Mazda CX-3 vs Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

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
Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

PHEV Apex Plug-In Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 8 PHEV
⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 8 PHEV
🛡 Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV
📦 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV
CX-3 starts ZAR 729900 cheaper CX-3 from ZAR 440,000 · Tiggo 8 PHEV from ZAR 729,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-3 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Engine Power 115 kW 150 kW
Torque 206 Nm 230 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.9 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay 230 l 494 l
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1270 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 8 PHEV holds a noticeable edge over CX-3, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 8 PHEV +9 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 8 PHEV +20 pts
Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV +33 pts
Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +30 pts
Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV +22 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-3

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-3

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tiggo 8 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2015 2026
Generation Current first-generation DK-series Mazda CX-3 Current South Africa Tiggo 8 PHEV range
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. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2015 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-3 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Ground Clearance 155 mm 170 mm
Wheelbase 2570 mm 2710 mm
Length 4275 mm 4725 mm
Width 1765 mm 1860 mm
Height 1542 mm 1705 mm
Kerb Weight 1270 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 1735 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 230 l 494 l
Towing Capacity 850 kg -
Turning Radius 5.7 m -
Load Bed Length 230 l 494 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 1930 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 465 kg -
Boot Volume 230 l 494 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 48 l 60 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1735 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 155 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Min 155 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 155 mm 170 mm
Height Mm 1542 mm 1705 mm
Length Mm 4275 mm 4725 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 230 l 494 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 465 kg -
Cargo Volume 230 l 494 l
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Turning Circle 5.7 m -
Turning Circle M 5.7 m -
Width Mm 1765 mm 1860 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

Tiggo 8 PHEV leads by 22 points

Tiggo 8 PHEV holds a noticeable edge over CX-3, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 22 points
Data 74% confidence
75
#1 Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 81
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Leads by 22 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV +9 Efficiency Tiggo 8 PHEV +20 Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV +33 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +30 Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV +22

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

CX-3

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV wins with 75 pts vs 53 pts for CX-3

In structured scoring, Tiggo 8 PHEV 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.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tiggo 8 PHEV 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV 81. 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, Tiggo 8 PHEV 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, Tiggo 8 PHEV 69. 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, Tiggo 8 PHEV 78. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-3 47, Tiggo 8 PHEV 56. 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 8 PHEV 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-3 scores 47 vs 56.

Efficiency: CX-3 scores 61 vs 81.

Safety: CX-3 scores 61 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-3 scores 48 vs 78.

Ownership: CX-3 scores 47 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 8 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.