iCAUR 03T vs Mazda CX-5

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

iCAUR 03T in South Africa

iCAUR 03T

2WD Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 639,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 220 Nm ⛽ Not applicable — electric consumption measured in kWh/100 km km/l
VS
Mazda CX-5 in South Africa

Mazda CX-5

2.0 Carbon Edition Auto FWD Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 688,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

iCAUR 03T vs Mazda CX-5: the short answer

03T has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-5 remains close.

CX-5 starts ZAR 69,400 cheaper 03T from ZAR 639,900 · CX-5 from ZAR 570,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification 03T CX-5
Maximum Power 03T135 kW CX-5121 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 03T220 Nm CX-5213 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 03TNot applicable — battery electric vehicle CX-51998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 03TNot applicable — electric consumption measured in kWh/100 km km/l CX-514.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 03T190 mm CX-5200 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

03T

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

CX-5

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

03T

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

CX-5

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec 03T CX-5
Model Introduced Year 2026 2017
Generation South African May 2026 local specification sheet for the current 03T generation. Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Published Active
Segment Electric SUV Mid-size family SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Facelift History - The second generation arrived in 2017 and received a substantial update from 2021. An all-new replacement is scheduled to reach South Africa on 1 August 2026, while this current range remains on sale.
Facelift Launched Since - 2017
Facelift Version Ending - Current
Tare Mass Kg - 1575 kg
Spec 03T CX-5
Length 4433 mm 4575 mm
Width 1916 mm 1845 mm
Height 1741 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2715 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 190 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 165 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity Not applicable — battery electric vehicle 56 l
Boot/Cargo Space 450 L rear seats up; 1,238 L with rear seats folded; 40 L rear storage box 438 l
Kerb Weight 1600–1950 kg 1575 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2173 kg 2065 kg
Payload Capacity 350–650 kg 490 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.9 m 5.95 m
Front Headroom 1020 mm -
Rear Headroom 990 mm -
Front Legroom 1060 mm 1041 mm
Rear Legroom 970 mm 1007 mm
Towing Capacity - 1000 kg

In depth: how these cars differ

This 03T and CX-5 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: 03T 51 vs CX-5 48.

Efficiency index: 03T 99 vs CX-5 56.

Safety-equipment index: 03T 93 vs CX-5 88.

Practicality index: 03T 64 vs CX-5 61.

Ownership-cover index: 03T not separately scored vs CX-5 not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

03T leads by 12 points

03T has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-5 remains close.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 67% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

03T

67% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 99 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 99
Safety 93
Practicality 64
Leads by 12 points
63
#2

CX-5

78% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 56
Safety 88
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance 03T +3 Efficiency 03T +43 Safety 03T +5 Practicality 03T +3

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

03T

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 99/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 64/100

CX-5

Performance 48/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 61/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index iCAUR 03T leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 63 pts for CX-5

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, 03T leads. However, CX-5 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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03T vs CX-5 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.