Omoda C5 SHS vs Mazda CX-3

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.

Omoda C5 SHS in South Africa

Omoda C5 SHS

C5 SHS Hybrid 1-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 105 kW 🔧 215 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l
VS
Mazda CX-3 in South Africa

Mazda CX-3

2.0 Individual Auto FWD Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 551,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 206 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Omoda C5 SHS vs Mazda CX-3: the short answer

C5 SHS has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-3 remains close.

CX-3 starts ZAR 29,900 cheaper C5 SHS from ZAR 469,900 · CX-3 from ZAR 440,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification C5 SHS CX-3
Maximum Power C5 SHS105 kW @ 5200 rpm CX-3115 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque C5 SHS215 Nm @ 2500-4000 rpm CX-3206 Nm @ 2800 rpm
Engine Size C5 SHS1500 cc CX-31998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy C5 SHS20.4 km/l CX-315.9 km/l
Ground Clearance C5 SHS145 mm CX-3155 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

C5 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

CX-3

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

C5 SHS

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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-3

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C5 SHS CX-3
Model Introduced Year 2026 2015
Generation Current South Africa C5 SHS range Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source The CX-3 has received successive equipment and design updates since its 2015 debut; Carbon and Individual now sit together at the top of the South African range.
Facelift Launched Since 2026 2015
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV Compact crossover
Tare Mass Kg 1546 kg 1270 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec C5 SHS CX-3
Length 4400 mm 4275 mm
Width 1830 mm 1765 mm
Height 1590 mm 1542 mm
Wheelbase 2630 mm 2570 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 145 mm 155 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 48 l
Boot/Cargo Space 372 l 230 l
Kerb Weight 1546 kg 1270 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2052 kg 1735 kg
Payload Capacity 506 kg 465 kg
Towing Capacity 750 kg 850 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.1 m 5.7 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm -
Rear Headroom 970 mm -
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1058 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 888 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This C5 SHS and CX-3 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: C5 SHS 51 vs CX-3 47.

Efficiency index: C5 SHS 82 vs CX-3 61.

Safety-equipment index: C5 SHS 94 vs CX-3 84.

Practicality index: C5 SHS 52 vs CX-3 48.

Ownership-cover index: C5 SHS not separately scored vs CX-3 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

C5 SHS leads by 9 points

C5 SHS has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-3 remains close.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 72% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

C5 SHS

72% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 82
Safety 94
Practicality 52
Leads by 9 points
60
#2

CX-3

71% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 61
Safety 84
Practicality 48
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C5 SHS +4 Efficiency C5 SHS +21 Safety C5 SHS +10 Practicality C5 SHS +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

C5 SHS

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 82/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 52/100

CX-3

Performance 47/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 48/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Omoda C5 SHS leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 60 pts for CX-3

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, C5 SHS leads. However, CX-3 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 African models and comparable body styles.

C5 SHS
C5 SHS
VS
X70 Plus
X70 Plus
C5 SHS vs X70 Plus →
C5 SHS
C5 SHS
VS
Outlander Sport
Outlander Sport
C5 SHS vs Outlander Sport →
C5 SHS
C5 SHS
VS
ATTO 2 DM-i
ATTO 2 DM-i
C5 SHS vs ATTO 2 DM-i →
C5 SHS
C5 SHS
VS
Jimny
Jimny
C5 SHS vs Jimny →
C5 SHS
C5 SHS
VS
Jimny 5-Door
Jimny 5-Door
C5 SHS vs Jimny 5-Door →
C5 SHS
C5 SHS
VS
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
C5 SHS vs Tiggo 4 Cross HEV →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
X70 Plus
X70 Plus
CX-3 vs X70 Plus →
CX-3
CX-3
VS
Outlander Sport
Outlander Sport
CX-3 vs Outlander Sport →

C5 SHS vs CX-3 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.