New Renault Duster vs Suzuki Jimny: What To Buy? 

If you’re in the market for a new, 4×4-capable small SUV for under R550k, you’re likely to have shortlisted the Suzuki Jimny 5-door and the new Renault Duster 4WD. Which one of these models is the most compelling buying proposition? Let’s take a closer look! 

The new Renault Duster recently arrived in South Africa and together with the Suzuki Jimny, they are the most affordable and capable offroad SUVs you can buy right now.

South Africans love exploring the outdoors and, if you want to make the most of your adventures, you’ll need a car that’s adequately equipped for the job. Sufficient ground clearance will only get you so far – a 4×4 drivetrain is a must if you’re hoping to conquer tough terrain on your way to a far-flung destination. 

There are several 4×4 SUVs on the market, but few are priced below R550k. So, if you’re looking for a new off-road-capable SUV in this price bracket, you may be considering the Suzuki Jimny and the recently-launched Renault Duster. In this article, we compare the Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip 5-door manual and the Renault Duster 1.2T hybrid Zen 4WD manual derivative.

Note that the Jimny GLX is also offered with an automatic transmission but the Duster Zen 4WD is only currently offered in conjunction with a manual transmission and sadly it’s not available in top-spec Intens trim either.

The Jimny is an iconic model for Suzuki. Backed by a stellar reputation for unwavering 4×4 ability, the 4th-gen SUV remains hugely popular in many markets. With the arrival of the highly-anticipated 5-door version, the Jimny now appeals to a wider audience and, therefore, is selling in greater numbers.  

While the Suzuki Jimny might be an obvious choice for a 4×4 SUV under R550k, it has a few drawbacks (see our “Living With It” review) and the second-generation Renault Duster 4WD was often overlooked, perhaps unfairly so.

The Renault Duster has gained a loyal following since the original model arrived in Mzansi in 2013; the turbodiesel-powered version has been praised for its admirable blend of efficiency and performance. Now, an all-new Renault Duster has finally reached South Africa with 2 new engine choices and 2WD or 4WD configurations to choose from. Sadly, a turbodiesel engine option is not offered on the new-generation Duster.

So, the Jimny is an iconic little off-roader, but is the Renault Duster 4×4 a more practical purchase? 

The main aim of this article is to help you, the consumer, make an informed buying decision. To help you do this, we will provide you with the need-to-know information and insight based on available vehicle information and our experience with the cars in question.

This article will cover key aspects including Exterior Styling, Performance & Efficiency, Interior Features & Execution, Practicality & Offroad Ability, as well as Pricing & Warranty details. 

If, at the end of this article, you are still undecided as to what to buy, you are more than welcome to reach out to us for advice via X, Facebook or Instagram. Our experienced test team will gladly assist you.

Suzuki Jimny 5-door Vs Renault Duster 4WD: What To Buy?

Exterior Styling 

Suzuki Jimny 5-door

The Suzuki Jimny 5-door wears a familiar face – from the front, it is indistinguishable from the 3-door – but it’s underpinned by a longer ladder-frame chassis.

The familiar boxy Jimny design, including short overhangs, an upright grille, round headlights and a spare wheel mounted on the side-hinged rear tailgate has been retained. Fifteen-inch alloy wheels are fitted as standard and the addition of 2 rear doors adds welcome practicality to the Jimny package. 

The Jimny sports an unapologetic built-for-purpose design, which has undoubtedly contributed to its impressive success. It is, however, an acquired taste – its styling has, and still does, divide opinion. 

Renault Duster 4WD 

By comparison, the new Renault Duster adopts modernised styling but retains its ruggedness with prominent cladding and a chunky lower grille section. The big Renault logo has now been replaced with bold Renault lettering between the new Y-shaped LED headlights. Those roof rails aren’t just for show either and they have a load capacity of 70kg.

