Suzuki Jimny 5-door GLX Review: South Africa’s Compact 4×4

South Africa · compact 4×4 review

More useful, still unmistakably Jimny

The five-door adds the access and luggage space the original needed, without replacing its ladder frame, low-range transfer case or lightweight off-road character.

Current SA GLX price: R467,900 MT · R489,900 AT

Official Suzuki Auto South Africa image.

Reviewed: September 2026. Prices and equipment are for the current South African range and can change without notice.

Where the five-door GLX fits

The five-door Jimny is 3,985 mm long including its rear-mounted spare wheel, with a 2,590 mm wheelbase. Compared with the three-door, the extra 340 mm between the axles creates proper rear doors, more useful rear legroom and a boot that grows from 85 to 211 litres with the seats up. Width and height remain a very compact 1,645 mm and 1,720 mm.

The GLX is the version most private buyers will want. Above the GL’s core mechanical package, it adds LED projector headlamps, front fog lamps, automatic climate control, cruise control, a leather-covered steering wheel, electrically folding mirrors, a 9-inch touchscreen and six airbags rather than two. Both GLX derivatives retain rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Engine and gearbox: choose the manual deliberately

The K15B 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine produces 75 kW at 6,000 r/min and 130 Nm at 4,000 r/min. It is simple, predictable and adequate around town, but the five-door weighs roughly 1,185–1,215 kg before passengers and accessories. Overtaking therefore needs planning, especially at altitude or with camping equipment on board.

The five-speed manual is the better choice for drivers comfortable with a clutch. It gives more control over the small engine, uses a claimed 6.4 L/100 km and costs R22,000 less than the automatic. The four-speed auto is easier in traffic and on slow trails, but it has wide ratios, raises revs on the motorway and has a slightly higher claimed 6.7 L/100 km consumption.

Road manners: easier to live with, not a conventional SUV

The longer wheelbase makes the five-door feel calmer in a straight line than the three-door. It remains easy to park, visibility is excellent, and its 5.7 m turning radius is still manageable. The trade-off is the traditional ladder-frame construction with rigid axles at both ends: sharp bumps can make the body pitch and hop in a way a road-biased crossover does not.

The recirculating-ball steering is slow and does not provide the precision of a modern compact SUV. Crosswinds, overtaking trucks and quick lane changes require attention. Braking and stability systems are present, but the Jimny rewards relaxed inputs rather than aggressive driving. If most journeys are long N1 or N3 motorway runs, a conventional crossover will be quieter, quicker and more settled.

Off-road ability is the reason it exists

ALLGRIP PRO gives the driver 2H for dry tar, 4H for loose surfaces and 4L for slow technical terrain. This is a part-time system, so 4H and 4L should not be used on high-grip dry roads. A physical transfer lever selects the modes, which is refreshingly clear and easy to verify before entering sand, mud or a rocky climb.

The five-door retains 210 mm of ground clearance, a 36-degree approach angle and a 47-degree departure angle. Its 24-degree breakover angle is less generous than the three-door’s 27 degrees because of the longer wheelbase. That is the one meaningful off-road penalty: the centre of the vehicle can touch sooner when cresting a sharp ridge.

Cabin, safety and practical space

The Jimny cabin is deliberately upright and functional. Large switches are easy to use, visibility is excellent and the square body makes its edges easy to judge. GLX equipment brings the daily essentials: climate control, cruise control, a 9-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration and a reverse camera.

Rear-seat access is the five-door’s biggest improvement. Adults no longer climb past a folded front seat, and the 50:50 split backrest gives more flexible luggage options. The 211-litre boot is still small by compact-SUV standards, but it can take a grocery run or a pair of compact travel bags; folding the rear seats increases the quoted capacity to 332 litres by the VDA method.

GLX safety equipment includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, ESP and two ISOFIX mounting points. What it does not provide is the advanced assistance now common in many road-focused SUVs: no adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping support or blind-spot monitoring is listed for the five-door GLX. Buyers prioritising active safety technology should compare road-biased alternatives, even though those vehicles may lack low range.

Key dimensions and specification

Ownership: the package is reassuring

The current South African price includes a promotional five-year/200,000 km mechanical warranty and a four-year/60,000 km service plan. Confirm the exact start date, exclusions and service intervals on the purchase contract, particularly for demonstrators or vehicles fitted with dealer accessories.

Insurance should be quoted before finance because Jimnys attract accessories and off-road use. Tell the insurer about suspension changes, wheels, tyres, roof tents, bumpers, recovery equipment and tracking devices. Confirm cover for off-road travel, water damage and accessories rather than assuming every modification is automatically included.

The strongest ownership advantage is ecosystem rather than luxury. South Africa has a large Jimny community, widespread dealer familiarity and extensive aftermarket support. The risk is over-modification: heavy accessories can turn a light, balanced 4×4 into a slower vehicle with less payload and worse emergency handling.

Jimny 5-door GLX versus equivalent low-range 4x4s

There is no true size-and-price rival to the Jimny five-door in South Africa. The fairest comparison is therefore with vehicles that share its core purpose: a ladder-frame chassis and selectable low-range four-wheel drive. The Mahindra and GWM are much larger, more powerful and more expensive; they are alternatives only if you need more towing, passengers or highway performance.

Prices checked in September 2026 against current manufacturer pages and price material. Derivative naming, campaigns and drive-away charges can change. Obtain a written quotation for the exact vehicle.

The three-door GLX is the genuine direct alternative. Choose it for one or two people, the tightest trails and maximum manoeuvrability. Choose the five-door when rear access and luggage matter enough to accept the longer wheelbase. The Scorpio-N and Tank 300 solve a different problem: they are faster and more comfortable family 4x4s, but they cannot match the Jimny’s compactness or sub-R500,000 entry point.

Should you buy the Suzuki Jimny 5-door GLX?

Buy it if you will use low range, value a compact footprint and need easier rear access than the three-door can provide. The manual GLX is the sweet spot: it costs less, makes better use of the engine and retains all the important GLX equipment.

Choose something else if your driving is mostly highway, you expect crossover-like refinement or you need advanced driver assistance. A road-focused SUV at the same price will be quicker, quieter and roomier, but it will not follow the Jimny into technical terrain.

The bottom line: the five-door does not transform the Jimny into a conventional family SUV—and that is a good thing. It makes the authentic compact 4×4 meaningfully more practical while preserving the hardware and character that justify buying one.