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Jimny is hardly capable off road, and certainly not for anything serious.Suzuki Jimny 5-door vs Renault Duster 4WD: What To Buy?
Pricing and Warranty
Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX AllGrip Manual Renault Duster 1.5 dCi Zen 4WD
Price R457 900 R465 999
Warranty 5-year/200 000 km 5-year/150 000 km
Service Plan 4-year/60 000 km 3-year/45 000 km
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 R500k – 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, perhaps the Duster is the better choice to live with daily.
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.
However, the Duster 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!
The Jimny has low-range and much better articulation than the Duster can offer with much better approach and departure angles, and they are very capable in the right hands.Jimny is hardly capable off road, and certainly not for anything serious.