Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

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
Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

Comfort HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 439,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm ⛽ 18.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
🛡 Safety Jimny 5-Door
📦 Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
🔑 Ownership Jimny 5-Door
Both models start at the same price: ZAR 439,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jimny 5-Door Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Engine Power 75 kW 150 kW
Torque 130 Nm 310 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.9 km/l 18.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 180 mm
Boot / Load Bay 85 l -
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1170 kg -
Seating Capacity 4 5
Warranty 5 5 Years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV has a slight advantage, but Jimny 5-Door remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +30 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +18 pts
Safety Jimny 5-Door +17 pts
Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +22 pts
Ownership Jimny 5-Door +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jimny 5-Door

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Jimny 5-Door

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jimny 5-Door Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Model Introduced Year 2025 2026
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 South Africa Tiggo 4 Cross HEV range
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. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2026
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 -
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 -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Jimny 5-Door Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Ground Clearance 210 mm 180 mm
Wheelbase 2250 mm 2610 mm
Length 3985 mm 4351 mm
Width 1645 mm 1831 mm
Height 1720 mm 1662 mm
Kerb Weight 1170 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 1555 kg 1905 kg
Seating Capacity 4 5
Boot Space 85 l -
Towing Capacity 1300 kg -
Front Track Width 1265 mm -
Rear Track Width 1265 mm -
Turning Radius 4.9 m -
Load Bed Length 85 l -
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 900 mm -
Rear Legroom 600 mm -
Front Headroom 990 mm -
Rear Headroom 910 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1270 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1155 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 377 l -
Number of Doors 3 5
Max Payload 455 kg -
Boot Volume 85 l -
Doors 3 5
Seats 4 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1555 kg 1905 kg
Ground Clearance Max 210 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance Min 210 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 210 mm 180 mm
Height Mm 1720 mm 1662 mm
Length Mm 3985 mm 4351 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 85 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 455 kg -
Cargo Volume 85 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1170 kg -
Turning Circle 4.9 m -
Turning Circle M 4.9 m -
Width Mm 1645 mm 1831 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 377 l -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV leads by 9 points

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV has a slight advantage, but Jimny 5-Door remains highly competitive.

Winner 67 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 68% confidence
67
#1 Winner

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

68% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 75 Check Ownership 55
Performance 62
Efficiency 75
Safety 75
Practicality 67
Ownership 55
Leads by 9 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +30 Efficiency Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +18 Safety Jimny 5-Door +17 Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +22 Ownership Jimny 5-Door +16

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 75/100
Safety 75/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 55/100

Jimny 5-Door

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV wins with 67 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In structured scoring, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 75. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 75. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 55. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Jimny 5-Door 32, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 62. 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Jimny 5-Door scores 32 vs 62.

Efficiency: Jimny 5-Door scores 57 vs 75.

Safety: Jimny 5-Door scores 92 vs 75.

Practicality: Jimny 5-Door scores 45 vs 67.

Ownership: Jimny 5-Door scores 71 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 4 Cross HEV the advantage in this comparison.