Mazda All-New CX-5 vs KIA Sportage

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Mazda All-New CX-5 in South Africa

Mazda All-New CX-5

2.5 Active Edition Auto FWD Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Upcoming
Launch price pending
Upcoming in South Africa Confirmed launch information and specifications remain visible while final availability is pending.
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 240 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda All-New CX-5 vs KIA Sportage: the short answer

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

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification All-New CX-5 Sportage
Maximum Power All-New CX-5132 kW @ 6000 rpm Sportage132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque All-New CX-5240 Nm @ 4000 rpm Sportage265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size All-New CX-52488 cc Sportage1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy All-New CX-513.2 km/l Sportage13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance All-New CX-5205 mm Sportage181 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

All-New CX-5

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

Sportage

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

All-New CX-5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Sportage

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec All-New CX-5 Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2026 2022
Generation Third-generation Mazda CX-5 for South Africa Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
Facelift History All-new third-generation model; no facelift applies Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2026 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status upcoming active
Segment Medium SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger Vehicle SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Tare Mass Kg - 1570 kg
Spec All-New CX-5 Sportage
Length 4690 mm 4515 mm
Width 1860 mm 1865 mm
Height 1695 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2815 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 205 mm 181 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 200 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 466 l 466 l
Kerb Weight 1629 kg 1570 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2190 kg 2080 kg
Payload Capacity 561 kg 500 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.0 m 10.8 m
Front Headroom 1007 mm 1010 mm
Rear Headroom 1020 mm 955 mm
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 1012 mm 855 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

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

Performance index: All-New CX-5 52 vs Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: All-New CX-5 52 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: All-New CX-5 98 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: All-New CX-5 66 vs Sportage 63.

Ownership-cover index: All-New CX-5 not separately scored vs Sportage 71.

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

Sportage leads by 1 points

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

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 99% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

Sportage

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 63
Ownership 71
Leads by 1 points
68
#2

All-New CX-5

82% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Performance 52
Performance 52
Efficiency 52
Safety 98
Practicality 66
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Sportage +5 Efficiency Sportage +2 Safety Sportage +2 Practicality All-New CX-5 +3

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 71/100

All-New CX-5

Performance 52/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 66/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Sportage leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 68 pts for All-New CX-5

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

All-New CX-5 vs Sportage questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.