What is the difference between the Suzuki Jimny GL and GLX?

Both share the same 1.5-litre K15B engine and AllGrip Pro 4x4 system, so off-road ability is identical. The GL is the value-focused entry trim with a 7-inch touchscreen, manual air conditioning, alloy wheels, six airbags and ESP. The GLX adds a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, cruise control, LED headlights and the latest driver-assistance suite (AEB, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and more). The GL is manual-only; the GLX offers both manual and automatic.

Is the Jimny GLX worth the extra money over the GL?

For most buyers, yes — chiefly for the safety kit and the resale value. The GLX's driver-assistance features (autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring) are a meaningful safety upgrade, and higher-spec Jimnys tend to hold their value and sell faster on the used market. The GL makes more sense if you want the lowest entry price, prefer a simpler cabin, or are buying it as a dedicated off-road or utility vehicle where the extra electronics matter less.

Does the Jimny GL come as an automatic?

No. The GL is manual-only. If you want a 4-speed automatic gearbox you need the GLX, which is offered in both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic. The automatic typically adds around R22,000 to the price.

Is the 3-door Jimny available in GL trim in 2026?

No. From 2026 the 3-door Jimny is GLX-only — the entry GA trim was discontinued and the GL was never offered on the current 3-door. If you want the GL trim you need the 5-door body style, which still offers both GL and GLX. This is covered in our 3-door vs 5-door guide.

What happened to the Jimny GA trim?

The GA was the original entry-level 3-door trim at the 2018 launch (it started around R264,900). It has since been discontinued. The current trim ladder in South Africa is GL (5-door only) and GLX, with the 3-door now sold exclusively as a GLX.

Do the GL and GLX have the same off-road ability?

Yes. Both use the same 1.5 K15B engine, the AllGrip Pro part-time 4x4 system, low-range transfer case and ladder-frame chassis, with the same ground clearance. The difference between GL and GLX is cabin equipment, comfort and driver-assistance technology — not mechanical 4x4 capability.

Suzuki Jimny GLX vs GL: Which Trim to Buy (SA)

The GLX is the Jimny to buy for safety kit and resale; the GL is the value play. Both share the same 1.5 engine and AllGrip 4x4 — here is what actually changes.

If you are choosing a Suzuki Jimny trim in South Africa, the decision comes down to GLX versus GL — and the headline is simple: the GLX is the one to buy for safety equipment and resale strength, while the GL is the value play. Crucially, both share the same 1.5-litre engine and AllGrip Pro 4x4 system, so neither is more capable off-road than the other. What you are really paying for with the GLX is a bigger screen, climate control, LED lighting and a full driver-assistance suite. All Rand figures here are list and aggregated asking prices, not transaction prices.

GLX vs GL at a glance

Feature	GL (entry)	GLX (top)
Engine	1.5 K15B, 75 kW / 130 Nm	1.5 K15B, 75 kW / 130 Nm
4x4 system	AllGrip Pro + low range	AllGrip Pro + low range
Transmission	5-speed manual only	5-speed manual or 4-speed auto
Touchscreen	7-inch	9-inch with Apple CarPlay
Climate	Manual air conditioning	Automatic climate control
Cruise control	No	Yes
Headlights	Halogen	LED
Wheels	Alloy	Alloy
Airbags / stability	6 airbags + ESP	6 airbags + ESP
Driver assistance (ADAS)	—	AEB, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and more
Body styles (2026)	5-door only	3-door and 5-door

The mechanical line of that table is the important one: identical engine, identical 4x4. If your priority is pure off-road capability, you do not need the GLX. The case for the GLX is built almost entirely on safety, comfort and resale.

What the GL gives you

The GL is the sensible entry point, and it is far from sparse:

7-inch touchscreen infotainment
Manual air conditioning
Alloy wheels
Six airbags and ESP (electronic stability programme) as standard
The same 1.5 K15B engine and AllGrip Pro 4x4 as the GLX

It is manual-only, and at roughly R439,900 (5-door) it is the cheapest way into a brand-new 4th-generation Jimny. For a buyer who wants a no-nonsense, capable little 4x4 and does not care about a big screen or adaptive electronics, the GL covers the essentials — including the core safety items of six airbags and stability control.

What the GLX adds

Step up to the GLX and the additions are mostly about technology, comfort and safety:

9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay (over the GL’s 7-inch unit)
Automatic climate control instead of manual A/C
Cruise control — a genuine benefit on long highway runs
LED headlights for better night-time visibility
The latest-spec driver-assistance suite (ADAS): autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and related systems
Available with manual or 4-speed automatic (the auto typically adds around R22,000)

The ADAS package is the standout. Autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring are real, meaningful safety upgrades over the GL — and they are increasingly what used buyers look for, which feeds directly into resale value.

2026: the trim ladder has changed

Two things are worth knowing before you shop:

The 3-door is GLX-only. From 2026 the 3-door Jimny is sold exclusively as a GLX (about R444,900 manual / R466,900 auto). If you specifically want a GL, you must choose the 5-door body, which still offers both GL and GLX. (See our 3-door vs 5-door guide to pick the body first.)
The GA is gone. The original entry-level GA trim from the 2018 launch has been discontinued. The ladder is now simply GL (5-door) and GLX.

So in practice: if you want the cheapest new Jimny, you want a 5-door GL. If you want the latest safety kit, an automatic option, or a 3-door, you want a GLX.

Verdict: which trim should you buy?

Buy the GLX if safety technology matters to you, you want an automatic, you want the larger CarPlay screen and climate control, or you care about resale value — higher-spec Jimnys hold value and sell faster. For most private buyers, the GLX is the better long-term buy.
Buy the GL if you want the lowest entry price, you are happy with a manual, you prefer a simpler cabin, or you are buying it as a dedicated off-road, farm or utility vehicle where the extra electronics add little. It delivers the same 4x4 ability for less money.

There is no “wrong” Jimny here — both have six airbags, ESP and the same go-anywhere drivetrain. The GLX simply adds the modern safety net and the kit that protects resale; the GL trades those for a lower price.

Check live prices for each trim

On the used market, 4th-gen Jimny asking prices run roughly R250,000 to R460,000+, with GLX models — the volume seller — clustered toward the upper end. To compare how GL and GLX examples are pricing right now, use our live Jimny market data and browse current Jimny listings. On any listing, the built-in finance calculator turns an asking price, your deposit, a rate and a term into a monthly instalment so you can weigh the GLX premium in real repayment terms. Already own one? The Jimny valuation tool estimates an aggregated asking price by trim, transmission and mileage.

For the full spec breakdown, see the 4th-gen Jimny model guide.

The bottom line

The Suzuki Jimny GLX is the trim most buyers should choose — not for performance (the engine and 4x4 are identical to the GL) but for its 9-inch CarPlay screen, automatic climate control, cruise control, LED lights and the latest AEB/lane-departure/blind-spot safety suite, plus an automatic option and stronger resale. The GL remains a smart-value pick from about R439,900 with six airbags and ESP standard, ideal if you want the cheapest capable Jimny and do not need the extra tech. Remember the 2026 changes — the 3-door is GLX-only and the GA is gone — and treat every price here as an aggregated asking figure updated daily, not a transaction price.