledge you did not see at the bottom ends the day.
A final word. Steep descents carry a real risk of rollover and injury. This guide is general information. Your owner's manual has the maker's instructions for HDC, and a qualified driver can teach you far more than a page can. Build up from gentle slopes, and never descend anything you are unsure about.