The Short Story of the 2024 GMC Jimmy

The original GMC Jimmy is one of the most sought-after used cars, so it makes sense that the automaker had plans to resurrect its beastly full-size SUV. The question is, what happened?

The GMC Jimmy, in all its glory, was one of America’s most popular SUVs from 1970 to 2001, when it was discontinued. In 2017, GMC announced that it would be bringing back the Jimmy.

The project was short-lived, but it had the performance SUV world in thrall. Today’s drivers shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for a new Jimmy, but they can still find high-quality used cars, trucks, and SUVs that meet the same needs.

A Brief History of the Original GMC Jimmy

The original GMC Jimmy was a midsize SUV introduced in 1970 called the K5 Jimmy. The popular SUV was more or less an upscale version of the Chevy K5 Blazer, but it captured American hearts and minds in ways the Blazer didn’t.

In 1983, GMC introduced the S-15 Jimmy, a compact SUV based on the Chevy S-10 Blazer. This third-generation Jimmy was manufactured without major changes until GMC introduced the fourth and last generation in 1995. It was axed in 2001.

What Was the Fifth Generation GMC Jimmy?

In 2017, GMC announced that it would be releasing a fifth-generation Jimmy for the 2023 model year. It would share a platform with the contemporary GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado and be a midsize off-road-focused SUV.

The new Jimmy was supposed to feature a 2.7L I-4 turbo engine in its base models. GM also got everyone’s hopes up by teasing an optional GM Small Block V8 engine option. Unfortunately, neither of these plans came to fruition.

Why GMC Axed the New Jimmy

The primary reason for the new fifth-generation Jimmy’s downfall was poor timing. Shortly after announcing its plans to revive its fan-favorite SUV, GM decided to take the brand in a different direction. More specifically, it began a push into electric and autonomous vehicle development.

EV and AV development is expensive. It would have been unreasonable for GMGMC to pursue both these future-focused plans and a more nostalgic revival of the GMC Jimmy. Instead, GM scrapped the entire 32XX platform.

Which Used Cars Are Comparable to the Jimmy?

Drivers disappointed by GM’s decision to cancel plans for its revised Jimmy can still find these used cars at dealerships. However, finding true GMC Jimmy models has become more challenging since GM’s canceled decision to reintroduce the SUV.

Drivers who don’t want to wait for the perfect find or want newer vehicles with better fuel efficiency and modern touches have plenty of options. The Yukon replaced the original full-size Jimmy, while the compact version became the now-discontinued Envoy.

Regarding the automaker’s recent plans, the most similar vehicle to the proposed fifth-gen Jimmy was the GMC Canyon. Built on a 31XX revised platform, it should check most of the boxes for drivers who want recent-model used cars that can perform like a true Jimmy.