Suzuki Jimny vs Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

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 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
VS
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in South Africa

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Exceed 1.5L CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 499,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 141 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Outlander Sport
Fuel Economy Outlander Sport
🛡 Safety Jimny
📦 Practicality Outlander Sport
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Jimny starts ZAR 5,090 cheaper Jimny from ZAR 444,900 · Outlander Sport from ZAR 449,990

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jimny Outlander Sport
Maximum Power 75 kW @ 6000 rpm 77 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm 141 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 1462 cc 1499 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 15.9 km/l 16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 193 mm
Boot / Load Bay 85 l 480 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1110 kg 1250 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 5 years / unlimited km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Outlander Sport +1 pts
Efficiency Outlander Sport +1 pts
Safety Jimny +15 pts
Practicality Outlander Sport +23 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Jimny

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

Outlander Sport

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

Which One's Right for You?

Jimny

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Outlander Sport

  • 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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Jimny Outlander Sport
Model Introduced Year 2019 2025
Generation 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 First South African Outlander Sport generation, Mitsubishi Xforce architecture
Facelift History 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 Introduced locally in January 2025 and replaced ASX.
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Kinetic Yellow, Sizzling Red, Granite Grey, Brisk Blue, Chiffon Ivory White, Bluish Black Pearl -
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 Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1115 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec Jimny Outlander Sport
Length 3625 mm 4390 mm
Width 1645 mm 1810 mm
Height 1720 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2250 mm 2650 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 193 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 85 l 480 l
Kerb Weight 1110 kg 1250 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1435 kg 1730 kg
Payload Capacity 325 kg 480 kg
Towing Capacity 1300 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 3 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.9 m 5.2 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 950 mm
Rear Headroom 910 mm 880 mm
Front Legroom 900 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 600 mm 370 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - Not Officially Disclosed

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Jimny leads by 0 points

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

Index leader 57 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 93% source coverage
57
#1 Index leader

Jimny

93% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 29
Performance 29
Efficiency 61
Safety 88
Practicality 44
Ownership 71
Leads by 0 points
57
#2

Outlander Sport

79% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 73 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 62
Safety 73
Practicality 67
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Outlander Sport +1 Efficiency Outlander Sport +1 Safety Jimny +15 Practicality Outlander Sport +23

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Jimny

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

Outlander Sport

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 73/100
Practicality 67/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Suzuki Jimny leads the catalogue index with 57 pts vs 57 pts for Outlander Sport

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Jimny leads. However, Outlander Sport 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 Jimny and Outlander Sport 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 29 vs Outlander Sport 30.

Efficiency index: Jimny 61 vs Outlander Sport 62.

Safety-equipment index: Jimny 88 vs Outlander Sport 73.

Practicality index: Jimny 44 vs Outlander Sport 67.

Ownership-cover index: Jimny 71 vs Outlander Sport 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.