Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs Toyota Hiace
Verdict
This is a choice between character and capacity, not two flavours of the same brief. The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is 1,930 mm shorter and 305 mm narrower, gets all-wheel drive and costs RM30,950 more, so it suits buyers who want a compact petrol SUV rather than maximum seats. The Toyota Hiace is the working tool here: 10 seats, 175 hp, 450 Nm, a 70-litre tank and a 5-year warranty. But it is huge, rear-wheel drive and its RM1,248 annual road tax is far heavier than the Suzuki’s RM120.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door if you want the smaller, all-wheel-drive petrol SUV and only need four seats.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, diesel torque and a bigger vehicle for people-carrying duty.
Key differences
- Price: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door RM199,950; Toyota Hiace RM169,000
- Seats: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 4; Toyota Hiace 10
- Engine and fuel: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 1,462 cc petrol; Toyota Hiace 2,755 cc diesel
- Output: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 100 hp and 130 Nm; Toyota Hiace 175 hp and 450 Nm
- Driven wheels: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door all-wheel drive; Toyota Hiace rear-wheel drive
- Size: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 3,985 mm long and 1,645 mm wide; Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long and 1,950 mm wide
Jimny 5-Door
- All-wheel drive as standard
- Much easier size to place in town
- Low RM120 annual road tax
- Only four seats
- 100 hp and 130 Nm are modest
- Costs more than the Hiace
Hiace
- Seats 10 people
- Strong 450 Nm diesel torque
- Longer 5-year warranty
- Very large 5,915 mm body
- High RM1,248 annual road tax
- Rear-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 199,950 | RM 169,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Commercial |
| Segment | B-Segment | Commercial |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC with Common-rail Direct Injection, Variable Geometry Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,462 cc | 2,755 cc |
| Horsepower | 100 hp | 175 hp✓ |
| Torque | 130 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Bore | 74 mm | 92 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | 15.6 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 4AT | 6 Speed Sequential Automatic |
| Gears | 4 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Toyota |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 17.2 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | 140 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,985 mm | 5,915 mm |
| Width | 1,645 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 2,280 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,590 mm | 3,860 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,550 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 4 | 10 |
| Boot Space | 211 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 195/80R15 | 235/65R16C |
| Rear Tyre | 195/80R15 | 235/65R16C |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size 15" Alloy | — |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Dueller H/L | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | India (CBU) | Afghanistan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Ladder-frame | Ladder-frame |
| Front Suspension | Solid Axle with Coil Springs | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Solid Axle with Coil Springs | Leaf Spring |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloy | 16" Steel |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloy | 16" Steel |
| Front Brakes | Solid Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Drum | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Recirculating Ball (Hydraulic Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Part-time Four-wheel Drive with Low Range | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 10 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer rear passenger seats | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | No |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For Front Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Halogen Reflector |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | Normal Bulb |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | — | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual adjustment | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-Folding | Manual recline |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Manual Air-con |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents with Blower |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Rear | — |
| Audio | 9" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4-speaker Sound System | 7" Infotainment Touchscreen with 2 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | All Four Windows, Driver Auto Up and Down | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Manual Key | Manual Key |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | — |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | — |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 2 Sensors |
| 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 | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years | 5 years✓ |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 120✓ | RM 1,248 |
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.
Jimny 5-Door vs Hiace FAQ
Is the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door or Toyota Hiace better?
The Toyota Hiace is better for carrying people, with 10 seats and 450 Nm. The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is better if you want a compact SUV with all-wheel drive and only need four seats.
What is the price difference?
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door costs RM30,950 more than the Toyota Hiace. That extra money buys a smaller all-wheel-drive SUV, not more seats or more power.
Which one is easier to drive in tight Malaysian streets?
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door should be easier to place, measuring 3,985 mm long and 1,645 mm wide. The Toyota Hiace is far larger at 5,915 mm long and 1,950 mm wide.