Mazda CX-3 vs Suzuki Grand Vitara

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

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
Suzuki Grand Vitara in South Africa

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 542,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda CX-3 vs Suzuki Grand Vitara: the short answer

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

Grand Vitara starts ZAR 80,100 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Grand Vitara from ZAR 359,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CX-3 Grand Vitara
Maximum Power CX-3115 kW @ 6000 rpm Grand Vitara77 kW
Maximum Torque CX-3206 Nm @ 2800 rpm Grand Vitara138 Nm
Engine Size CX-31998 cc Grand Vitara1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CX-315.9 km/l Grand Vitara16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance CX-3155 mm Grand Vitara0 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Mazda CX-3

2.0 Individual Auto FWD

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

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

Grand Vitara

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Grand Vitara

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • 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 Grand Vitara
Model Introduced Year 2015 2026
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Current market generation
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. Current market specification
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-3 Grand Vitara
Length 4275 mm 4345 mm
Width 1765 mm 1795 mm
Height 1542 mm 1645 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2600 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 0 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 45 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 373 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1210 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1735 kg 1720 kg
Payload Capacity 465 kg 510 kg
Towing Capacity 850 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.2 m
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 900 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 170 mm
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 1000 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This CX-3 and Grand Vitara comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. 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 Grand Vitara 42.

Efficiency index: CX-3 61 vs Grand Vitara 67.

Safety-equipment index: CX-3 84 vs Grand Vitara 91.

Practicality index: CX-3 48 vs Grand Vitara 52.

Ownership-cover index: CX-3 not separately scored vs Grand Vitara 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

Grand Vitara leads by 2 points

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

Evidence leader 62 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 77% source coverage
62
#1 Evidence leader

Grand Vitara

77% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 42
Performance 42
Efficiency 67
Safety 91
Practicality 52
Leads by 2 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 +5 Efficiency Grand Vitara +6 Safety Grand Vitara +7 Practicality Grand Vitara +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Grand Vitara

Performance 42/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 52/100

CX-3

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Suzuki Grand Vitara leads the specification evidence index with 62 pts vs 60 pts for CX-3

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

CX-3 vs Grand Vitara questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.