Verdict
This is an odd pairing: the Tiggo 9 costs RM166,800, only RM7,900 above the RM158,900 Jimny, but it is a different scale of SUV. The Chery gets 251 hp/390 Nm, seven seats and 448-2,065 litres of boot space versus the Suzuki’s 100 hp/130 Nm, four seats and 85 litres. The Jimny answers with a 3,480 mm body, ladder-frame chassis, part-time 4WD with low range and 6.8 L/100 km. For most families, the Chery is the usable car; the Jimny is the tiny specialist that makes little rational sense, which is also its point.
Pick the Chery Tiggo 9 if you want the bigger, faster family SUV, with seven seats, far more boot space and a much longer warranty for a small RM7,900 premium.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny if you want the smaller, lighter 3-door SUV with ladder-frame construction, solid axles and low-range 4WD.
Key differences
- Price: Chery Tiggo 9 RM166,800; Suzuki Jimny RM158,900
- Power and torque: Chery Tiggo 9 251 hp/390 Nm; Suzuki Jimny 100 hp/130 Nm
- Seats and doors: Chery Tiggo 9 7 seats/5 doors; Suzuki Jimny 4 seats/3 doors
- Boot space: Chery Tiggo 9 448-2,065 litres; Suzuki Jimny 85 litres
- Fuel economy and tank: Chery Tiggo 9 8.3 L/100 km/65 litres; Suzuki Jimny 6.8 L/100 km/40 litres
- Chassis and 4WD hardware: Chery Tiggo 9 unibody AWD; Suzuki Jimny ladder-frame AWD with low range
Tiggo 9
- Much stronger 251 hp and 390 Nm output
- Seven seats and 448-2,065 litres of luggage space
- 7-year/150,000 km warranty, plus 10-year or one million km engine warranty
- Costs RM7,900 more
- Uses more fuel at 8.3 L/100 km versus 6.8 L/100 km
- Far larger and heavier: 4,810 mm and 1,887 kg versus 3,480 mm and 1,435 kg
Jimny
- Ladder-frame chassis with solid axles and low-range 4WD
- Lower rated fuel use at 6.8 L/100 km
- Short 3,480 mm body and 1,435 kg kerb weight
- Only 100 hp and 130 Nm
- Only four seats and 85 litres of boot space
- Shorter 3-year/100,000 km warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 166,800 | 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 | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,462 cc |
| Horsepower | 251 hp✓ | 100 hp |
| Torque | 390 Nm✓ | 130 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 74 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed DCT | 4AT |
| Gears | 7 | 4 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 8.3 L/100 km | 6.8 L/100 km✓ |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h✓ | 140 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 154 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,810 mm | 3,480 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm | 1,645 mm |
| Height | 1,741 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm | 2,250 mm |
| Weight | 1,887 kg | 1,435 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 40 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 3 |
| Seats | 7 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 448-2065 litres✓ | 85 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R20 | 195/80R15 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R20 | 195/80R15 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size | Full-size 15" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | 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 | 20" Alloys | 15" Grey Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 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, Rear 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 | Electronic for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats, third row seats | Available on Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | — |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | 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 | Powered Front Seats, Driver Side Memory with Heating, Ventilation & Massaging | 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 | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents with Heating & Ventilation | — |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| 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 |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 14-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 Push Button | Manual Key |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, with Proximity Sensor Auto Lock/Unlock | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | — |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | — |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| 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 | 10-year or one million km warranty for the engine | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 439 | 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 9 vs Jimny FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 9 or Suzuki Jimny better?
The Chery Tiggo 9 is better for family use: seven seats, 251 hp, a huge 448-2,065-litre boot and more safety kit. The Suzuki Jimny is better if low-range 4WD, a ladder frame and compact size matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Chery Tiggo 9 costs RM166,800, while the Suzuki Jimny costs RM158,900. That makes the Chery RM7,900 more expensive.
Which one is better for off-road use?
The Suzuki Jimny has the clearer off-road hardware, with a ladder-frame chassis, solid axles, all-terrain tyres and part-time 4WD with low range. The Chery Tiggo 9 has AWD, but it uses a unibody chassis with road-biased 20-inch tyres.