The Duster’s rugged appeal is amplified by its front and rear skid plates while the new 17-inch alloy wheels (18-inch on Intens trim) add a little bit of pizzazz to the design. The new Duster’s styling is arguably one of the most appealing designs in the compact SUV segment right now and this will contribute to the new model’s uptake in the local market.

Performance & Efficiency

Suzuki Jimny 5-door

As a daily runabout, especially in urban driving conditions, the Jimny is fairly disappointing to pilot (when measured against small crossover standards). Simply put, its 1.5-litre petrol engine is a workhorse that delivers underwhelming in-gear performance. It’s no great revelation – we have highlighted this before.

When driving a Jimny, don’t expect to get anywhere in a hurry. Its acceleration (from in-town to highway speeds) is leisurely, so a bit more torque would be welcomed. Also, when you’re cruising at around 120 kph, the Suzuki’s rev counter sits at 3 000 rpm – an extra gear would not go amiss, plus it would benefit fuel efficiency… While Suzuki claims 6.3 L/100 km, returns of around 7.0 L/100 km are more realistic.

Given its upright boxy stance, the Jimny is prone to exhibiting noticeable body roll when required to make sudden directional changes. Still, the Suzuki delivers a relatively forgiving ride quality when it traverses poor road surfaces – its suspension tends to absorb most pothole impacts with aplomb.

Renault Duster 4WD

Buyers will be pleased to know that the performance of the new 1.2-litre turbopetrol mild hybrid powertrain is good with admirable in-gear acceleration which is useful for inner-city shuffling or overtaking on the highway. As is the case with most Renault products, the clutch setup does require some familiarity to avoid jerky gear changes.

It’s worth noting that the Duster can also be had with a 1.3-litre turbopetrol engine with 113 kW and 250 Nm on offer but this engine is only available in front-wheel-drive format. We have yet to test this derivative.

In terms of fuel consumption, Renault claims 5.7 L/100km but real-world figures between 6.5- and 7.5 L/100km can be expected.

The Duster also offers a forgiving ride quality but it arguably impresses the most when tar turns to dirt where it delivers a notably comfortable ride on rough surfaces. In fact, it rides better than many more expensive 4×4 SUVs!

Interior Features and Execution 

Take a look at a detailed specification comparison between the Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip Manual and the Renault Duster 1.5dCi Zen 4WD

You can use our handy Compare Tool to compare any cars you want!

Suzuki Jimny 5-door 

The Jimny 5-door’s interior looks very familiar, because – you’ve guessed it – its cabin architecture and utilitarian layout are carried over from the 3-door. The perceived build quality is very good, as it should be (to withstand the rigours of overlanding). The interior materials comprise a combination of hard and durable plastics, while the multifunction ‘wheel’s rim is wrapped in leather. Cloth upholstery is standard. 

In terms of fascia ergonomics (user-friendliness), most of the switchgear is easily within reach and the infotainment screen is mounted high on the (rather slabby) dashboard to limit distraction while driving.  

As highlighted in the table above, the Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip manual’s standard specification is fairly good.

Renault Duster 4WD 

Much like the Jimny, the Duster interior’s fit-and-finish is utilitarian, which is another way to say that the cabin is dominated by hard and durable plastics. However, the cabin architecture has been thoroughly modernised and is bang-up-to-date in terms of execution and perceived build quality.

The infotainment system’s touchscreen is slightly larger than the Jimny’s and the system also supports wireless smartphone integration. The Duster also sports a 7-inch digital instrument cluster.

When compared to the Suzuki Jimny GLX, the new Duster offers similar specifications but we feel that additional features such as a 360-degree camera and additional active safety features would be useful in the Duster 4WD derivative. Unfortunately, these features are only offered in the high-spec 2WD Intens derivative.

Practicality and Off-road ability    

Practicality Summary 

As indicated in the above table, the Duster has a larger footprint and, importantly, a longer wheelbase than its Japanese rival, which is why it offers more rear legroom, as well as a more spacious load bay.

