Mazda CX-3 vs Nissan Magnite

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
Nissan Magnite in South Africa

Nissan Magnite

1.0 Acenta Plus EZ-Shift Petrol Current
ZAR 323,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 53 kW 🔧 96 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-3
Fuel Economy Magnite
🛡 Safety Magnite
📦 Practicality Magnite
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Magnite starts ZAR 210,100 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Magnite from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 Magnite
Maximum Power 115 kW @ 6000 rpm 53 kW @ 6250 rpm
Maximum Torque 206 Nm @ 2800 rpm 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm
Engine Size 1998 cc 999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 15.9 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 205 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 336 l
Airbags 6 6 airbags
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1007 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 6 years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-3 +31 pts
Efficiency Magnite +4 pts
Safety Magnite +2 pts
Practicality Magnite +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

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

Magnite

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

Magnite

  • 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 Magnite
Model Introduced Year 2015 2021
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment
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. 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Compact crossover Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1007 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data
Spec CX-3 Magnite
Length 4275 mm 3995 mm
Width 1765 mm 1758 mm
Height 1542 mm 1571 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 205 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 336 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1007 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1735 kg 1399 kg
Payload Capacity 465 kg -
Towing Capacity 850 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5 m
Front Legroom 1058 mm -
Rear Legroom 888 mm -

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

CX-3 leads by 4 points

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

Index leader 60 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 71% source coverage
60
#1 Index leader

CX-3

71% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 61
Safety 84
Practicality 48
Leads by 4 points
56
#2

Magnite

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 86 Check Performance 16
Performance 16
Efficiency 65
Safety 86
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-3 +31 Efficiency Magnite +4 Safety Magnite +2 Practicality Magnite +16

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

CX-3

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

Magnite

Performance 16/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 86/100
Practicality 64/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Mazda CX-3 leads the catalogue index with 60 pts vs 56 pts for Magnite

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, CX-3 leads. However, Magnite may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This CX-3 and Magnite 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 Magnite 16.

Efficiency index: CX-3 61 vs Magnite 65.

Safety-equipment index: CX-3 84 vs Magnite 86.

Practicality index: CX-3 48 vs Magnite 64.

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