Mitsubishi Destinator vs Suzuki Jimny

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.

Mitsubishi Destinator in South Africa

Mitsubishi Destinator

Exceed 1.5T CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 569,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 120 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
VS
Suzuki Jimny in South Africa

Suzuki Jimny

1.5 GLX AllGrip AT Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 466,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 130 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Destinator
Fuel Economy Jimny
🛡 Safety Jimny
📦 Practicality Destinator
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Jimny starts ZAR 45,090 cheaper Destinator from ZAR 489,990 · Jimny from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Destinator Jimny
Maximum Power 120 kW @ 5000 rpm 75 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 250 Nm @ 2500-4000 rpm 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 1499 cc 1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 13.9 km/l 15.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 214 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay 152 l 85 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1500 kg 1110 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 4 seats
Warranty 5 years / unlimited km 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Destinator and Jimny are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Destinator +22 pts
Efficiency Jimny +7 pts
Safety Jimny +15 pts
Practicality Destinator +19 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Destinator

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

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?

Destinator

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

Jimny

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Destinator Jimny
Model Introduced Year 2026 2019
Generation First-generation Destinator Fourth generation (JB74 series); entirely new K15B engine replaces previous K13B; AllGrip Pro 4WD system replaces previous generation's 4WD setup; new body retains ladder-frame construction and live rear axle from all previous generations
Facelift History South African launch specification introduced in March 2026. Fourth-generation Jimny launched globally in 2018 and in SA in 2019; minor specification updates in 2021 including updated connectivity; 5-door Jimny Sierra launched globally in 2023 but not confirmed for SA as of end-2025; no mechanical changes to the 3-door SA model since launch
Facelift Launched Since Current specification 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Medium seven-seat SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Color Note - Kinetic Yellow, Sizzling Red, Granite Grey, Brisk Blue, Chiffon Ivory White, Bluish Black Pearl
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
Tare Mass Kg - 1115 kg
Spec Destinator Jimny
Length 4680 mm 3625 mm
Width 1840 mm 1645 mm
Height 1780 mm 1720 mm
Wheelbase 2815 mm 2250 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 214 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 152 l 85 l
Kerb Weight 1500 kg 1110 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2090 kg 1435 kg
Payload Capacity 590 kg 325 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 4 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 3 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 4.9 m
Front Headroom 890 mm 990 mm
Rear Headroom 850 mm 910 mm
Front Legroom 1055 mm 900 mm
Rear Legroom 620 mm 600 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Destinator leads by 3 points

Destinator and Jimny are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 60 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 75% source coverage
60
#1 Index leader

Destinator

75% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 73 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 54
Safety 73
Practicality 63
Leads by 3 points
57
#2

Jimny

93% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 29
Performance 29
Efficiency 61
Safety 88
Practicality 44
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Destinator +22 Efficiency Jimny +7 Safety Jimny +15 Practicality Destinator +19

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Destinator

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 73/100
Practicality 63/100

Jimny

Performance 29/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 44/100
Ownership 71/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Mitsubishi Destinator leads the catalogue index with 60 pts vs 57 pts for Jimny

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Destinator leads. However, Jimny may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance index: Destinator 51 vs Jimny 29.

Efficiency index: Destinator 54 vs Jimny 61.

Safety-equipment index: Destinator 73 vs Jimny 88.

Practicality index: Destinator 63 vs Jimny 44.

Ownership-cover index: Destinator not separately scored vs Jimny 71.

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.