Mazda CX-3 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.

Mazda CX-3 in South Africa

Mazda CX-3

2.0 Individual Auto FWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 551,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 206 Nm ⛽ 15.9 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 CX-3
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership CX-60
CX-3 starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 CX-60
Engine Power 115 kW 141 kW
Torque 206 Nm 261 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.9 km/l 13.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 178.8 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 477 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1470 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years/Unlimited km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CX-60 holds a noticeable edge over CX-3, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +12 pts
Efficiency CX-3 +10 pts
Safety CX-60 +38 pts
Practicality CX-60 +20 pts
Ownership CX-60 +8 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

CX-60

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-3 CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2015 2023
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
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. 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 2015 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Compact crossover Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-3 CX-60
Ground Clearance 155 mm 178.8 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2870 mm
Length 4275 mm 4745 mm
Width 1765 mm 1890 mm
Height 1542 mm 1687.5 mm
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1735 kg 2342 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 230 l 477 l
Towing Capacity 850 kg 1500 kg
Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.85 m
Load Bed Length 230 l 477 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1058 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 990 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1360 mm 1504 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1281 mm 1441 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1140 l 1148 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 465 kg 872 kg
Boot Volume 230 l 477 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1735 kg 2342 kg
Ground Clearance Max 155 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Min 155 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 155 mm 178.8 mm
Height Mm 1542 mm 1687.5 mm
Length Mm 4275 mm 4745 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 230 l 477 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 465 kg 872 kg
Cargo Volume 230 l 477 l
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1470 kg
Turning Circle 5.7 m 5.85 m
Turning Circle M 5.7 m 5.85 m
Width Mm 1765 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-60 leads by 15 points

CX-60 holds a noticeable edge over CX-3, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 68 /100
Lead 15 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 15 points
53
#2

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
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +12 Efficiency CX-3 +10 Safety CX-60 +38 Practicality CX-60 +20 Ownership CX-60 +8

Moderate difference between the models.

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

CX-3

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 53 pts for CX-3

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-3 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: CX-3 61 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: CX-3 61, 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: CX-3 47, 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: CX-3 48, CX-60 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-3 47, 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 CX-3 and CX-60 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-3 scores 47 vs 59.

Efficiency: CX-3 scores 61 vs 51.

Safety: CX-3 scores 61 vs 99.

Practicality: CX-3 scores 48 vs 68.

Ownership: CX-3 scores 47 vs 55.

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