Mazda CX-30 vs Mahindra Scorpio-N

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-30 in South Africa

Mazda CX-30

2.0 Individual Edition Auto FWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 651,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 15.2 km/l
VS
Mahindra Scorpio-N in South Africa

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Z8L 4x4 AT Adventure Diesel Automatic
ZAR 699,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 129 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Scorpio-N
⛽ Fuel Economy Scorpio-N
🛡 Safety CX-30
📦 Practicality Scorpio-N
🔑 Ownership CX-30
Scorpio-N starts ZAR 539800 cheaper CX-30 from ZAR 539,800 · Scorpio-N from ZAR 489,999

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-30 Scorpio-N
Engine Power 121 kW 128.6 kW
Torque 213 Nm 400 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 2184 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.2 km/l 14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 187 mm
Boot / Load Bay 295 l 460 l
Airbags 7 Front, side and curtain airbags
Kerb Weight 1340 kg 1825-2070 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-30 and Scorpio-N are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Scorpio-N +20 pts
Efficiency Scorpio-N +1 pts
Safety CX-30 +36 pts
Practicality Scorpio-N +23 pts
Ownership CX-30 +11 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-30

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Scorpio-N

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-30

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Scorpio-N

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-30 Scorpio-N
Model Introduced Year 2021 -
Generation First-generation DM-series Mazda CX-30 using seventh-generation Mazda architecture Current local listing
Facelift History South African editions received a focused technology and equipment update in 2024, including the 10.25-inch display and revised connectivity. Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status Active Active
Segment Compact crossover SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-30 Scorpio-N
Ground Clearance 175 mm 187 mm
Wheelbase 2655 mm 2750 mm
Length 4395 mm 4662 mm
Width 1795 mm 1918 mm
Height 1540 mm 1905 mm
Kerb Weight 1340 kg 1825-2070 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1937 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 295 l 460 l
Towing Capacity 1200 kg -
Turning Radius 5.7 m -
Load Bed Length 295 l 460 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm -
Rear Legroom 921 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1412 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1361 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1200 l -
Number of Doors 5 -
Max Payload 597 kg -
Boot Volume 295 l 460 l
Doors 5 -
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 57 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1937 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 175 mm 187 mm
Ground Clearance Min 175 mm 187 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 175 mm 187 mm
Height Mm 1540 mm 1905 mm
Length Mm 4395 mm 4662 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 295 l 460 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 597 kg -
Cargo Volume 295 l 460 l
Tare Mass Kg 1340 kg 1825-2070 kg
Turning Circle 5.7 m -
Turning Circle M 5.7 m -
Width Mm 1795 mm 1918 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

Scorpio-N leads by 1 points

Both CX-30 and Scorpio-N are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 61 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 76% confidence
61
#1 Winner

Scorpio-N

76% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 78 Check Ownership 44
Performance 69
Efficiency 60
Safety 47
Practicality 78
Ownership 44
Leads by 1 points
60
#2

CX-30

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 83 Check Performance 49
Performance 49
Efficiency 59
Safety 83
Practicality 55
Ownership 55
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Scorpio-N +20 Efficiency Scorpio-N +1 Safety CX-30 +36 Practicality Scorpio-N +23 Ownership CX-30 +11

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Scorpio-N

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 60/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 44/100

CX-30

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 83/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mahindra Scorpio-N wins with 61 pts vs 60 pts for CX-30

In structured scoring, Scorpio-N emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-30 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 Scorpio-N 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-30 59 vs Scorpio-N 60. 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-30 83, Scorpio-N 47. 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-30 55, Scorpio-N 44. 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-30 55, Scorpio-N 78. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-30 49, Scorpio-N 69. 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 Scorpio-N edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Scorpio-N 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-30 and Scorpio-N in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-30 scores 49 vs 69.

Efficiency: CX-30 scores 59 vs 60.

Safety: CX-30 scores 83 vs 47.

Practicality: CX-30 scores 55 vs 78.

Ownership: CX-30 scores 55 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Scorpio-N the advantage in this comparison.