Mazda CX-3 vs Suzuki Jimny 5-Door

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Mazda CX-3 in South Africa

Mazda CX-3

2.0 Individual Auto FWD Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 551,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 206 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
VS
Suzuki Jimny 5-Door in South Africa

Suzuki Jimny 5-Door

1.5 GLX AllGrip AT Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 489,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda CX-3 vs Suzuki Jimny 5-Door: the short answer

CX-3 and Jimny 5-Door are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Jimny 5-Door starts ZAR 100 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Jimny 5-Door from ZAR 439,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CX-3 Jimny 5-Door
Maximum Power CX-3115 kW @ 6000 rpm Jimny 5-Door77 kW
Maximum Torque CX-3206 Nm @ 2800 rpm Jimny 5-Door138 Nm
Engine Size CX-31998 cc Jimny 5-Door1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CX-315.9 km/l Jimny 5-Door16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance CX-3155 mm Jimny 5-Door0 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Mazda CX-3

2.0 Individual Auto FWD

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Suzuki Jimny 5-Door

1.5 GLX AllGrip AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

CX-3

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Jimny 5-Door

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Jimny 5-Door

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-3 Jimny 5-Door
Model Introduced Year 2015 2026
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Current market generation
Facelift History The CX-3 has received successive equipment and design updates since its 2015 debut; Carbon and Individual now sit together at the top of the South African range. Current market specification
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-3 Jimny 5-Door
Length 4275 mm 3985 mm
Width 1765 mm 1645 mm
Height 1542 mm 1720 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2590 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 0 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 211 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1210 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1735 kg 1545 kg
Payload Capacity 465 kg 335 kg
Towing Capacity 850 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.2 m
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 900 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 170 mm
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 1000 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This CX-3 and Jimny 5-Door comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CX-3 47 vs Jimny 5-Door 42.

Efficiency index: CX-3 61 vs Jimny 5-Door 62.

Safety-equipment index: CX-3 84 vs Jimny 5-Door 91.

Practicality index: CX-3 48 vs Jimny 5-Door 41.

Ownership-cover index: CX-3 not separately scored vs Jimny 5-Door not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

CX-3 leads by 2 points

CX-3 and Jimny 5-Door are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 60 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 71% source coverage
60
#1 Evidence leader

CX-3

71% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 61
Safety 84
Practicality 48
Leads by 2 points
58
#2

Jimny 5-Door

77% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Practicality 41
Performance 42
Efficiency 62
Safety 91
Practicality 41
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-3 +5 Efficiency Jimny 5-Door +1 Safety Jimny 5-Door +7 Practicality CX-3 +7

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

CX-3

Performance 47/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 48/100

Jimny 5-Door

Performance 42/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 41/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mazda CX-3 leads the specification evidence index with 60 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, CX-3 leads. However, Jimny 5-Door may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

CX-3
CX-3
VS
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
CX-3 vs Tiggo 4 Cross HEV →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
Dashing
Dashing
CX-3 vs Dashing →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
Jimny
Jimny
CX-3 vs Jimny →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
Jolion Pro Limited
Jolion Pro Limited
CX-3 vs Jolion Pro Limited →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
ATTO 2 DM-i
ATTO 2 DM-i
CX-3 vs ATTO 2 DM-i →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
Outlander Sport
Outlander Sport
CX-3 vs Outlander Sport →
Jimny 5-Door
Jimny 5-Door
VS
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Jimny 5-Door vs Tiggo 4 Cross HEV →
Jimny 5-Door
Jimny 5-Door
VS
Dashing
Dashing
Jimny 5-Door vs Dashing →

CX-3 vs Jimny 5-Door questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.