Mazda CX-30 vs Suzuki Jimny 5-Door

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Mazda CX-30 in South Africa

Mazda CX-30

2.0 Individual Edition Auto FWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 651,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 15.2 km/l
VS
Suzuki Jimny 5-Door in South Africa

Suzuki Jimny 5-Door

1.5 GLX AllGrip AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 489,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 130 Nm ⛽ 14.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance CX-30
⛽ Fuel Economy CX-30
🛡 Safety Jimny 5-Door
📦 Practicality CX-30
🔑 Ownership Jimny 5-Door
Jimny 5-Door starts ZAR 539800 cheaper CX-30 from ZAR 539,800 · Jimny 5-Door from ZAR 439,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec CX-30 Jimny 5-Door
Engine Power 121 kW 75 kW
Torque 213 Nm 130 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1462 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.2 km/l 14.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay 295 l 85 l
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 1340 kg 1170 kg
Seating Capacity 5 4
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-30 and Jimny 5-Door are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-30 +17 pts
Efficiency CX-30 +2 pts
Safety Jimny 5-Door +9 pts
Practicality CX-30 +10 pts
Ownership Jimny 5-Door +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-30

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Jimny 5-Door

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

CX-30

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Jimny 5-Door

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-30 Jimny 5-Door
Model Introduced Year 2021 2025
Generation First-generation DM-series Mazda CX-30 using seventh-generation Mazda architecture Fourth-generation Jimny five-door — JB74W. Uses identical powertrain, ladder-frame chassis, AllGrip Pro 4x4 system, and suspension geometry as the JB74 two-door. Body extended 360mm longer with full rear doors and a longer wheelbase
Facelift History South African editions received a focused technology and equipment update in 2024, including the 10.25-inch display and revised connectivity. Two-door Jimny (JB74) returned to SA market in 2021 after a nine-year absence. Five-door variant (JB74W) launched globally in 2023 and introduced in South Africa in 2025 as a distinct model — not a trim level of the two-door.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Kinetic Yellow, Bluish Black Pearl, Solid White, Granite Grey Metallic, Chili Red, Brisk Blue Metallic
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 GLX AllGrip AT
Spec CX-30 Jimny 5-Door
Ground Clearance 175 mm 210 mm
Wheelbase 2655 mm 2250 mm
Length 4395 mm 3985 mm
Width 1795 mm 1645 mm
Height 1540 mm 1720 mm
Kerb Weight 1340 kg 1170 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1937 kg 1555 kg
Seating Capacity 5 4
Boot Space 295 l 85 l
Towing Capacity 1200 kg 1300 kg
Turning Radius 5.7 m 4.9 m
Load Bed Length 295 l 85 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm 900 mm
Rear Legroom 921 mm 600 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1412 mm 1270 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1361 mm 1155 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1200 l 377 l
Number of Doors 5 3
Max Payload 597 kg 455 kg
Boot Volume 295 l 85 l
Doors 5 3
Seats 5 4
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 40 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1937 kg 1555 kg
Ground Clearance Max 175 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance Min 175 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 175 mm 210 mm
Height Mm 1540 mm 1720 mm
Length Mm 4395 mm 3985 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 295 l 85 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 597 kg 455 kg
Cargo Volume 295 l 85 l
Tare Mass Kg 1340 kg 1170 kg
Turning Circle 5.7 m 4.9 m
Turning Circle M 5.7 m 4.9 m
Width Mm 1795 mm 1645 mm
Front Track Width - 1265 mm
Rear Track Width - 1265 mm
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 910 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1200 l 377 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-30 leads by 2 points

Both CX-30 and Jimny 5-Door are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 60 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 94% confidence
60
#1 Winner

CX-30

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 83 Check Performance 49
Performance 49
Efficiency 59
Safety 83
Practicality 55
Ownership 55
Leads by 2 points
58
#2

Jimny 5-Door

98% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 32
Performance 32
Efficiency 57
Safety 92
Practicality 45
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-30 +17 Efficiency CX-30 +2 Safety Jimny 5-Door +9 Practicality CX-30 +10 Ownership Jimny 5-Door +16

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-30

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 83/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 55/100

Jimny 5-Door

Performance 32/100
Efficiency 57/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 45/100
Ownership 71/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-30 wins with 60 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In structured scoring, CX-30 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Jimny 5-Door may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the CX-30 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: CX-30 59 vs Jimny 5-Door 57. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: CX-30 83, Jimny 5-Door 92. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: CX-30 55, Jimny 5-Door 71. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: CX-30 55, Jimny 5-Door 45. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-30 49, Jimny 5-Door 32. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The CX-30 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CX-30 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between CX-30 and Jimny 5-Door in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-30 scores 49 vs 32.

Efficiency: CX-30 scores 59 vs 57.

Safety: CX-30 scores 83 vs 92.

Practicality: CX-30 scores 55 vs 45.

Ownership: CX-30 scores 55 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives CX-30 the advantage in this comparison.