Ford EcoSport 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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Ford EcoSport Discontinued model
Ford EcoSport in South Africa

Ford EcoSport

1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 395,000 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 17.2 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 EcoSport
Fuel Economy EcoSport
🛡 Safety Jimny
📦 Practicality EcoSport
🔑 Ownership Jimny
Recorded price context EcoSport: last listed from ZAR 310,000 · Jimny: current from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec EcoSport Jimny
Maximum Power 92 kW 75 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 170 Nm 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 998 cc 1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 17.2 km/l 15.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay 352 l 85 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1290 kg 1110 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 4 seats
Warranty 4 5

= leads in this spec

Archived vehicles remain available for comparison. Verified specs stay visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance EcoSport +11 pts
Efficiency EcoSport +4 pts
Safety Jimny +2 pts
Practicality EcoSport +14 pts
Ownership Jimny +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

EcoSport

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

Jimny

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

EcoSport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Jimny

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec EcoSport Jimny
Model Introduced Year 2013 2019
Generation Single generation on Ford B2E platform. Produced in India for global markets. SA received the facelift model with improved interior quality and revised safety kit. 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 Facelift in 2017 — revised front fascia and SYNC 3 infotainment introduced 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 2017 2025
Tare Mass Kg 1290 kg 1115 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed Kinetic Yellow, Sizzling Red, Granite Grey, Brisk Blue, Chiffon Ivory White, Bluish Black Pearl
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 GLX AllGrip AT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec EcoSport Jimny
Length 4325 mm 3625 mm
Width 1765 mm 1645 mm
Height 1653 mm 1720 mm
Wheelbase 2519 mm 2250 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 210 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 352 l 85 l
Kerb Weight 1290 kg 1110 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1740 kg 1435 kg
Towing Capacity 950 kg 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 4 seats
Payload Capacity Not confirmed 325 kg
Number of Rows Not confirmed 2 rows
Doors Not confirmed 3 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not confirmed 4.9 m
Front Headroom Not confirmed 990 mm
Rear Headroom Not confirmed 910 mm
Front Legroom Not confirmed 900 mm
Rear Legroom Not confirmed 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

EcoSport leads by 4 points

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

Index leader 61 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 83% source coverage
61
#1 Index leader

EcoSport

83% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 86 Check Performance 40
Performance 40
Efficiency 65
Safety 86
Practicality 58
Ownership 55
Leads by 4 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 EcoSport +11 Efficiency EcoSport +4 Safety Jimny +2 Practicality EcoSport +14 Ownership Jimny +16

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

EcoSport

Performance 40/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 86/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 55/100

Jimny

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Ford EcoSport leads the catalogue index with 61 pts vs 57 pts for Jimny

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, EcoSport 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 EcoSport 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: EcoSport 40 vs Jimny 29.

Efficiency index: EcoSport 65 vs Jimny 61.

Safety-equipment index: EcoSport 86 vs Jimny 88.

Practicality index: EcoSport 58 vs Jimny 44.

Ownership-cover index: EcoSport 55 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.