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.
2.0 Individual Auto FWDPetrol6-Speed AutomaticCurrent
ZAR 551,600ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW🔧 206 Nm⛽ 15.9 km/l
+Add a 3rd car
At a Glance — Who Wins What
⚡PerformanceChery Q
⛽Fuel EconomyCX-3
🛡SafetyCX-3
📦PracticalityChery Q
🔑OwnershipChery Q
Key Specs Side by Side
The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Maximum Power
-
115 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque
-
206 Nm @ 2800 rpm
Engine Size
-
1998 cc
Claimed Mileage
-
15.9 km/l
Ground Clearance
-
155 mm
Boot / Load Bay
-
230 l
Airbags
-
6
Kerb Weight
-
1270 kg
Seating Capacity
-
-
Warranty
-
5 Years/Unlimited km
= leads in this spec
The Bottom Line
CX-3 has a slight advantage, but Chery Q remains highly competitive.
Where They Actually Differ
Performance
Chery Q
+3 pts
Efficiency
CX-3
+11 pts
Safety
CX-3
+61 pts
Practicality
Chery Q
+2 pts
Ownership
Chery Q
+3 pts
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
Chery Q
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 DrivingFamily Usage
🏆 Overall Winner
CX-3
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?
Chery Q
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-3
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
Full Specs, Side by Side
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Model Introduced Year
-
2015
Generation
-
Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3
Facelift History
-
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
-
2015
Facelift Version Ending
-
Current
Body Style
-
SUV
Model Year
-
2026
Production Status
-
Active
Segment
-
Compact crossover
Vehicle Type
-
SUV
Tare Mass Kg
-
1270 kg
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Drivetrain Layout
-
Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Transfer Case
-
Not Applicable
Differential Lock
-
Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters
-
Standard
Gearbox
-
6-Speed Auto
Final Drive Ratio
-
4.325
Number of Gears
-
6
Transmission Type
-
Automatic
Drivetrain
-
FWD
4WD Engagement
-
Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range
-
Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range
-
Not Applicable
4WD Selector
-
Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles
-
Standard
Front Differential Lock
-
Not Applicable
Gearbox Type
-
Automatic
Low Range Ratio
-
Not Applicable
Low Range
-
Not Applicable
Axle Layout
-
4x2
Rear Differential Lock
-
Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds
-
6
Gear Shift Type
-
Automatic
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Claimed Mileage
-
15.9 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity
-
48 l
Emission Standard
-
Euro stage IV
AdBlue Tank Capacity
-
Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop
-
Standard
Average Fuel Consumption
-
6.3 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption
-
6.3 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency
-
6.3 l/100km
Charging Port Type
-
Not Applicable
Charging Type
-
Not Applicable
Combined Consumption
-
6.3 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km
-
6.3 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined
-
6.3 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres
-
48
Combined Driving Range
-
Not Applicable
Electric Consumption
-
Not Applicable
Range Real World Highway
-
Not Applicable
Range Real World Mixed
-
Not Applicable
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Airbags
-
6
ABS
-
Standard
Electronic Stability Control
-
Standard
Hill Descent Control
-
Not Available
Hill Start Assist
-
Not Available
ISOFIX Mounts
-
Standard
Brake Assist
-
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
-
Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
-
Front & Rear
Front Parking Sensors
-
Not Available
AEB
-
Not Available
BA
-
Standard
Curtain Airbags
-
Standard
Driver Airbag
-
Standard
EBD
-
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
-
Standard
Hill Hold
-
Not Available
Passenger Airbag
-
Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
-
Not Available
Seatbelt Pretensioners
-
Standard
Side Airbags
-
Standard
Knee Airbag
-
Not Available
ABS EBD
-
Standard
Seatbelt Reminder
-
Front & Rear
Stability Control
-
Standard
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Cruise Control
-
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
-
Not Available
Lane Keep Assist
-
Not Available
Lane Departure Warning
-
Not Available
Blind Spot Monitoring
-
Not Available
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
-
Not Available
Parking Sensors
-
Front & Rear
Rear View Camera
-
Standard
360 Degree Camera
-
Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking
-
Not Available
Driver Fatigue Alert
-
Not Available
Traffic Sign Recognition
-
Not Available
Auto Highbeam
-
Not Available
Auto Wipers
-
Standard
Rear Parking Sensors
-
Not Available
Reverse Camera
-
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
-
Not Available
Around View Monitor
-
Not Available
Blind Spot Warning
-
Not Available
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Seat Material
-
Black Leather
Heated Seats
-
Not Available
Ventilated Seats
-
Not Available
Ambient Lighting
-
Not Available
Steering Wheel Material
-
Standard
60 40 Split Seat
-
(60:40)
Driver Seat Adjustment
-
10-Way Power Adjustable (Driver)
Passenger Seat Adjustment
-
10-Way Power Adjustable (Driver)
Seat Trim
-
Black Leather
Front Shoulder Room
-
1360 mm
Rear Shoulder Room
-
1281 mm
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Climate Control
-
Automatic
Power Windows
-
Front & Rear
Keyless Entry
-
Smart
Push Button Start
-
Standard
Wireless Charging
-
Standard
Sunroof
-
Standard
Electric Tailgate
-
Not Available
Rain Sensing Wipers
-
Standard
