Suzuki Across 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.

Suzuki Across in South Africa

Suzuki Across

1.5 GLX 6AT Petrol Mild Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 464,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 18.9 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

Suzuki Across vs Mazda CX-5: the short answer

Across and CX-5 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Across starts ZAR 220,600 cheaper Across from ZAR 349,900 · CX-5 from ZAR 570,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Across CX-5
Maximum Power Across75.8 kW @ 6000 rpm CX-5121 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Across136.8 Nm @ 4400 rpm CX-5213 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size Across1462 cc CX-51998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Across18.9 km/l CX-514.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Across210 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

Across

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

CX-5

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

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • 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 prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across CX-5
Model Introduced Year 2026 2017
Generation First South African generation of the current Across Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range
Facelift History All-new March 2026 South African launch model; no facelift yet 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 Original current-generation version 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door compact SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment C-segment family SUV Mid-size family SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1200-1250 kg 1575 kg
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Spec Across CX-5
Length 4360 mm 4575 mm
Width 1795 mm 1845 mm
Height 1655 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 56 l
Boot/Cargo Space 333 l 438 l
Kerb Weight Not Officially Disclosed 1575 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 2065 kg
Payload Capacity 460 kg 490 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.95 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1041 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1007 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Across 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: Across 34 vs CX-5 48.

Efficiency index: Across 76 vs CX-5 56.

Safety-equipment index: Across 91 vs CX-5 88.

Practicality index: Across 62 vs CX-5 61.

Ownership-cover index: Across 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

Across leads by 1 points

Across and CX-5 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 64 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 73% source coverage
64
#1 Evidence leader

Across

73% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 76
Safety 91
Practicality 62
Leads by 1 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 CX-5 +14 Efficiency Across +20 Safety Across +3 Practicality Across +1

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Across

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 62/100

CX-5

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Suzuki Across leads the specification evidence index with 64 pts vs 63 pts for CX-5

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Across leads. However, CX-5 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

Across
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CX-5 vs C5 SHS →

Across 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.