Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs KIA Seltos

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 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
VS
KIA Seltos in South Africa

KIA Seltos

1.5D EX+ Auto Diesel Automatic
ZAR 599,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 260 Nm Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Seltos
⛽ Fuel Economy Seltos
🛡 Safety Seltos
📦 Practicality Seltos
🔑 Ownership Tie
Seltos starts ZAR 439900 cheaper Jimny 5-Door from ZAR 439,900 · Seltos from ZAR 389,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jimny 5-Door Seltos
Engine Power 75 kW 85 kW
Torque 130 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc 1493 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.9 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 190 mm
Boot / Load Bay 85 l 433 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1170 kg 1430 kg
Seating Capacity 4 5
Warranty 5 7 Years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Seltos has a slight advantage, but Jimny 5-Door remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Seltos +13 pts
Efficiency Seltos +16 pts
Safety Seltos +2 pts
Practicality Seltos +23 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jimny 5-Door

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Seltos

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Jimny 5-Door

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Seltos

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jimny 5-Door Seltos
Model Introduced Year 2025 2020
Generation 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 First generation (SP2); SA launch 2020; 2023 facelift model current
Facelift History 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. 2023 facelift with revised front and rear styling, updated ADAS suite and interior upgrades
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Kinetic Yellow, Bluish Black Pearl, Solid White, Granite Grey Metallic, Chili Red, Brisk Blue Metallic Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Intense Red, Pewter Olive, Glacier White Pearl (dual-tone on GT-Line)
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 GLX AllGrip AT -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Jimny 5-Door Seltos
Ground Clearance 210 mm 190 mm
Wheelbase 2250 mm 2610 mm
Length 3985 mm 4370 mm
Width 1645 mm 1800 mm
Height 1720 mm 1640 mm
Kerb Weight 1170 kg 1430 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1555 kg 1920 kg
Seating Capacity 4 5
Boot Space 85 l 433 l
Towing Capacity 1300 kg -
Front Track Width 1265 mm 1570 mm
Rear Track Width 1265 mm 1560 mm
Turning Radius 4.9 m 10.6 m
Load Bed Length 85 l 433 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 900 mm 1030 mm
Rear Legroom 600 mm 860 mm
Front Headroom 990 mm 990 mm
Rear Headroom 910 mm 950 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1270 mm 1380 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1155 mm 1330 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 377 l 1385 l
Number of Doors 3 5
Max Payload 455 kg -
Boot Volume 85 l 433 l
Doors 3 5
Seats 4 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 50 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1555 kg 1920 kg
Ground Clearance Max 210 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance Min 210 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 210 mm 190 mm
Height Mm 1720 mm 1640 mm
Length Mm 3985 mm 4370 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 85 l 433 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 455 kg -
Cargo Volume 85 l 433 l
Tare Mass Kg 1170 kg 1430 kg
Turning Circle 4.9 m 10.6 m
Turning Circle M 4.9 m 10.6 m
Width Mm 1645 mm 1800 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 377 l 1385 l
Front Overhang - 840 mm
Rear Overhang - 920 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Seltos leads by 12 points

Seltos has a slight advantage, but Jimny 5-Door remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 93% confidence
70
#1 Winner

Seltos

93% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 45
Performance 45
Efficiency 73
Safety 94
Practicality 68
Ownership 71
Leads by 12 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 Seltos +13 Efficiency Seltos +16 Safety Seltos +2 Practicality Seltos +23 Ownership Level

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Seltos

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 71/100

Jimny 5-Door

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Seltos wins with 70 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In structured scoring, Seltos 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 Seltos 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: Jimny 5-Door 57 vs Seltos 73. 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: Jimny 5-Door 92, Seltos 94. 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: Jimny 5-Door 71, Seltos 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: Jimny 5-Door 45, Seltos 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Jimny 5-Door 32, Seltos 45. 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 Seltos edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Jimny 5-Door scores 32 vs 45.

Efficiency: Jimny 5-Door scores 57 vs 73.

Safety: Jimny 5-Door scores 92 vs 94.

Practicality: Jimny 5-Door scores 45 vs 68.

Ownership: Jimny 5-Door scores 71 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Seltos the advantage in this comparison.