Toyota bZ4X vs Mazda CX-60

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.

Toyota bZ4X in South Africa

Toyota bZ4X

bZ4X AWD Electric Automatic
ZAR 1,182,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
VS
Mazda CX-60 in South Africa

Mazda CX-60

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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance bZ4X
Fuel Economy bZ4X
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership CX-60
CX-60 starts ZAR 1182800 cheaper bZ4X from ZAR 1,182,800 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec bZ4X CX-60
Engine Power 255.3 kW 141 kW
Torque Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm 261 Nm
Engine Size - 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage - 13.0 km/l
Ground Clearance - 178.8 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 477 l
Airbags Driver Knee, Front Side, Front Centre 7
Kerb Weight - 1470 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 5 Years/Unlimited km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both bZ4X and CX-60 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance bZ4X +23 pts
Efficiency bZ4X +39 pts
Safety CX-60 +5 pts
Practicality CX-60 +23 pts
Ownership CX-60 +9 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

bZ4X

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

CX-60

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

bZ4X

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

CX-60

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec bZ4X CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2026 2023
Generation South African launch specification of Toyota's dedicated battery-electric bZ4X First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History Introduced locally in 2026 as Toyota South Africa's first battery-electric production model 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 Introduced locally in 2026 as Toyota South Africa's first battery-electric production model 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec bZ4X CX-60
Seating Capacity 5 5
Towing Capacity 750 kg 1500 kg
Load Bed Length - 477 l
Load Bed Width - -
Number of Doors 5 5
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity - 58 l
Loadbox Length Mm - 477 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Ground Clearance - 178.8 mm
Wheelbase - 2870 mm
Length - 4745 mm
Width - 1890 mm
Height - 1687.5 mm
Kerb Weight - 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight - 2342 kg
Boot Space - 477 l
Turning Radius - 5.85 m
Front Legroom - 1058 mm
Rear Legroom - 990 mm
Front Shoulder Room - 1504 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1441 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded - 1148 l
Max Payload - 872 kg
Boot Volume - 477 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg - 2342 kg
Ground Clearance Max - 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Min - 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Mm - 178.8 mm
Height Mm - 1687.5 mm
Length Mm - 4745 mm
Payload Kg - 872 kg
Cargo Volume - 477 l
Tare Mass Kg - 1470 kg
Turning Circle - 5.85 m
Turning Circle M - 5.85 m
Width Mm - 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

bZ4X leads by 4 points

Both bZ4X and CX-60 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 58% confidence
72
#1 Winner

bZ4X

58% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 45
Performance 82
Efficiency 90
Safety 94
Practicality 45
Ownership 46
Leads by 4 points
68
#2

CX-60

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 99
Practicality 68
Ownership 55
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance bZ4X +23 Efficiency bZ4X +39 Safety CX-60 +5 Practicality CX-60 +23 Ownership CX-60 +9

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

bZ4X

Performance 82/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 45/100
Ownership 46/100

CX-60

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota bZ4X wins with 72 pts vs 68 pts for CX-60

In structured scoring, bZ4X emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-60 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the bZ4X edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: bZ4X 90 vs CX-60 51. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: bZ4X 94, CX-60 99. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: bZ4X 46, CX-60 55. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: bZ4X 45, CX-60 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: bZ4X 82, CX-60 59. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The bZ4X edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The bZ4X scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between bZ4X and CX-60 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: bZ4X scores 82 vs 59.

Efficiency: bZ4X scores 90 vs 51.

Safety: bZ4X scores 94 vs 99.

Practicality: bZ4X scores 45 vs 68.

Ownership: bZ4X scores 46 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives bZ4X the advantage in this comparison.