Hyundai Creta 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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Creta in South Africa

Hyundai Creta

1.5 IVT Fluid Petrol Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 456,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 144 Nm ⛽ 16.8 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 CX-60
Fuel Economy Creta
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Creta
🔑 Ownership Creta
Creta starts ZAR 790200 cheaper Creta from ZAR 407,900 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Creta CX-60
Engine Power 85 kW 141 kW
Torque 144 Nm 261 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.8 km/l 13.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 178.8 mm
Boot / Load Bay 433 l 477 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1365 kg 1470 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5 Years/Unlimited km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +23 pts
Efficiency Creta +13 pts
Safety CX-60 +7 pts
Practicality Creta +1 pts
Ownership Creta +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Creta

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Creta

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

CX-60

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Creta CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2016 2023
Generation Second generation Creta built on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; the SA model is a popular variant shared with several emerging markets First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History Second generation arrived in SA in 2021 with significant upgrades to interior quality, safety tech, and engine options; notably improved over the first-gen car 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 2021 2023
Facelift Version Ending Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec Creta CX-60
Ground Clearance 200 mm 178.8 mm
Wheelbase 2610 mm 2870 mm
Length 4330 mm 4745 mm
Width 1790 mm 1890 mm
Height 1635 mm 1687.5 mm
Kerb Weight 1365 kg 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1860 kg 2342 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 433 l 477 l
Turning Radius 5.3 m 5.85 m
Load Bed Length 433 l 477 l
Load Bed Width Not confirmed -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1396 l 1148 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Volume 433 l 477 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1860 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 1635 mm 1687.5 mm
Length Mm 4330 mm 4745 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 433 l 477 l
Loadbox Width Mm Not confirmed -
Cargo Volume 433 l 477 l
Tare Mass Kg 1365 kg 1470 kg
Turning Circle 5.3 m 5.85 m
Turning Circle M 5.3 m 5.85 m
Width Mm 1790 mm 1890 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1396 l 1148 l
Towing Capacity Not confirmed 1500 kg
Front Legroom Not confirmed 1058 mm
Rear Legroom Not confirmed 990 mm
Front Shoulder Room Not confirmed 1504 mm
Rear Shoulder Room Not confirmed 1441 mm
Max Payload Not confirmed 872 kg
Payload Kg Not confirmed 872 kg

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-60 leads by 3 points

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

Winner 68 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 94% confidence
68
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 3 points
65
#2

Creta

88% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 64
Safety 92
Practicality 69
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +23 Efficiency Creta +13 Safety CX-60 +7 Practicality Creta +1 Ownership Creta +10

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-60

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

Creta

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 64/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 69/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 65 pts for Creta

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Creta 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-60 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: Creta 64 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: Creta 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: Creta 65, 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: Creta 69, CX-60 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Creta 36, 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 CX-60 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Creta scores 36 vs 59.

Efficiency: Creta scores 64 vs 51.

Safety: Creta scores 92 vs 99.

Practicality: Creta scores 69 vs 68.

Ownership: Creta scores 65 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives CX-60 the advantage in this comparison.