Verdict
For a Malaysian buyer, the Omoda Jaecoo J8 costs RM178,800 against the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door’s RM199,950, yet brings 246 hp and 385 Nm rather than 100 hp and 130 Nm. Its 9.0-second century sprint is far removed from 17.2 seconds, and it carries five people instead of four. The Jimny answers with all-wheel drive, part-time four-wheel drive low range and a lower RM120 annual road tax versus RM439. Pick the J8 for faster, more comprehensively equipped daily transport; the Jimny only makes sense if its drivetrain is the priority.
Pick the Omoda Jaecoo J8 if you want five seats, 246 hp, extensive driver assistance and a RM21,150 lower purchase price.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door if you need all-wheel drive with part-time four-wheel drive low range and accept four seats and much slower acceleration.
Key differences
- Price: Omoda Jaecoo J8 RM178,800; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door RM199,950.
- Output: Omoda Jaecoo J8 246 hp and 385 Nm; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 100 hp and 130 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Omoda Jaecoo J8 9.0 seconds; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 17.2 seconds.
- Driveline: Omoda Jaecoo J8 front-wheel drive; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door all-wheel drive with part-time four-wheel drive low range.
- Seating and boot space: Omoda Jaecoo J8 five seats and 200 litres; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door four seats and 211 litres.
- Warranty: Omoda Jaecoo J8 seven years/150,000 km; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door three years/100,000 km.
J8
- RM21,150 cheaper to buy
- 246 hp and 385 Nm with a 9.0-second 0-100 km/h time
- Blind-spot monitoring, autonomous braking and steering lane-keeping assist
- Front-wheel drive, versus the Jimny’s all-wheel drive and low-range transfer case
- 200-litre boot is 11 litres smaller than the Jimny’s
Jimny 5-Door
- All-wheel drive with part-time four-wheel drive low range
- RM120 annual road tax, against RM439 for the J8
- 211-litre boot is 11 litres larger than the J8’s
- Costs RM21,150 more
- 100 hp and 130 Nm are well down on the J8’s 246 hp and 385 Nm
- Four seats, no autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM178,800✓ | RM199,950 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,462 cc |
| Horsepower | 246 hp✓ | 100 hp |
| Torque | 385 Nm✓ | 130 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 74 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5 | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Automatic | 4AT |
| Gears | 8 | 4 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds✓ | 17.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h✓ | 140 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,820 mm | 3,985 mm |
| Width | 1,930 mm | 1,645 mm |
| Height | 1,699 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 2,590 mm |
| Weight | 1,892 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 40 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 200 litres | 211 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R20 | 195/80R15 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R20 | 195/80R15 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size Spare | Full-size 15" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Maxxis Victra Sport 5 SUV | Bridgestone Dueller H/L |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | India (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Solid Axle with Coil Springs |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Solid Axle with Coil Springs |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 15" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 15" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Recirculating Ball (Hydraulic Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Part-time Four-wheel Drive with Low Range |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available For Second Row Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For Front Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Normal Bulb |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver & Front Passenger Powered Seats | Manual adjustment |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding and Reclining | 50:50 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | — |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sunroof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Front USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights, Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Shade, Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 12.3-inch Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12-Speaker Sony Sound System | 9" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | All Four Windows, Driver Auto Up and Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Manual Key |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | — |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 3 years |
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.
Used J8 & Jimny 5-Door for sale
J8 vs Jimny 5-Door FAQ
Is the Omoda Jaecoo J8 or Suzuki Jimny 5-Door better?
The Omoda Jaecoo J8 is the better daily-use choice: it is cheaper, seats five, reaches 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and has autonomous braking plus lane-keeping assist. Choose the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door specifically for all-wheel drive and low range.
What is the price difference?
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door costs RM21,150 more than the Omoda Jaecoo J8. Despite that gap, the J8 has 246 hp versus 100 hp, five seats versus four, and a seven-year/150,000-km warranty versus three years/100,000 km.
Which has the better drivetrain for low-speed four-wheel-drive use?
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door does. It has all-wheel drive and a part-time four-wheel-drive system with low range, while the Omoda Jaecoo J8 is front-wheel drive.