Suzuki Jimny vs Jaecoo J7

The Suzuki Jimny starts from $36,990 before on-road costs, while the Jaecoo J7 opens at $37,990. That makes the Suzuki Jimny the more affordable entry point by $1,000.

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 $41,789 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Suzuki Jimny and Jaecoo J7 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 73% for the Suzuki Jimny and 81% for the Jaecoo J7.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Jaecoo J7 packs more ADAS features with 8 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 6 in the Suzuki Jimny and 8 in the Jaecoo J7.

The Suzuki Jimny features a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Jaecoo J7 gets a 13.2-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Jaecoo J7 counters with power tailgate, SONY audio and ambient lighting that the Suzuki Jimny does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Suzuki Jimny uses a Petrol producing 75kW and 130Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a 4WD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 12.4 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 responds with a Petrol making 130kW and 290Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds.

The Jaecoo J7 has the clear power advantage at 130kW vs 75kW. In the real-world sprint, the Jaecoo J7 is 2.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Suzuki Jimny measures 3,645mm long on a 2,250mm wheelbase, 855mm shorter than the Jaecoo J7 at 4,500mm (2,672mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Jaecoo J7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 377L in the Suzuki Jimny and 431L in the Jaecoo J7, giving the Jaecoo J7 a 54L advantage. The Jaecoo J7 seats 5 vs 4.

For towing, the Jaecoo J7 leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,309/year for the Suzuki Jimny and $2,223/year for the Jaecoo J7. That is a $86 annual difference in favour of the Jaecoo J7.

Estimated annual total: $2,309 (Suzuki Jimny) vs $2,223 (Jaecoo J7). The Jaecoo J7 saves you roughly $86 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 3 years / 100,000km (Suzuki Jimny) vs 8 years / 999,999km (Jaecoo J7). The Jaecoo J7 has longer coverage.