Mazda CX-3 vs GWM H6

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
GWM H6 in South Africa

GWM H6

1.5T Hybrid LX Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 17.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-3
Fuel Economy H6
🛡 Safety H6
📦 Practicality H6
🔑 Ownership H6
CX-3 starts ZAR 589900 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · H6 from ZAR 589,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 H6
Engine Power 115 kW 115 kW
Torque 206 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.9 km/l 17.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 198 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 530 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1680 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-3 +4 pts
Efficiency H6 +9 pts
Safety H6 +33 pts
Practicality H6 +21 pts
Ownership H6 +18 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

H6

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

H6

  • 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
Model Introduced Year 2015 2022
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 H6 sold in South Africa is the third generation H6 under the Haval brand, launched globally in 2021 and adapted for SA in 2022. Suspension and powertrain calibration is tuned for South African road conditions and fuel quality.
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. H6 received a mid-cycle update in late 2024 that brought refined hybrid system calibration for South African altitude and fuel quality, an upgraded driver-assistance package across all variants, the 14.6-inch infotainment screen as standard on LT and LX (replacing the original 12.3-inch unit), and revised exterior detailing including new alloy wheel designs.
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2024
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
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red, Atlantic Blue and Cosmos Grey. Two-tone roof options on LT and LX with selected base colours.
Spec CX-3 H6
Ground Clearance 155 mm 198 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2738 mm
Length 4275 mm 4653 mm
Width 1765 mm 1886 mm
Height 1542 mm 1730 mm
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1680 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1735 kg 2200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 230 l 530 l
Towing Capacity 850 kg 1500 kg
Turning Radius 5.7 m 11.8 m
Load Bed Length 230 l 530 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 890 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1360 mm 1430 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1281 mm 1390 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1140 l 730 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 465 kg -
Boot Volume 230 l 530 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1735 kg 2200 kg
Ground Clearance Max 155 mm 198 mm
Ground Clearance Min 155 mm 198 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 155 mm 198 mm
Height Mm 1542 mm 1730 mm
Length Mm 4275 mm 4653 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 230 l 530 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 465 kg -
Cargo Volume 230 l 530 l
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1680 kg
Turning Circle 5.7 m 11.8 m
Turning Circle M 5.7 m 11.8 m
Width Mm 1765 mm 1886 mm
Front Overhang - 880 mm
Front Track Width - 1560 mm
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 960 mm
Load Sill Height - Low
Rear Overhang - 890 mm
Rear Track Width - 1570 mm
Tracking System - Optional
Boot Space Seats Folded 1140 l 730 l

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H6 leads by 15 points

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

Winner 68 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 97% confidence
68
#1 Winner

H6

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 43
Performance 43
Efficiency 70
Safety 94
Practicality 69
Ownership 65
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-3 +4 Efficiency H6 +9 Safety H6 +33 Practicality H6 +21 Ownership H6 +18

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H6

Performance 43/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 69/100
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 wins with 68 pts vs 53 pts for CX-3

In structured scoring, H6 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 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 70. 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 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 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 69. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-3 47, H6 43. 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 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CX-3 scores 47 vs 43.

Efficiency: CX-3 scores 61 vs 70.

Safety: CX-3 scores 61 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-3 scores 48 vs 69.

Ownership: CX-3 scores 47 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives H6 the advantage in this comparison.