Mazda CX-3 vs GWM Jolion Pro Limited

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 Jolion Pro Limited in South Africa

GWM Jolion Pro Limited

1.5T Super Luxury Limited 7DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 431,450 ex-showroom
⚡ 105 kW 🔧 210 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance CX-3
⛽ Fuel Economy CX-3
🛡 Safety CX-3
📦 Practicality Jolion Pro Limited
🔑 Ownership Jolion Pro Limited
Jolion Pro Limited starts ZAR 440000 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Jolion Pro Limited from ZAR 431,450

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 Jolion Pro Limited
Engine Power 115 kW 105 kW
Torque 206 Nm 210 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1500 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.9 km/l 12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 168 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 255-1133 l
Airbags 6 Dual SRS airbags with front side airbags; side curtain airbags grade dependent
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1410-1575 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 years / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CX-3 has a slight advantage, but Jolion Pro Limited remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-3 +2 pts
Efficiency CX-3 +10 pts
Safety CX-3 +52 pts
Practicality Jolion Pro Limited +8 pts
Ownership Jolion Pro Limited +18 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-3

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Jolion Pro Limited

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Jolion Pro Limited

  • 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 Jolion Pro Limited
Model Introduced Year 2015 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Current South African Jolion Pro Limited listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
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. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2015 Original current-generation version
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
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Spec CX-3 Jolion Pro Limited
Ground Clearance 155 mm 168 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2700 mm
Length 4275 mm 4472 mm
Width 1765 mm 1841 mm
Height 1542 mm 1619 mm
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1410-1575 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1735 kg 1845-2025 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 230 l 255-1133 l
Towing Capacity 850 kg -
Turning Radius 5.7 m -
Load Bed Length 230 l 255-1133 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm -
Rear Legroom 888 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1360 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1281 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1140 l -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 465 kg -
Boot Volume 230 l 255-1133 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1735 kg 1845-2025 kg
Ground Clearance Max 155 mm 168 mm
Ground Clearance Min 155 mm 168 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 155 mm 168 mm
Height Mm 1542 mm 1619 mm
Length Mm 4275 mm 4472 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 230 l 255-1133 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 465 kg -
Cargo Volume 230 l 255-1133 l
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1410-1575 kg
Turning Circle 5.7 m -
Turning Circle M 5.7 m -
Width Mm 1765 mm 1841 mm
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-3 leads by 9 points

CX-3 has a slight advantage, but Jolion Pro Limited remains highly competitive.

Winner 53 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 90% confidence
53
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 9 points
44
#2

Jolion Pro Limited

76% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Ownership 65 Check Safety 9
Performance 45
Efficiency 51
Safety 9
Practicality 56
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-3 +2 Efficiency CX-3 +10 Safety CX-3 +52 Practicality Jolion Pro Limited +8 Ownership Jolion Pro Limited +18

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-3

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

Jolion Pro Limited

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 56/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-3 wins with 53 pts vs 44 pts for Jolion Pro Limited

In structured scoring, CX-3 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Jolion Pro Limited may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the CX-3 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 Jolion Pro Limited 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, Jolion Pro Limited 9. 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, Jolion Pro Limited 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, Jolion Pro Limited 56. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-3 47, Jolion Pro Limited 45. 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-3 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CX-3 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 Jolion Pro Limited in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-3 scores 47 vs 45.

Efficiency: CX-3 scores 61 vs 51.

Safety: CX-3 scores 61 vs 9.

Practicality: CX-3 scores 48 vs 56.

Ownership: CX-3 scores 47 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives CX-3 the advantage in this comparison.