Honda CR-V 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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 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 CR-V
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership CX-60
CR-V starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V CX-60
Engine Power 204 kW 141 kW
Torque 335 Nm 261 Nm
Engine Size 1993 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 20 km/l 13.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 178.8 mm
Boot / Load Bay 497 l 477 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 1470 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 5 Years/Unlimited km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CR-V +18 pts
Efficiency CR-V +29 pts
Safety CX-60 +7 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership CX-60 +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

CX-60

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

CX-60

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2023 2023
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology 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 Original current-generation version 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CR-V CX-60
Ground Clearance 200 mm 178.8 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2870 mm
Length 4690 mm 4745 mm
Width 1860 mm 1890 mm
Height 1690 mm 1687.5 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2250 kg 2342 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 497 l 477 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 1500 kg
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - 5.85 m
Load Bed Length 497 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 497 l 1148 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - 872 kg
Boot Volume 497 l 477 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2250 kg 2342 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 178.8 mm
Height Mm 1690 mm 1687.5 mm
Length Mm 4690 mm 4745 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 497 l 477 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - 872 kg
Cargo Volume 497 l 477 l
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg 1470 kg
Turning Circle - 5.85 m
Turning Circle M - 5.85 m
Width Mm 1860 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 7 points

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

Winner 75 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 95% confidence
75
#1 Winner

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
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 CR-V +18 Efficiency CR-V +29 Safety CX-60 +7 Practicality Level Ownership CX-60 +4

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

CX-60

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 68 pts for CX-60

In structured scoring, CR-V 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 CR-V 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: CR-V 80 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: CR-V 92, 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: CR-V 51, 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: CR-V 68, CX-60 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, 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 CR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 59.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 51.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 99.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 68.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives CR-V the advantage in this comparison.