Suzuki Jimny vs Nissan Qashqai

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Nissan Qashqai Discontinued model
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
Nissan Qashqai in South Africa

Nissan Qashqai

1.3 Tekna CVT Petrol CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 545,000 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 270 Nm ⛽ 17 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Qashqai
Fuel Economy Qashqai
🛡 Safety Jimny
📦 Practicality Qashqai
🔑 Ownership Jimny
Recorded price context Jimny: current from ZAR 444,900 · Qashqai: last listed from ZAR 495,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Jimny Qashqai
Maximum Power 75 kW @ 6000 rpm 110 kW
Maximum Torque 130 Nm @ 4000 rpm 270 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc 1332 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 15.9 km/l 17 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 180 mm
Boot / Load Bay 85 l 504 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1110 kg 1450 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

Archived vehicles remain available for comparison. Verified specs stay visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Qashqai +24 pts
Efficiency Qashqai +4 pts
Safety Jimny +1 pts
Practicality Qashqai +24 pts
Ownership Jimny +29 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Jimny

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

Qashqai

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

Which One's Right for You?

Jimny

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Qashqai

  • 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

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Jimny Qashqai
Model Introduced Year 2019 2007
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 Not confirmed
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 Latest generation redesign improved styling and tech
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Not confirmed
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note Kinetic Yellow, Sizzling Red, Granite Grey, Brisk Blue, Chiffon Ivory White, Bluish Black Pearl Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 GLX AllGrip AT Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1115 kg 1450 kg
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec Jimny Qashqai
Length 3625 mm 4425 mm
Width 1645 mm 1835 mm
Height 1720 mm 1625 mm
Wheelbase 2250 mm 2665 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 180 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 85 l 504 l
Kerb Weight 1110 kg 1450 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1435 kg 1980 kg
Payload Capacity 325 kg Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 1300 kg 1800 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows Not confirmed
Doors 3 doors Not confirmed
Minimum Turning Radius 4.9 m Not confirmed
Front Headroom 990 mm Not confirmed
Rear Headroom 910 mm Not confirmed
Front Legroom 900 mm Not confirmed
Rear Legroom 600 mm Not confirmed

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Qashqai leads by 7 points

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

Index leader 64 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 87% source coverage
64
#1 Index leader

Qashqai

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Ownership 42
Performance 53
Efficiency 65
Safety 87
Practicality 68
Ownership 42
Leads by 7 points
57
#2

Jimny

93% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 29
Performance 29
Efficiency 61
Safety 88
Practicality 44
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Qashqai +24 Efficiency Qashqai +4 Safety Jimny +1 Practicality Qashqai +24 Ownership Jimny +29

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Qashqai

Performance 53/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 42/100

Jimny

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Nissan Qashqai leads the catalogue index with 64 pts vs 57 pts for Jimny

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Qashqai leads. However, Jimny 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 Qashqai 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 Qashqai 53.

Efficiency index: Jimny 61 vs Qashqai 65.

Safety-equipment index: Jimny 88 vs Qashqai 87.

Practicality index: Jimny 44 vs Qashqai 68.

Ownership-cover index: Jimny 71 vs Qashqai 42.

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.