Mazda CX-3 vs Jetour Dashing

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 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 551,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 206 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
VS
Jetour Dashing in South Africa

Jetour Dashing

Deluxe Petrol 6-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 12.8 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda CX-3 vs Jetour Dashing: the short answer

CX-3 and Dashing are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Dashing starts ZAR 100 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Dashing from ZAR 439,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CX-3 Dashing
Maximum Power CX-3115 kW @ 6000 rpm Dashing115 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque CX-3206 Nm @ 2800 rpm Dashing230 Nm
Engine Size CX-31998 cc Dashing1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CX-315.9 km/l Dashing12.8 km/l
Ground Clearance CX-3155 mm Dashing160 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Dashing

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Dashing

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-3 Dashing
Model Introduced Year 2015 Not Available
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Current local listing
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. Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2015 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status Active Active
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1580 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-3 Dashing
Length 4275 mm 4590 mm
Width 1765 mm 1900 mm
Height 1542 mm 1685 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2720 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 57 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 977 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1580 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1735 kg 1888 kg
Payload Capacity 465 kg 308 kg
Towing Capacity 850 kg 1200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.6 m
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 910 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 160 mm
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 1005 mm
Rear Headroom - 970 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This CX-3 and Dashing comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CX-3 47 vs Dashing 45.

Efficiency index: CX-3 61 vs Dashing 50.

Safety-equipment index: CX-3 84 vs Dashing 91.

Practicality index: CX-3 48 vs Dashing 65.

Ownership-cover index: CX-3 not separately scored vs Dashing not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Dashing leads by 3 points

CX-3 and Dashing are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 63 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 61% source coverage
63
#1 Evidence leader

Dashing

61% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 45
Performance 45
Efficiency 50
Safety 91
Practicality 65
Leads by 3 points
60
#2

CX-3

71% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 61
Safety 84
Practicality 48
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-3 +2 Efficiency CX-3 +11 Safety Dashing +7 Practicality Dashing +17

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Dashing

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 65/100

CX-3

Performance 47/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 48/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Jetour Dashing leads the specification evidence index with 63 pts vs 60 pts for CX-3

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Dashing leads. However, CX-3 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South African models and comparable body styles.

CX-3
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VS
Jimny 5-Door
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CX-3 vs Jimny 5-Door →
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CX-3 vs Outlander Sport →
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VS
Jimny 5-Door
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Dashing vs Jimny 5-Door →
Dashing
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VS
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Dashing vs Tiggo 4 Cross HEV →

CX-3 vs Dashing questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.