Verdict
The Tesla Model 3 costs RM149,000, undercutting the RM158,900 Suzuki Jimny by RM9,900 while bringing 279 hp, 420 Nm and a claimed 534 km EV range. It is the far more practical road car too, with five seats and a 594-litre boot against the Jimny’s four seats and 85 litres. The Jimny answers with a part-time four-wheel-drive system with low range, a 3,480-mm body and 195/80R15 all-terrain tyres. Pick it for narrow trails and serious low-speed off-road work; for daily Malaysian commuting and family carrying, the Tesla is plainly better equipped and more spacious.
The Model 3 Performance AWD (RM232,000) sits above every Jimny variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny if low-range four-wheel drive, a 3,480-mm footprint and all-terrain tyres matter more than luggage space and outright performance.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if you want 534 km of claimed EV range, five seats, a 594-litre boot and substantially stronger 279-hp performance.
Key differences
- Price: Suzuki Jimny RM158,900; Tesla Model 3 RM149,000.
- Power and torque: Jimny 100 hp and 130 Nm; Model 3 279 hp and 420 Nm.
- Driveline: Jimny all-wheel drive with low range; Model 3 rear-wheel drive.
- Length: Jimny 3,480 mm; Model 3 4,720 mm.
- Boot space: Jimny 85 litres; Model 3 594 litres.
- Seats: Jimny four; Model 3 five.
Jimny
- Part-time four-wheel drive with low range.
- Much shorter 3,480-mm body for tighter routes.
- Full-size 15-inch alloy spare tyre.
- Only 85 litres of boot space versus the Model 3’s 594 litres.
- 100 hp and 130 Nm trail the Model 3’s 279 hp and 420 Nm.
- Four seats and three doors, against five seats and four doors.
Model 3
- 279 hp and 420 Nm from its single motor.
- Claimed 534-km range from a 62.5-kWh battery.
- 594-litre boot, five seats and four doors.
- Rear-wheel drive lacks the Jimny’s low-range four-wheel-drive hardware.
- At 4,720 mm long and 2,089 mm wide, it is far larger than the Jimny.
- RM280 annual road tax is higher than the Jimny’s RM120.
What the Jimny has over the Model 3
What the Model 3 has over the Jimny
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Model 3 is 444 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the Model 3: 594 litres against 85.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM158,900 | RM149,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | B-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM280 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,620/mo | RM1,520/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM4,411 | RM4,122✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM2,706 | RM1,040✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM13.53 | RM5.20✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM36,187 | RM27,209✓ |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | — | 5.7 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | — | 25 min |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,462 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 100 hp at 6,000 rpm | — |
| Torque | 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 74 mm × 85 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 279 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 420 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 62.5 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 534 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 170 kW |
| V2L | — | Yes |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 4AT | Single-ratio Transmission |
| Gears | 4 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | Tesla |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6.2 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 6.8 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 140 km/h | 201 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | 154 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,480 mm | 4,720 mm |
| Width | 1,645 mm | 2,089 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 1,441 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,250 mm | — |
| Weight | 1,435 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | — |
| Doors | 3 | 4 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 85 litres | 594 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 195/80R15 | 255/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 195/80R15 | 255/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size 15" Alloy | — |
| Factory Tyres | Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 All-terrain | Bridgestone Turanza T005 EV |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 19 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Solid Axle with Coil Springs | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Solid Axle with Coil Springs | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 15" Grey Alloy | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 15" Grey Alloy | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Steering | Recirculating Ball (Hydraulic Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric 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 | 6 (Driver and Passenger) | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Rear Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For Front Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Hill Descent Control | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Adaptive LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Bulb | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with HEPA Air Filter |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Front USB | 1 Front, 4 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 9" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | 16" Touchscreen with Navigation, Bluetooth and 7 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Manual Key | Keyless (Depress Brake to Start) |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Powered Boot |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | — | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Dual Wireless Qi Chargers, Powershare V2L via Tesla Outlet Adapter (RM350, sold separately) on cars built from October 2026 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 80,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery and Drive Unit Warranty, No fixed service schedule (condition-based maintenance) |
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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used Jimny & Model 3 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Suzuki Jimny
Tesla Model 3
Jimny vs Model 3 FAQ
Is the Suzuki Jimny or Tesla Model 3 better?
The Tesla Model 3 is better for daily use, carrying people and luggage, and performance, with 279 hp, five seats and a 594-litre boot. The Jimny is better where low-range four-wheel drive and a compact 3,480-mm body are essential.
What is the price difference?
The Tesla Model 3 is RM9,900 cheaper than the Suzuki Jimny. It also has a higher RM280 annual road tax, compared with RM120 for the Jimny.
Which has more usable luggage space?
The Tesla Model 3 has 594 litres of boot space, compared with 85 litres in the Suzuki Jimny. Its 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat also gives it a more flexible load area than the Jimny’s 50:50 arrangement.
How long does charging take?
The Model 3's 62.5 kWh battery takes about 5.7 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 25 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 170 kW peak.
Which has the better warranty?
The Jimny carries a 5-year manufacturer warranty against 4 years for the Model 3. Model 3: 8-year/160,000 km Battery and Drive Unit Warranty, No fixed service schedule (condition-based maintenance).