Renault Arkana vs Suzuki Jimny
What's the difference?

Renault Arkana

$36,990 - $45,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Suzuki Jimny

$30,490 - $47,490

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Chery Tiggo 8 PRO MAX

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Renault Arkana

2026 Suzuki Jimny

By Emily Agar

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.3L

Inline 4, 1.5L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

5.9L/100km (combined)

6.4L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Stylish, distinctive design
Great boot space and practicality
Responsive handling

Manual gearbox
Capable off-road
Fun to drive off-road

Dislikes

Mild-hybrid gains feel limited
Snug rear seat space
Slow off the mark

Can't fit a lot inside
Ordinary to drive on-road
Needs better tyres for off-roading

2026 Renault Arkana Summary

This time around my family of three has been reviewing the updated Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine mild-hybrid, and you might be wondering… why?

In a market that is positively bursting at the seams with established and new competition, including full-hybrid rivals like the Honda HR-V RS and Hyundai Kona Premium, the Arkana has its work cut out for it.

It’s also a slightly unusual proposition, pairing the raised ride height of an SUV with the swooping roofline of a coupe, while sticking with a mild-hybrid powertrain as more and more rivals make the jump to full-hybrid.

So, does this small French SUV coupe still have enough going for it to stand out from the crowd?

View full pricing & specs

2026 Suzuki Jimny Summary

The Suzuki Jimny is back with a tech refresh and very minor update after a year-long pause in production.

The line-up now has an updated autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system – so that system is now compliant with Australian Design Rules standards – as well as adaptive cruise control, lane departure prevention, and front and rear parking sensors.

My test vehicle – the entry-level Jimny Lite – also gets a new 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of this latest line-up refresh.

So, does the updated base-spec Jimny – which now costs $1500 more than it did before – represent best value for money in this Zook range?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Renault Arkana 2026 Suzuki Jimny

Verdict

The Renault Arkana Esprit Alpine mild-hybrid combines some serious design flair with a reasonable amount of practicality for a smaller family, but it’s hard to ignore the lack of improvement in efficiency following the addition of the mild-hybrid system. That said, it still succeeds on some fronts. It just does it quietly.

Verdict

The Suzuki Jimny Lite is the most basic of the Suzuki Jimny line-up but that’s not a bad thing.

It’s ordinary on-road, it’s on the wrong side of small – especially in terms of cargo-carrying ability – and it’s still an exercise in driver-adaptability because it’s basic, bouncy and requires a lot of effort to keep it driving in a straight line.

But the Jimny is a lot of fun off road and even on sealed surfaces. It is go-kart-like in terms of everyday suitability and comfort, but its day-to-day drivability has received a healthy boost by way of those new driver-assist technologies and the updated AEB.

If you’re willing to give into the fun and cop a few compromises along the way, then you won’t be disappointed, because the Jimny is a tonne of fun.

Renault Arkana vs Suzuki Jimny What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Renault Arkana vs Suzuki Jimny
What's the difference?