Suzuki Jimny vs Toyota Hiace
Verdict
These two solve totally different jobs. At RM158,900, the Suzuki Jimny costs RM10,100 less than the RM169,000 Toyota Hiace, and its 3,480 mm length and 1,645 mm width make it the easier one to place in town. But it seats only four and has just 85 litres of boot space. The Hiace is a 5,915 mm commercial vehicle with 10 seats, a 175 hp/450 Nm diesel and a 70-litre tank; its RM1,248 road tax is the sting beside the Jimny’s RM120.
Pick the Suzuki Jimny if you want the smaller, cheaper petrol SUV with all-wheel drive and can live with four seats and an 85-litre boot.
Pick the Toyota Hiace if you need 10 seats, diesel torque and commercial-vehicle space more than low road tax or compact dimensions.
Key differences
- Price: Suzuki Jimny RM158,900; Toyota Hiace RM169,000
- Seats: Suzuki Jimny 4; Toyota Hiace 10
- Engine and fuel: Suzuki Jimny 1,462 cc petrol; Toyota Hiace 2,755 cc diesel
- Output: Suzuki Jimny 100 hp and 130 Nm; Toyota Hiace 175 hp and 450 Nm
- Size: Suzuki Jimny 3,480 mm long and 1,645 mm wide; Toyota Hiace 5,915 mm long and 1,950 mm wide
- Road tax: Suzuki Jimny RM120 a year; Toyota Hiace RM1,248 a year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 158,900✓ | RM 169,000 |
| Body type | SUV | Commercial |
| Segment | B-Segment | Commercial |
| Seats | 4 | 10 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Diesel |
| Engine | 1,462 cc | 2,755 cc |
| Power | 100 hp | 175 hp✓ |
| Torque | 130 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| Top speed | 140 km/h | — |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | 6.8 L/100km | — |
| CO₂ | 154 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,480 mm | 5,915 mm |
| Width | 1,645 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,720 mm | 2,280 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,250 mm | 3,860 mm |
| Boot space | 85 L | — |
| Fuel tank | 40 L | 70 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 2 | 6✓ |
| Auto emergency braking | — | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 3 | 5✓ |
| 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
- Lower purchase price
- All-wheel drive
- Much lower annual road tax
- Only four seats
- Tiny 85-litre boot
- 100 hp and 130 Nm are modest
Hiace
- Ten-seat cabin
- Strong 450 Nm diesel torque
- Longer five-year warranty
- RM1,248 annual road tax
- Much larger to park and manoeuvre
- Rear-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive
Jimny vs Hiace FAQ
Is the Suzuki Jimny or Toyota Hiace better?
The Toyota Hiace is better for carrying people, with 10 seats and 450 Nm. The Suzuki Jimny is better if you want a smaller SUV with all-wheel drive and far lower road tax. They are close only on price, not purpose.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Hiace costs RM10,100 more than the Suzuki Jimny. That extra money buys six more seats, a much larger body, a diesel engine with far more torque and a longer warranty.
Which is cheaper to run on road tax?
The Suzuki Jimny is far cheaper on road tax at RM120 a year. The Toyota Hiace is RM1,248 a year, so the annual difference is RM1,128 before fuel, tyres or servicing are considered.