AC Type
-
Automatic
Load Bed Length
-
Not Applicable
Load Bed Width
-
Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded
-
1140 l
Loadbox Length Mm
-
Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm
-
Not Applicable
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Length
-
4275 mm
Width
-
1765 mm
Height
-
1542 mm
Wheelbase
-
2570 mm
Doors
-
5 doors
Payload Capacity
-
465 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity
-
48 l
Kerb Weight
-
1270 kg
Towing Capacity
-
850 kg
Front Legroom
-
1058 mm
Rear Legroom
-
888 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
-
155 mm
Boot/Cargo Space
-
230 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
-
1735 kg
Seating Capacity
-
5 seats
Minimum Turning Radius
-
5.7 m
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Engine
-
2-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol
Cylinders
-
4
Valves
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel System
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Compression Ratio
-
13.0:1
Drive Type
-
FWD
Top Speed
-
197 km/h
Engine Code
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Cylinder Layout
-
Inline
Aspiration
-
Naturally Aspirated
Bore
-
83.5 mm
Stroke
-
91.2 mm
Drive Modes
-
Sport
Valves per Cylinder
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Launch Control
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Engine Displacement
-
1998 cc
Transmission
-
6-Speed Automatic
0-100 km/h
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Battery Capacity
-
Not Applicable
DC Charging Power
-
Not Applicable
Fuel Type
-
Petrol
Maximum Power
-
115 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque
-
206 Nm @ 2800 rpm
Motor Type
-
Not Applicable
Regenerative Braking
-
Not Applicable
Hybrid System
-
Not Applicable
Combined Power
-
Not Applicable
Combined Torque
-
Not Applicable
Number of Motors
-
Not Applicable
Motor Location
-
Not Applicable
Quarter Mile
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Rev Limiter
-
Not Officially Disclosed
Power-to-Weight Ratio
-
90.6 kW/tonne
Torque-to-Weight Ratio
-
162.2 Nm/tonne
Usable Battery Capacity
-
Not Applicable
Battery Type
-
Not Applicable
Battery Voltage
-
Not Applicable
Electric Range
-
Not Applicable
AC Charging Power
-
Not Applicable
AC Charging Time
-
Not Applicable
DC Charging Time
-
Not Applicable
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Apple CarPlay
-
Wireless
Android Auto
-
Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity
-
Standard
Number of Speakers
-
7
Digital Instrument Cluster
-
Not Available
Infotainment System
-
Standard
Infotainment Screen
-
8-Inch
Touchscreen
-
8-Inch
USB Ports
-
2
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
LED Headlamps
-
Standard
Daytime Running Lamps
-
Standard
Alloy Wheel Design
-
Black Metallic + Machining
Headlights
-
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof
-
Standard
Exterior Colour Options
-
Aero Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, Jet Black, Machine Grey, Polymetal Grey, Platinum Quartz and Soul Red Crystal are listed, with Carbon availability limited to selected finishes.
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Departure Angle
-
25.7 deg
Terrain Modes
-
Sport
Locking Differential
-
Not Applicable
4WD System Type
-
Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max
-
155 mm
Ground Clearance Min
-
155 mm
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Tyre Size
-
215/50R18
Front Brake Type
-
Ventilated disc
Rear Brake Type
-
Solid disc
Spare Wheel Type
-
Temporary spare 185/60 R16
Wheel Rim Size
-
18 X 7.0 J
Handbrake Type
-
Electronic
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Front Suspension
-
Macpherson strut
Rear Suspension
-
Torsion beam axle
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
CO2 Emissions
-
146 g/km
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Ownership Role
-
flagship equipment and comfort derivative
Price Source
-
https://www.mazda.co.za/specs-and-compare
Price Zar
-
551600 ZAR
Pricing Role
-
flagship equipment and comfort derivative
Starting Price
-
551600
Starting Price Zar
-
551600
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Warranty
-
5 Years/Unlimited km
Spec
Chery Q
CX-3
Service Plan
-
3 Years/Unlimited km
Overall Verdict Score
Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.
Weighted / 100
Verdict readout
CX-3 leads by 14 points
CX-3 has a slight advantage, but Chery Q remains highly competitive.
🏆Mazda CX-3
wins with 53 pts
vs 39 pts for Chery Q
In structured scoring, CX-3 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Chery Q may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.
Other Comparisons Worth Checking
See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.
On our scoring the CX-3 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: Chery Q 50 vs CX-3 61. 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: Chery Q 0, CX-3 61. 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: Chery Q 50, CX-3 47. 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: Chery Q 50, CX-3 48. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.
Performance scores: Chery Q 50, CX-3 47. 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 CX-3 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.
The CX-3 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 Chery Q and CX-3 in South Africa
evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.
Performance: Chery Q scores 50 vs 47.
Efficiency: Chery Q scores 50 vs 61.
Safety: Chery Q scores 0 vs 61.
Practicality: Chery Q scores 50 vs 48.
Ownership: Chery Q scores 50 vs 47.
Final structured scoring gives CX-3
the advantage in this comparison.
Compare
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