Mazda CX-3 vs GWM H6 GT

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
GWM H6 GT in South Africa

GWM H6 GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Current
ZAR 769,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6 GT
Fuel Economy H6 GT
🛡 Safety H6 GT
📦 Practicality H6 GT
🔑 Ownership H6 GT
CX-3 starts ZAR 259,900 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · H6 GT from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 H6 GT
Maximum Power 115 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 206 Nm @ 2800 rpm 420 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.9 km/l 16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 192 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 460 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1740 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

H6 GT holds a noticeable edge over CX-3, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 GT +23 pts
Efficiency H6 GT +6 pts
Safety H6 GT +33 pts
Practicality H6 GT +17 pts
Ownership H6 GT +18 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

H6 GT

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

H6 GT

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • 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 H6 GT
Model Introduced Year 2015 2023
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 First generation, derived from the regular H6 platform but with bodywork, suspension calibration, powertrain and cabin treatment differentiated for performance positioning.
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. First-generation H6 GT launched in South Africa in 2023. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the hybrid system calibration and adjusted the chassis damping mapping for SA road conditions.
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1740 kg
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Cosmos Grey, Mars Red and Atlantic Blue. Two-tone roof option pairs with white, silver and red base colours.
Spec CX-3 H6 GT
Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive Front Engine Front Wheel Drive
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Standard Not Applicable
Gearbox 6-Speed Auto DHT Hybrid Transmission
Final Drive Ratio 4.325 3.73
Number of Gears 6 2
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Drivetrain FWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type Automatic DHT Hybrid Transmission
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout 4x2 FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 6 2
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type - Wet Multi-Disc
Differential Type Front - Not Available
Differential Type Rear - Not Available
Drive Mode Selector - Yes
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Gear Shift Indicator - Yes
LSD Available - No
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 14.7:1
Transfer Case Guard - Not Available

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H6 GT leads by 20 points

H6 GT holds a noticeable edge over CX-3, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 73 /100
Lead 20 points
Data 97% confidence
73
#1 Winner

H6 GT

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 65
Performance 70
Efficiency 67
Safety 94
Practicality 65
Ownership 65
Leads by 20 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 H6 GT +23 Efficiency H6 GT +6 Safety H6 GT +33 Practicality H6 GT +17 Ownership H6 GT +18

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H6 GT

Performance 70/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 65/100

CX-3

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM H6 GT wins with 73 pts vs 53 pts for CX-3

In structured scoring, H6 GT 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 H6 GT 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 H6 GT 67. 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, H6 GT 94. 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, H6 GT 65. 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, H6 GT 65. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-3 47, H6 GT 70. 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 H6 GT edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H6 GT 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 H6 GT in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-3 scores 47 vs 70.

Efficiency: CX-3 scores 61 vs 67.

Safety: CX-3 scores 61 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-3 scores 48 vs 65.

Ownership: CX-3 scores 47 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives H6 GT the advantage in this comparison.