Toyota C-HR 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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Toyota C-HR Discontinued model
Toyota C-HR in South Africa

Toyota C-HR

2.0 HEV GR Sport CVT Hybrid e-CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 499,000 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 134 kW 🔧 190 Nm ⛽ 19.2 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

Toyota C-HR vs Mazda CX-5: the short answer

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

Recorded price context C-HR: last listed from ZAR 429,000 · CX-5: current from ZAR 570,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification C-HR CX-5
Maximum Power C-HR134 kW CX-5121 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque C-HR190 Nm CX-5213 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size C-HR1987 cc CX-51998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy C-HR19.2 km/l CX-514.5 km/l
Ground Clearance C-HR160 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

C-HR

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

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

Which One's Right for You?

C-HR

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

CX-5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec C-HR CX-5
Model Introduced Year 2023 2017
Generation Second generation on TNGA-C platform – hybrid-only in SA Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range
Facelift History All-new second generation launched in SA in 2023 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 2023 2017
Facelift Version Ending 2024 Current
Body Style 5-door Crossover SUV SUV
Model Year 2021 2026
Production Status discontinued Active
Segment SUV Mid-size family SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1500 kg 1575 kg
Vehicle Type 5-door Crossover SUV SUV
Spec C-HR CX-5
Length 4390 mm 4575 mm
Width 1796 mm 1845 mm
Height 1550 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2640 mm 2700 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 160 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 43 l 56 l
Boot/Cargo Space 377 l 438 l
Kerb Weight 1500 kg 1575 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1930 kg 2065 kg
Payload Capacity 430 kg 490 kg
Towing Capacity 1600 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 1 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.95 m
Front Headroom 993 mm -
Rear Headroom 946 mm -
Front Legroom 1030 mm 1041 mm
Rear Legroom 881 mm 1007 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This C-HR 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: C-HR 53 vs CX-5 48.

Efficiency index: C-HR 78 vs CX-5 56.

Safety-equipment index: C-HR 98 vs CX-5 88.

Practicality index: C-HR 57 vs CX-5 61.

Ownership-cover index: C-HR 43 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

C-HR leads by 4 points

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

Evidence leader 67 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 91% source coverage
67
#1 Evidence leader

C-HR

91% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Ownership 43
Performance 53
Efficiency 78
Safety 98
Practicality 57
Ownership 43
Leads by 4 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 C-HR +5 Efficiency C-HR +22 Safety C-HR +10 Practicality CX-5 +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

C-HR

Performance 53/100
Efficiency 78/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 57/100
Ownership 43/100

CX-5

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota C-HR leads the specification evidence index with 67 pts vs 63 pts for CX-5

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

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C-HR 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.