Dongfeng BOX 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.

Dongfeng BOX in South Africa

Dongfeng BOX

BOX E3 430 Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 449,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 70 kW 🔧 160 Nm ⛽ 0 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

Dongfeng BOX vs Mazda CX-60: the short answer

CX-60 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while BOX remains close.

BOX starts ZAR 390,300 cheaper BOX from ZAR 399,900 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification BOX CX-60
Maximum Power BOX70 kW CX-60141 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque BOX160 Nm CX-60261 Nm @ 3000 rpm
Engine Size BOXNot Applicable CX-602488 cc
Combined Fuel Economy BOX0 km/l CX-6013.0 km/l
Ground Clearance BOX0 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.

Dongfeng BOX

BOX E3 430

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

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)

BOX

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

CX-60

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

Which One's Right for You?

BOX

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

CX-60

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec BOX CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2026 2023
Generation Current South African generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History Current launch specification 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 2026 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Electric city hatchback Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type Hatchback SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1470 kg
Spec BOX CX-60
Length 4020 mm 4745 mm
Width 1810 mm 1890 mm
Height 1570 mm 1687.5 mm
Wheelbase 2663 mm 2870 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 0 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 140 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 58 l
Boot/Cargo Space 326 l 477 l
Kerb Weight 1370 kg 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1820 kg 2342 kg
Payload Capacity 450 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 5.8 m 5.85 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm -
Rear Headroom 950 mm -
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1058 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 990 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This BOX 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: BOX 36 vs CX-60 59.

Efficiency index: BOX 90 vs CX-60 51.

Safety-equipment index: BOX 70 vs CX-60 98.

Practicality index: BOX 47 vs CX-60 68.

Ownership-cover index: BOX 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

CX-60 leads by 12 points

CX-60 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while BOX remains close.

Evidence leader 70 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 81% source coverage
70
#1 Evidence leader

CX-60

81% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 98
Practicality 68
Leads by 12 points
58
#2

BOX

64% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 90 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 90
Safety 70
Practicality 47
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +23 Efficiency BOX +39 Safety CX-60 +28 Practicality CX-60 +21

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

CX-60

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

BOX

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 70/100
Practicality 47/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mazda CX-60 leads the specification evidence index with 70 pts vs 58 pts for BOX

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

BOX 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.