Verdict
At RM159,800 versus RM158,900, these two are separated by just RM900 but are built for very different lives. The Chery Tiggo 8 is the big, seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV, with a 1.5 litre turbo engine, 201 hp motor, 18.3 kWh battery and 90 km EV range. The Suzuki Jimny is smaller and simpler, with four seats, a 100 hp 1.5 litre engine and proper part-time 4WD with low range. Same road tax, totally different priorities.
Pick the Chery Tiggo 8 if you need seven seats, plug-in hybrid running, more safety kit and a much larger cabin for barely more money.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny if you want a compact ladder-frame 4x4 with low range, all-terrain tyres and a full-size spare.
Key differences
- Price: Chery Tiggo 8 RM159,800; Suzuki Jimny RM158,900
- Powertrain output: Chery Tiggo 8 engine 139 hp/215 Nm plus 201 hp/310 Nm motor; Suzuki Jimny 100 hp/130 Nm
- Seats and boot: Chery Tiggo 8 has 7 seats and 193 litres; Suzuki Jimny has 4 seats and 85 litres
- Driveline and chassis: Chery Tiggo 8 is front-wheel drive unibody; Suzuki Jimny is all-wheel drive ladder-frame with low range
- Size: Chery Tiggo 8 is 4,725 mm long with a 2,710 mm wheelbase; Suzuki Jimny is 3,480 mm long with a 2,250 mm wheelbase
- Warranty: Chery Tiggo 8 gets 7 years/150,000 km plus 8 years/160,000 km battery and drive unit cover; Suzuki Jimny gets 3 years/100,000 km
Tiggo 8
- Seven seats and a much bigger 193-litre boot
- Plug-in hybrid hardware with 90 km EV range and 40 kW DC charging
- More driver assists: blind spot monitoring, autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist and 360-degree camera
- Front-wheel drive only, with no low-range 4WD
- Heavier at 1,916 kg versus 1,435 kg
- Tyre repair kit instead of the Jimny’s full-size 15-inch alloy spare
Jimny
- Part-time 4WD with low range, ladder-frame chassis and solid axles
- Much shorter body at 3,480 mm for tight trails and narrow streets
- Full-size 15-inch alloy spare and Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 all-terrain tyres
- Only four seats and 85 litres of boot space
- Far less power and torque at 100 hp and 130 Nm
- No blind spot monitoring, autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist, parking sensors or reverse camera listed
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 159,800 | RM 158,900✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing with Plug-in Hybrid Assistance | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,462 cc |
| Horsepower | 139 hp✓ | 100 hp |
| Torque | 215 Nm✓ | 130 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore | 77 mm | 74 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5 | 10 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 201 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 310 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-iron Phosphate | — |
| Battery Capacity | 18.3 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 90 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charger Type (DC) | CCS | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 40 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | DHT | 4AT |
| Gears | — | 4 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | — | 6.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 140 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 154 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,725 mm | 3,480 mm |
| Width | 1,860 mm | 1,645 mm |
| Height | 1,705 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,710 mm | 2,250 mm |
| Weight | 1,916 kg | 1,435 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 40 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 3 |
| Seats | 7 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 193 litres✓ | 85 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/50R19 | 195/80R15 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/50R19 | 195/80R15 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Full-size 15" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact C | Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 All-terrain |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Ladder-frame |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Solid Axle with Coil Springs |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Solid Axle with Coil Springs |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 15" Grey Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 15" Grey Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Solid Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Drum |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Recirculating Ball (Hydraulic Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Part-time Four-wheel Drive with Low Range |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 3 stars — With 6 Airbags and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag, Curtain Airbags | Driver and Passenger |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats | Available on Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | — |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | For Front Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Hill Descent Control |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Automatic LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Bulb |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 6-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with 4-way Power Adjustable Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Second Row | 1 Front, 1 Front USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Rear |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10-speaker Sony Sound System | 7" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and 2 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Two Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless (Depress Brake Pedal) | Manual Key |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, with Proximity Sensor Auto Lock/Unlock | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | — |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 3 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km battery and drive unit warranty | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 120 | RM 120 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Tiggo 8 vs Jimny FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 8 or Suzuki Jimny better?
The Chery Tiggo 8 is better for most Malaysian households because it has seven seats, a bigger boot, plug-in hybrid range and more safety kit. The Suzuki Jimny is the better pick only if low-range 4WD matters more than space and equipment.
What is the price difference?
The Chery Tiggo 8 costs RM159,800, while the Suzuki Jimny costs RM158,900. That is a RM900 gap, so the decision is about use case rather than budget.
Which one is better for off-road driving?
The Suzuki Jimny has the clearer off-road specification: part-time four-wheel drive with low range, ladder-frame construction, solid axles, all-terrain tyres and a full-size spare. The Chery Tiggo 8 is front-wheel drive.