Mazda CX-3 vs KIA Sportage

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
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Sportage
Fuel Economy CX-3
🛡 Safety Sportage
📦 Practicality Sportage
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
CX-3 starts ZAR 222,995 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Sportage from ZAR 662,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 Sportage
Maximum Power 115 kW @ 6000 rpm 132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 206 Nm @ 2800 rpm 265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 15.9 km/l 13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 181 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 466 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1570 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 Years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Sportage has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-3 remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Sportage +10 pts
Efficiency CX-3 +7 pts
Safety Sportage +16 pts
Practicality Sportage +17 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Catalogue-index leader

Sportage

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Sportage

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2015 2022
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
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. Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1570 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Spec CX-3 Sportage
Length 4275 mm 4515 mm
Width 1765 mm 1865 mm
Height 1542 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 230 l 466 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1570 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1735 kg 2080 kg
Payload Capacity 465 kg -
Towing Capacity 850 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 10.8 m
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 888 mm 855 mm
Front Headroom - 1010 mm
Rear Headroom - 955 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

Sportage leads by 10 points

Sportage has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-3 remains close.

Index leader 70 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 96% source coverage
70
#1 Index leader

Sportage

96% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 65
Ownership 71
Leads by 10 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 Sportage +10 Efficiency CX-3 +7 Safety Sportage +16 Practicality Sportage +17

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 71/100

CX-3

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 KIA Sportage leads the catalogue index with 70 pts vs 60 pts for CX-3

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Sportage leads. However, CX-3 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 Sportage 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 Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: CX-3 61 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: CX-3 84 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: CX-3 48 vs Sportage 65.

Ownership-cover index: CX-3 not separately scored vs Sportage 71.

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.