Mazda CX-5 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-5 in South Africa

Mazda CX-5

2.0 Carbon Edition Auto FWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 688,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 14.5 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-5
⛽ Fuel Economy Jimny 5-Door
🛡 Safety Jimny 5-Door
📦 Practicality CX-5
🔑 Ownership Jimny 5-Door
Jimny 5-Door starts ZAR 570500 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Jimny 5-Door from ZAR 439,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Jimny 5-Door
Engine Power 121 kW 75 kW
Torque 213 Nm 130 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1462 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 14.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 85 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1170 kg
Seating Capacity 5 4
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-5 +16 pts
Efficiency Jimny 5-Door +1 pts
Safety Jimny 5-Door +10 pts
Practicality CX-5 +16 pts
Ownership Jimny 5-Door +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-5

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

Jimny 5-Door

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Jimny 5-Door

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-5 Jimny 5-Door
Model Introduced Year 2017 2025
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range 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 The second generation arrived in 2017 and received a substantial update from 2021. An all-new replacement is scheduled to reach South Africa on 1 August 2026, while this current range remains on sale. 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 2017 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Mid-size family SUV 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-5 Jimny 5-Door
Ground Clearance 200 mm 210 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2250 mm
Length 4575 mm 3985 mm
Width 1845 mm 1645 mm
Height 1680 mm 1720 mm
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1170 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2065 kg 1555 kg
Seating Capacity 5 4
Boot Space 438 l 85 l
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 1300 kg
Turning Radius 5.95 m 4.9 m
Load Bed Length 438 l 85 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1041 mm 900 mm
Rear Legroom 1007 mm 600 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1451 mm 1270 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1391 mm 1155 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1340 l 377 l
Number of Doors 5 3
Max Payload 490 kg 455 kg
Boot Volume 438 l 85 l
Doors 5 3
Seats 5 4
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 40 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2065 kg 1555 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 210 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1720 mm
Length Mm 4575 mm 3985 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 438 l 85 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 490 kg 455 kg
Cargo Volume 438 l 85 l
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1170 kg
Turning Circle 5.95 m 4.9 m
Turning Circle M 5.95 m 4.9 m
Width Mm 1845 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 1340 l 377 l

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-5 leads by 3 points

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

Winner 61 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 94% confidence
61
#1 Winner

CX-5

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 56
Safety 82
Practicality 61
Ownership 55
Leads by 3 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-5 +16 Efficiency Jimny 5-Door +1 Safety Jimny 5-Door +10 Practicality CX-5 +16 Ownership Jimny 5-Door +16

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-5

Performance 48/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 61/100
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-5 wins with 61 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In structured scoring, CX-5 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-5 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-5 56 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-5 82, 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-5 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-5 61, Jimny 5-Door 45. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, 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-5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 32.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 57.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 92.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 45.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives CX-5 the advantage in this comparison.