Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs Volkswagen T-Roc

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 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 489,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 130 Nm ⛽ 14.9 km/l
VS
Volkswagen T-Roc in South Africa

Volkswagen T-Roc

2.0 TSI 140kW 4Motion R-Line DSG Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 760,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance T-Roc
⛽ Fuel Economy T-Roc
🛡 Safety T-Roc
📦 Practicality T-Roc
🔑 Ownership Jimny 5-Door
Jimny 5-Door starts ZAR 209,000 cheaper Jimny 5-Door from ZAR 439,900 · T-Roc from ZAR 648,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jimny 5-Door T-Roc
Maximum Power 75 kW @ 6000 rpm 140 kW
Maximum Torque 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm 320 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc 2000 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 14.9 km/l 15.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 168 mm
Boot / Load Bay 211 l 392 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1215 kg 1400 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

T-Roc has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Jimny 5-Door remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance T-Roc +35 pts
Efficiency T-Roc +4 pts
Safety T-Roc +9 pts
Practicality T-Roc +9 pts
Ownership Jimny 5-Door +28 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jimny 5-Door

Strengths
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Catalogue-index leader

T-Roc

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

Which One's Right for You?

Jimny 5-Door

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

T-Roc

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jimny 5-Door T-Roc
Model Introduced Year 2025 2021
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 Current first-generation T-Roc remains on sale while the second generation is prepared for South Africa
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. Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending
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 White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Orange
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 GLX AllGrip AT 4x4 configuration for the local line-up
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1170 kg 1400 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Jimny 5-Door T-Roc
Length 3965 mm 4234 mm
Width 1645 mm 1819 mm
Height 1720 mm 1573 mm
Wheelbase 2590 mm 2593 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 168 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 211 l 392 l
Kerb Weight 1215 kg 1400 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1545 kg 2020 kg
Payload Capacity 330 kg -
Towing Capacity 1300 kg 1200 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.4 m
Front Headroom 990 mm -
Rear Headroom 910 mm -
Front Legroom 900 mm -
Rear Legroom 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

T-Roc leads by 9 points

T-Roc has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Jimny 5-Door remains close.

Index leader 67 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 89% source coverage
67
#1 Index leader

T-Roc

89% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Ownership 43
Performance 64
Efficiency 61
Safety 99
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Leads by 9 points
58
#2

Jimny 5-Door

95% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Performance 29
Performance 29
Efficiency 57
Safety 90
Practicality 49
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance T-Roc +35 Efficiency T-Roc +4 Safety T-Roc +9 Practicality T-Roc +9 Ownership Jimny 5-Door +28

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

T-Roc

Performance 64/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

Jimny 5-Door

Performance 29/100
Efficiency 57/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 49/100
Ownership 71/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Volkswagen T-Roc leads the catalogue index with 67 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, T-Roc leads. However, Jimny 5-Door may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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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 Jimny 5-Door and T-Roc 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: Jimny 5-Door 29 vs T-Roc 64.

Efficiency index: Jimny 5-Door 57 vs T-Roc 61.

Safety-equipment index: Jimny 5-Door 90 vs T-Roc 99.

Practicality index: Jimny 5-Door 49 vs T-Roc 58.

Ownership-cover index: Jimny 5-Door 71 vs T-Roc 43.

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.