Suzuki Jimny 5-Door vs Volkswagen Tayron
Verdict
The Volkswagen Tayron is the rational Malaysian family buy: at RM190,660 it costs RM9,290 less than the RM199,950 Suzuki Jimny 5-Door, yet gives you seven seats, 345 litres of boot space, 148 hp, 250 Nm and a 9.6-second century sprint. The Jimny answers with something the Tayron does not have: ladder-frame construction, part-time four-wheel drive and low range. It is slower, smaller and far less equipped, but it is also the more specialised machine.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door if you want the smaller, ladder-frame SUV with all-wheel drive, low range and a full-size spare.
Pick the Volkswagen Tayron if you need seven seats, stronger performance, more boot space and far more safety and comfort kit for less money.
Key differences
- Price: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door RM199,950; Volkswagen Tayron RM190,660
- Power and torque: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 100 hp/130 Nm; Volkswagen Tayron 148 hp/250 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 17.2 seconds; Volkswagen Tayron 9.6 seconds
- Seats and boot: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 4 seats/211 litres; Volkswagen Tayron 7 seats/345 litres
- Driveline and chassis: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door AWD ladder-frame; Volkswagen Tayron FWD unibody
- Size: Suzuki Jimny 5-Door 3,985 mm long/1,645 mm wide; Volkswagen Tayron 4,792 mm long/1,852 mm wide
Jimny 5-Door
- Part-time four-wheel drive with low range
- Ladder-frame chassis with solid axles
- Full-size 15-inch alloy spare
- Much slower: 17.2 seconds to 100 km/h versus 9.6 seconds
- Only four seats and 211 litres of boot space
- Misses blind spot monitoring, autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control
Tayron
- Seven seats and a larger 345-litre boot
- 148 hp and 250 Nm give it a clear performance advantage
- Gets 360-degree camera, auto parking, adaptive cruise control and autonomous braking
- Front-wheel drive only, with no low range
- Space-saver spare instead of a full-size spare
- Much larger footprint than the Jimny
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 199,950 | RM 190,660✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | B-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing with 48-volt MHEV assistance |
| Capacity | 1,462 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 100 hp | 148 hp✓ |
| Torque | 130 Nm | 250 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 74 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 4AT | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 4 | 7 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 17.2 seconds | 9.6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 140 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,985 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Width | 1,645 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,590 mm | 2,788 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 211 litres | 345 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 195/80R15 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 195/80R15 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size 15" Alloy | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Dueller H/L | Hankook Ventus evoSUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | India (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Ladder-frame | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Solid Axle with Coil Springs | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Solid Axle with Coil Springs | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 15" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Solid Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Drum | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Recirculating Ball (Hydraulic Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Part-time Four-wheel Drive with Low Range | Dynamic Chassis Control Pro |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front & Rear Side Bags, Curtain Airbags & Front Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer rear passenger seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat and 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For Front Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | — | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual adjustment | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-Folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Back Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | 9" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4-speaker Sound System | 12.9" Discover Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 8-speaker Volkswagen Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | All Four Windows, Driver Auto Up and Down | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Manual Key | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years✓ | 2 years |
| 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.
Jimny 5-Door vs Tayron FAQ
Is the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door or Volkswagen Tayron better?
The Volkswagen Tayron is better for most buyers because it is quicker, larger, seats seven and has more safety tech. The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is better only if you specifically need low range and a ladder-frame 4x4 layout.
What is the price difference?
The Suzuki Jimny 5-Door costs RM9,290 more than the Volkswagen Tayron.
Which one is better for family use?
The Volkswagen Tayron is the family pick, with seven seats, 345 litres of boot space, rear air-conditioning, more cup holders and all-seat seatbelt reminders. The Jimny has four seats and a 211-litre boot.