Mazda CX-3 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

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
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in South Africa

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

2.4L DI-DC 8-speed A/T 4X4 Exceed Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 904,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 133 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda CX-3 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: the short answer

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

CX-3 starts ZAR 349,990 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CX-3 Pajero Sport
Maximum Power CX-3115 kW @ 6000 rpm Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque CX-3206 Nm @ 2800 rpm Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size CX-31998 cc Pajero Sport2442 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CX-315.9 km/l Pajero Sport12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance CX-3155 mm Pajero Sport218 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

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

Pajero Sport

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-3 Pajero Sport
Model Introduced Year 2015 2017
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
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. South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Facelift Launched Since 2015 Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Compact crossover Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec CX-3 Pajero Sport
Length 4275 mm 4825 mm
Width 1765 mm 1815 mm
Height 1542 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 218 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 68 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 193 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1735 kg 2775 kg
Payload Capacity 465 kg 695 kg
Towing Capacity 850 kg 2850 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 5.6 m
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1067 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 880 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 190 mm
Number of Rows - 3 rows
Front Headroom - 1022 mm
Rear Headroom - 957 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This CX-3 and Pajero Sport 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 Pajero Sport 65.

Efficiency index: CX-3 61 vs Pajero Sport 49.

Safety-equipment index: CX-3 84 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Practicality index: CX-3 48 vs Pajero Sport 71.

Ownership-cover index: CX-3 not separately scored vs Pajero Sport 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

Pajero Sport leads by 5 points

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

Evidence leader 65 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 83% source coverage
65
#1 Evidence leader

Pajero Sport

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 72 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 65
Efficiency 49
Safety 72
Practicality 71
Leads by 5 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 Pajero Sport +18 Efficiency CX-3 +12 Safety CX-3 +12 Practicality Pajero Sport +23

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Pajero Sport

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 72/100
Practicality 71/100

CX-3

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mitsubishi Pajero Sport leads the specification evidence index with 65 pts vs 60 pts for CX-3

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

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CX-3 vs Pajero Sport 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.