Verdict
At RM294,154, the Mazda MX-5 costs RM94,204 more than the RM199,950 Suzuki Jimny 5-Door, and the choice is less about trim than purpose. The Mazda’s 181 hp, 205 Nm and 1,119 kg kerb weight point to a focused two-seat roadster, with a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. The Jimny answers with five doors, four seats, 211 litres of boot space and part-time four-wheel drive with low range. For Malaysian daily practicality, the Suzuki is easier to justify; for open-top driving, the Mazda is the only answer.
Pick the Mazda MX-5 if you want 181 hp, a six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive and a power-folding retractable hard-top, and can live with two seats and a 130-litre boot.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door if you need five doors, four seats, a 211-litre boot and part-time four-wheel drive with low range for RM94,204 less.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda MX-5 RM294,154; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door RM199,950.
- Power and torque: Mazda MX-5 181 hp and 205 Nm; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 100 hp and 130 Nm.
- Driveline and transmission: Mazda MX-5 rear-wheel drive with six-speed manual; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door all-wheel drive with four-speed automatic.
- Seating and doors: Mazda MX-5 two seats and two doors; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door four seats and five doors.
- Boot space: Mazda MX-5 130 litres; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 211 litres.
- Warranty: Mazda MX-5 five years/100,000 km; Suzuki Jimny 5-Door three years/100,000 km.
MX-5
- 181 hp and 205 Nm from a 2.0-litre engine.
- Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive and 17-inch Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres.
- Smart City Brake Support front and rear, blind-spot monitoring and a 9-speaker Bose system.
- RM94,204 more expensive.
- Only two seats, two doors and 130 litres of boot space.
- No all-wheel drive or low-range transfer case.
Jimny 5-Door
- Five doors, four seats and a 211-litre boot.
- Part-time four-wheel drive with low range and a full-size 15-inch alloy spare.
- RM259 yearly road tax versus RM379 for the Mazda.
- 100 hp and 130 Nm trails the Mazda’s 181 hp and 205 Nm.
- Four-speed automatic versus the Mazda’s six-speed manual.
- No autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring or lane-keeping warning.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM294,154 | RM199,950✓ |
| Body type | Convertible | SUV |
| Segment | Sports Car | B-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,462 cc |
| Horsepower | 181 hp✓ | 100 hp |
| Torque | 205 Nm✓ | 130 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 83.5 mm | 74 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13 | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6MT-LSD | 4AT |
| Gears | 6 | 4 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 17.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 220 km/h✓ | 140 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,915 mm | 3,985 mm |
| Width | 1,735 mm | 1,645 mm |
| Height | 1,235 mm | 1,720 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,310 mm | 2,590 mm |
| Weight | 1,119 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 45 litres | 40 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 2 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 130 litres | 211 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 205/45R17 | 195/80R15 |
| Rear Tyre | 205/45R17 | 195/80R15 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Full-size 15" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza S001 | Bridgestone Dueller H/L |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | India (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbone | Solid Axle with Coil Springs |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Solid Axle with Coil Springs |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 15" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloy | 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 and Front Passenger, Front Side | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 2 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on Passenger Seat | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | For Front Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Normal Bulb |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | — |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustment | Manual adjustment |
| Rear Seats | — | 50:50 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Power-folding Retractable Hard-top | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 front, 2 USB-C | 1 Front, 1 Front USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 1 front | 2 Rear |
| Audio | Mazda Connect Infotainment System with 8.8" Display, Commander Control Knob, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 9-speaker Bose Sound System | 9" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two 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 with Walk-away Auto Lock | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 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 MX-5 & Jimny 5-Door for sale
MX-5 vs Jimny 5-Door FAQ
Is the Mazda MX-5 or Suzuki Jimny 5-Door better?
The MX-5 is better for a two-seat, manual, rear-wheel-drive sports-car experience. The Jimny 5-Door is better for carrying four people, using five doors and accessing part-time four-wheel drive with low range.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda MX-5 costs RM94,204 more than the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door: RM294,154 against RM199,950.
Which has more practical luggage space?
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door has the larger boot at 211 litres, 81 litres more than the Mazda MX-5’s 130 litres. It also has four seats and 50:50 split-folding rear seats; the MX-5 has two seats.