Chery Chery Q 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.

Chery Chery Q in South Africa

Chery Chery Q

Upcoming
Launch price pending
Upcoming in South Africa Confirmed launch information and specifications remain visible while final availability is pending.
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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Chery Q
Fuel Economy CX-3
🛡 Safety CX-3
📦 Practicality Chery Q
🔑 Ownership Chery 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 Driving Family 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

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.

Winner 53 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 90% confidence
53
#1 Winner

CX-3

90% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 61 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 61
Safety 61
Practicality 48
Ownership 47
Leads by 14 points
39
#2

Chery Q

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Chery Q +3 Efficiency CX-3 +11 Safety CX-3 +61 Practicality Chery Q +2 Ownership Chery Q +3

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-3

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

Chery Q

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 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.

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 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.