Jeep Wrangler running costs vs Mitsubishi Pajero vs Suzuki Jimny

 

In conducting a running costs comparison with the Jeep Wrangler, we were faced with one big problem: in terms of competitors in its market niche, the Jeep Wrangler doesn’t have any competitors!

If you look at all the models in our new-car market, no other vehicle offers anything like the raw-rooted, big-hearted approach to motoring that the Wrangler does.  It features an anachronistic non-turbo V6 engine, a body-on frame construction, and a specification as basic as possible because that lies at the heart of its appeal.

You can unbolt the roof on the Jeep!

The Land Rover Defender in its previous incarnation was a direct competitor, but that’s been discontinued for some time, and meanwhile we still wait for the new Defender to arrive here. In recent times the Jeep Wrangler has gained items like ABS brakes and airbags, and nowadays even LED head lights! But what new car on our market enables you to deconstruct it in your driveway, so that it changes from a hard-top to an open-topped roofless conveyance? The Wrangler comes with an allen key to enable you to do just that!

We cast the net wider

We cast the net wider, and reckoned that a potential Wrangler buyer may think quite laterally when it comes to choosing some sort of substitute for this focused fun recipe from Jeep. The closest we came was the 3-door version of the Mitsubishi Pajero and… wait for it…. The Suzuki Jimny!

In terms of hard-core off-road fun, the Jimny’s approach is very much like the Jeep’s – only much smaller. In fact there was a time in South Africa  when we used to refer to the first –generation Jimnys imported here as “Suzuki  Jeeps”.  Both the Wrangler and the Jimny make few pretensions to being luxury vehicles, and a big part of their appeal is a  Fred Flintstone  approach to transportation.

As for the Pajero, well it has an off-road ability that rivals the Wrangler’s, and it is also a three-door conveyance, with minimal seating for rear seat passengers. But it has to be said that the whole Pajero approach is more sophisticated and car-like than the Wrangler’s.   The  American off-roader still has its construction techniques rooted in the original World War II Jeep.

Performance

The Jeep Wrangler Sahara wins the power game with 209 kW from its non-turbo 3,6-litre V6, allied to 347 Nm of torque and an 8-speed automatic gearbox transferring power to its  four-wheel-drive system. This means Wrangler is rated with useful top speed of 177 km/h  (no 0-100 km/h figures are quoted for the Wrangler, but we believe it will be in the 10-second region, if not quicker).

 

The  Mitsubishi Pajero 3-Door is next up with 140 kW from its 3,2-litre four-cylinder diesel, coupled with 441 Nm of torque. The Pajero is rated with a slightly higher top speed than the Jeep, at 180 km/h, probably due to superior aerodynamics.. It accelerates to 100 km/h in about 12 seconds

The Suzuki Jimny  1.5 GA is obviously hopelessly outclassed in the power play. With an engine less than half the capacity of the other two, its 75 kW its rated with a top speed of around 145-150 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 12,5 seconds. Suzuki doesn’t quote official performance figures.

Footnote: Of course, these vehicles are very much about off-road ability. Here, with its light weight and short wheel base, the Suzuki will be able to match its heavy opponents in many serious off-road situations.

Pricing

• In terms of pricing, the Jeep Wrangler 3.6 Sahara weighs in at R857 900, this being the least-expensive of the Wrangler series.
• The Mitsubishi Pajero 3-door 3.2 DI-D GLS sells for R709 995
• While the least-expensive Suzuki Jimny, the 1.5 GA AllGrip, sells for R285 900.
  
  

Conclusion: So it’s a no contest win for the Suzuki in the selling price department, although no-one is pretending that the Jimny matches its bigger rivals in terms of power and prestige. The Pajero is next best, followed by the Wrangler.

Running costs

Claimed fuel consumption:

• Jeep Wrangler Sahara: 10,1 litres/100 km (claimed)
• Mitsubishi Pajero 3-Door: 10,1 litres/100 km (claimed)
• Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GA: 6,3 litres/100 km (claimed)
  
  

Conclusion: In reality, the Jimny will realise about 7,5 litres/100 km, while the Pajero will probably average out at closer to 11,5 litres/100 km and the Wrangler at 12,5 litres/100 km. So the Suzuki is the eco winner here.

Tyre sizes (smaller tyres are cheaper to replace than larger tyres):

• Jeep Wrangler Sahara: 255/70 R18
• Mitsubishi Pajero 3-Door: 265/65 R17
• Suzuki Jimny: 205/70 R15
  
  

Conclusion: The Jimny is likely to be lighter on tyres than the bigger vehicles because of its big weight advantage and significantly lower power output. Also, when it comes to tyre replacement the Jimny’s smaller-sized rubber will be cheapest. The Pajero and Wrangler will have similar tyre replacement costs.

Warranty and service/maintenance plans:

• Mitsubishi Pajero:  Warranty is 3 years/100 000 km, maintenance plan is 5 years/100 000 km.
• Jeep Wrangler Sahara: Warranty is 3 years/100 000 km, maintenance plan is 3 years/100 000 km.
• Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GA: Warranty is 3 years/100 000 km, service plan is 2 years/30 000 km.
  
  

Conclusion: The Mitsubishi wins in the warranty and maintenance plan division. The Suzuki is the loser, due to service plan with a short duration.

Verdict

There is one clear winner in this running costs battle and that is the Suzuki Jimny.  Especially when initial purchase prices are taken into account. But of course, this isn’t about to influence anyone whose heart was set on a Wrangler in the first place.  

Maybe to get an idea of the different customer bases, we could match them to the kind of motorcycles they might ride: The Jeep is likely to appeal to the kind of person who’d love a Harley. The Pajero would be bought by someone opting  for a KTM or BMW adventure bike. And the Jimny? Maybe a specialised trails machine, or if pavement café cruising was the intended habitat, then maybe your Jimny customer would ride a Vespa!

You may well be keen on buying a hard core Jeep offering.  Check out over 300 listings for here for New and Used jeep Wrangler

 

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