Jaecoo J5 vs Suzuki Jimny

The Jaecoo J5 starts from $36,990 before on-road costs, while the Suzuki Jimny opens at $36,990. Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $40,689 and $40,689 respectively.

The Jaecoo J5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Suzuki Jimny, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Jaecoo J5 and Suzuki Jimny hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Jaecoo J5 packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 1 in the Suzuki Jimny.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Jaecoo J5 and 6 in the Suzuki Jimny. The Jaecoo J5 adds a 360-degree camera that the Suzuki Jimny misses.

The Jaecoo J5 features a 13.2-inch touchscreen, while the Suzuki Jimny gets a 7-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Jaecoo J5 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Suzuki Jimny. The Suzuki Jimny counters with Apple CarPlay. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Jaecoo J5 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 155kW and 288Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.5 seconds.

The Suzuki Jimny lines up making 75kW and 130Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 12.4 seconds.

The Jaecoo J5 has the clear power advantage at 155kW vs 75kW. In the real-world sprint, the Jaecoo J5 is 1.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Jaecoo J5 measures 4,380mm long on a 2,620mm wheelbase, 735mm longer than the Suzuki Jimny at 3,645mm (2,250mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 480L in the Jaecoo J5 and 377L in the Suzuki Jimny, giving the Jaecoo J5 a 103L advantage. The Jaecoo J5 seats 5 vs 4.

For towing, the Jaecoo J5 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 8 years (Jaecoo J5) vs 3 years / 100,000km (Suzuki Jimny). The Jaecoo J5 has longer coverage.