Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs Changan UNI-S

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
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Jimny 5-Door remains close.

UNI-S starts ZAR 50,000 cheaper Jimny 5-Door from ZAR 439,900 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Jimny 5-Door UNI-S
Maximum Power Jimny 5-Door75 kW @ 6000 rpm UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque Jimny 5-Door130 Nm @ 4000 rpm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size Jimny 5-Door1462 cc UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Jimny 5-Door14.9 km/l UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance Jimny 5-Door210 mm UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jimny 5-Door

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

UNI-S

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

Which One's Right for You?

Jimny 5-Door

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

UNI-S

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 UNI-S
Engine Position Longitudinal Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 4-Speed Torque Converter Automatic 7-Speed DCT
Transmission Type Automatic DCT
Number of Gears 4 7
Drivetrain Layout Rear Wheel Drive (2WD) / 4WD with Low-Range Not Officially Disclosed
Final Drive Ratio 4.090:1 Not Officially Disclosed
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.8 -
Clutch Type Torque Converter Dual-clutch
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Transfer Case Two-Speed Transfer Case (Hi / Lo Range) Not Officially Disclosed
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Drivetrain 4WD / AWD FWD
Gearbox Type 4-Speed Torque Converter Automatic Dual-Clutch Automatic
Gear Shift Type 4-Speed Torque Converter Automatic Automatic
Transmission Speeds 4 7
Axle Layout 4WD — AllGrip PRO Part-Time Not Officially Disclosed
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Low Range Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Spec Jimny 5-Door UNI-S
Variable Valve Timing VVT on Intake Camshaft -
CO2 Emissions 173 g/km 179 g/km
Start Stop System Not Available -
Hybrid System Type Not Applicable -
Noise Level 69 dB -
Fuel Octane Requirement 93 RON Unleaded -
Particulate Filter Gasoline Particulate Filter (GPF) -
Euro Emission Standard Euro 5 -
Green NCAP Rating Not Independently Rated -
Idle CO2 Output Within Euro 5 Limits -
Fuel Evaporation Control Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) -
CO2 Emissions G Km 173 -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Jimny 5-Door and UNI-S 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 UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: Jimny 5-Door 57 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: Jimny 5-Door 90 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: Jimny 5-Door 49 vs UNI-S 68.

Ownership-cover index: Jimny 5-Door 71 vs UNI-S not separately scored.

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.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

UNI-S leads by 11 points

UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Jimny 5-Door remains close.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 67% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Leads by 11 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 UNI-S +30 Efficiency Jimny 5-Door +2 Safety UNI-S +2 Practicality UNI-S +19

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

Jimny 5-Door

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan UNI-S leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 58 pts for Jimny 5-Door

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, UNI-S leads. However, Jimny 5-Door may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Jimny 5-Door vs UNI-S questions

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.