BMW 1 Series vs Mazda CX-60

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.

BMW 1 Series in South Africa

BMW 1 Series

M135 xDrive Petrol 7-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 975,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 233 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
VS
Mazda CX-60 in South Africa

Mazda CX-60

2.5 Individual Edition Auto AWD Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 902,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 141 kW 🔧 261 Nm ⛽ 13.0 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BMW 1 Series vs Mazda CX-60: the short answer

1 Series and CX-60 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

1 Series starts ZAR 85,200 cheaper 1 Series from ZAR 705,000 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification 1 Series CX-60
Maximum Power 1 Series233 kW CX-60141 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 1 Series400 Nm @ 2000-4500 rpm CX-60261 Nm @ 3000 rpm
Engine Size 1 Series1998 cc CX-602488 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 1 Series12.5 km/l CX-6013.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 1 Series140 mm CX-60178.8 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

BMW 1 Series

M135 xDrive

Hagalu editorial rating
4.1/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Mazda CX-60

2.5 Individual Edition Auto AWD

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

1 Series

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

CX-60

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

1 Series

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

CX-60

  • 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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec 1 Series CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2024 2023
Generation Fourth-generation F70 BMW 1 Series, configured for South Africa as a five-door hatchback. First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History F70 is the current fourth-generation South African launch version; no local facelift has been announced. Mazda introduced the CX-60 locally in 2023, added the six-cylinder Takumi in 2024 and revised suspension and drivetrain calibration for the 2025 update.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment Premium Hatchback Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type Car SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1470 kg
Spec 1 Series CX-60
Length 4361 mm 4745 mm
Width 1800 mm 1890 mm
Height 1459 mm 1687.5 mm
Wheelbase 2670 mm 2870 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 140 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 49 l 58 l
Boot/Cargo Space 380 l 477 l
Kerb Weight 1550 kg 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2100 kg 2342 kg
Payload Capacity 550 kg 872 kg
Towing Capacity 750 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.85 m
Front Headroom 985 mm -
Rear Headroom 958 mm -
Front Legroom 1041 mm 1058 mm
Rear Legroom 896 mm 990 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This 1 Series and CX-60 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: 1 Series 91 vs CX-60 59.

Efficiency index: 1 Series 50 vs CX-60 51.

Safety-equipment index: 1 Series 92 vs CX-60 98.

Practicality index: 1 Series 53 vs CX-60 68.

Ownership-cover index: 1 Series not separately scored vs CX-60 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

1 Series leads by 3 points

1 Series and CX-60 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 73 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 83% source coverage
73
#1 Evidence leader

1 Series

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 50
Performance 91
Efficiency 50
Safety 92
Practicality 53
Leads by 3 points
70
#2

CX-60

81% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 98
Practicality 68
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance 1 Series +32 Efficiency CX-60 +1 Safety CX-60 +6 Practicality CX-60 +15

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

1 Series

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 53/100

CX-60

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 68/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW 1 Series leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts vs 70 pts for CX-60

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, 1 Series leads. However, CX-60 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

1 Series vs CX-60 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.