Omoda C9 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.

Omoda C9 in South Africa

Omoda C9

Explore AWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 885,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 192 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 11.8 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 C9
Fuel Economy CX-60
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality C9
🔑 Ownership C9
C9 starts ZAR 790200 cheaper C9 from ZAR 785,900 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec C9 CX-60
Engine Power 192 kW 141 kW
Torque 400 Nm 261 Nm
Engine Size 2.0 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 13.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 165 mm 178.8 mm
Boot / Load Bay 660 l 477 l
Airbags Multiple airbags 7
Kerb Weight - 1470 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 7 Years / 200 000 km 5 Years/Unlimited km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both C9 and CX-60 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C9 +22 pts
Efficiency CX-60 +5 pts
Safety CX-60 +5 pts
Practicality C9 +10 pts
Ownership C9 +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

C9

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

CX-60

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

C9

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

CX-60

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C9 CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2024 2023
Generation Current South Africa C9 range First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source 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 2024 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec C9 CX-60
Ground Clearance 165 mm 178.8 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2870 mm
Length 4775 mm 4745 mm
Width 1920 mm 1890 mm
Height 1671 mm 1687.5 mm
Kerb Weight - 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2281 kg 2342 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 660 l 477 l
Towing Capacity - 1500 kg
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - 5.85 m
Load Bed Length 660 l 477 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - 1058 mm
Rear Legroom - 990 mm
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - 1504 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1441 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1783 l 1148 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - 872 kg
Boot Volume 660 l 477 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 65 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2281 kg 2342 kg
Ground Clearance Max 165 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Min 165 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 165 mm 178.8 mm
Height Mm 1671 mm 1687.5 mm
Length Mm 4775 mm 4745 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 660 l 477 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - 872 kg
Cargo Volume 660 l 477 l
Tare Mass Kg - 1470 kg
Turning Circle - 5.85 m
Turning Circle M - 5.85 m
Width Mm 1920 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

C9 leads by 7 points

Both C9 and CX-60 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 74% confidence
75
#1 Winner

C9

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 81
Efficiency 46
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Leads by 7 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 C9 +22 Efficiency CX-60 +5 Safety CX-60 +5 Practicality C9 +10 Ownership C9 +14

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

C9

Performance 81/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

CX-60

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C9 wins with 75 pts vs 68 pts for CX-60

In structured scoring, C9 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 C9 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: C9 46 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: C9 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: C9 69, 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: C9 78, CX-60 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C9 81, 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 C9 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The C9 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 C9 and CX-60 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C9 scores 81 vs 59.

Efficiency: C9 scores 46 vs 51.

Safety: C9 scores 94 vs 99.

Practicality: C9 scores 78 vs 68.

Ownership: C9 scores 69 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives C9 the advantage in this comparison.