Suzuki Dzire vs Toyota Rumion

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.

Suzuki Dzire in South Africa

Suzuki Dzire

1.2 GL+ CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 272,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 112 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
VS
Toyota Rumion in South Africa

Toyota Rumion

1.5 XS CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 389,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 14.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Rumion
Fuel Economy Rumion
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Dzire
🔑 Ownership Dzire
Dzire starts ZAR 339900 cheaper Dzire from ZAR 229,900 · Rumion from ZAR 339,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Dzire Rumion
Engine Power 60 77
Torque 112 140
Engine Size 1197 1496
Claimed Mileage 13.5 14.7
Ground Clearance 145 155
Boot Space 400 300
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 940 1185
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Dzire

54
/ 100
+0
pts
#2

Rumion

54
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Dzire and Rumion are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Rumion +1 pts
Efficiency Rumion +8 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Dzire +1 pts
Ownership Dzire +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Dzire

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 20/20

Rumion

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Dzire

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

Rumion

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Dzire

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Rumion

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Dzire Rumion
Engine 1.2L Z12E DualJet 3-Cylinder Petrol 1.5L Naturally Aspirated Petrol
Engine Type Inline 3 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 4 Cylinder
Engine Code Z12E Standard
Cylinder Layout Inline 3 (I3) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Turbocharged
Displacement 1197 1496
Cylinders 3 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Cylinder Bore 73.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 95.5 92.0
Compression Ratio 12.0:1 12.5:1
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front Transverse
Variable Valve Timing Dual VVT on Intake and Exhaust Available
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) Multi-Point Injection
Turbocharger Not Applicable Not Available
Power 60 77
Power @ RPM 5,700 rpm 6000 rpm
Power 82 150
Torque 112 140
Torque @ RPM 4,300 rpm 4200 rpm
Maximum Engine RPM 6700 Available
Engine Oil Capacity 2.9 Available
Fuel Grade Required 93 RON Unleaded Petrol Petrol
Top Speed 160 175
0-100 km/h 13.2 12.5
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available
Spec Dzire Rumion
Length 3995 4475
Width 1735 1695
Height 1525 1620
Wheelbase 2450 2750
Ground Clearance 145 155
Kerb Weight 940 1185
Boot Volume 378 Available
Seats 5 Available
Doors 4 Available
Boot Space 400 300
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Seating Capacity 5 7
Front Track Width 1550 1490
Rear Track Width 1540 1485
Towing Capacity 1500 Not Rated
Gross Vehicle Weight 1600 1660
Turning Radius Available 5.2
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Number of Doors Available 5
Max Payload Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Dzire wins with 54 pts vs 54 pts for Rumion

In structured scoring, Dzire emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Rumion may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. 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

On our scoring the Dzire 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: Dzire 0 vs Rumion 8. 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: Dzire 18, Rumion 18. 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: Dzire 20, Rumion 12. 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: Dzire 11, Rumion 10. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Dzire 5, Rumion 6. 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 Dzire edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Dzire 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 Dzire and Rumion in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Dzire scores 5 vs 6.

Efficiency: Dzire scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Dzire scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Dzire scores 11 vs 10.

Ownership: Dzire scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Dzire the advantage in this comparison.