The 5-door Jimny, however, is notably more practical than its 3-door sibling. Although occupant comfort or oddment space are not key performance areas (again, refer to our extended review of the newcomer), at least the Suzuki is said to offer more than 1 000 litres of utility space when its rear seats are folded, but the Duster is still considerably more practical in terms of luggage space and passenger comfort.

As far as manoeuvrability is concerned, the Jimny’s compact dimensions will be favourable in tight spaces, but the Duster does have a smaller turning circle, which is equally useful. 

Note that the Duster has a higher ground clearance at 217 mm compared to the Jimny’s 210 mm, which is useful for pavement hopping in the city or when tackling rough and uneven dirt roads. 

In summary, then, we can confidently conclude that the Duster is more practical in terms of people- as well as load-carrying ability. 

Off-road Performance 

The Jimny might not flourish in the urban jungle, but when tar turns to sand, the plucky Suzuki comes into its own. The Jimny has been designed as an off-road vehicle and it’s hugely capable in this regard, which has made it a popular choice for 4×4 enthusiasts looking for an affordable off-road vehicle. 

The Jimny’s off-road prowess is made possible by a part-time 4-wheel-drive system, called AllGrip Pro, which allows the driver to engage 2High, 4High or 4Low using the separate transfer case. AllGrip Pro can also apply selective braking to the wheels that have no traction to effectively perform the function of a differential lock, while the hill descent control takes the stress out of negotiating steep downhills.   

The Duster offers part-time all-wheel drive but does not have a dedicated low-range transfer case. Instead, the Duster is equipped with what Renault calls 4WD Terrain Control which is essentially a rotary dial with 5 driving modes including Eco (2WD), Auto (2WD or 4WD), Mud/Sand (4WD) and Offroad (4WD).

Useful offroading information is shown on the central infotainment system including lateral tilt, pitch and torque distribution.

Based on our respective off-roading experiences with the Jimny and Duster, the former stands out as the superior 4×4 vehicle (replete with better approach and departure angles). When you need to traverse off-road terrain, the Suzuki is the one to have if you’re unsure of just how tricky conditions will get. 

The Duster, however, is more than capable – it can easily navigate easy- to moderately challenging off-road obstacles with little fuss, but without a low-range transfer case, its capability is ultimately limited. 

Pricing and Warranty 

Buy a new Suzuki Jimny / Buy a used Suzuki Jimny

Buy a new Renault Duster / Buy a used Renault Duster 

Verdict: Jimny 5-door vs Duster 4WD

Now that you know the key points of difference between the Suzuki Jimny 5-door and Renault Duster 4WD, it should be easy to choose which of the 2 offerings would suit you best… provided that you’re willing to be completely honest about the role that your prospective purchase will fulfil most of the time…

The Jimny is the most capable off-roader you can buy for under R550k – full stop. However, despite offering easier ingress/egress for rear passengers by having 2 more doors than the venerable 3-door, the Jimny 5-door is severely compromised in terms of urban performance and general practicality. So, if you’re not serious about off-roading, we hold the opinion that the Duster is the better choice to live with on a daily basis.

Okay, it would be easy to argue that the Jimny’s off-road ability does not outweigh its iffy performance and practical shortcomings. But those drawbacks haven’t stopped thousands of consumers from buying the charming Japanese off-roader; the Jimny has that “Cool Factor”, is renowned for robust residual values (certainly true of the 3-door) and, for the record, offers a longer service plan than its French rival.

The Renault Duster, by comparison, is more of an all-rounder; it offers better everyday performance and efficiency, as well as small-crossover practicality and comfort. The Duster is the more sensible purchase if you don’t really need hardcore off-road ability, but still want to venture off the tar with peace of mind.

The new Duster, however, is not as affordable as it once was and you’ll have to assess your budget and decide if the extra practicality offered by the Duster is worth the extra outlay.

The Duster, however, is unlikely to ever match the Jimny’s aforementioned “Cool Factor”, which is a very powerful unique selling proposition. In short, if you want to be cool and uncomfortable, buy the Jimny! 

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