Mazda CX-30 vs Chery Tiggo 4 Cross

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
Chery Tiggo 4 Cross in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 4 Cross

LiT MT Petrol Manual
ZAR 279,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 83 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 14.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance CX-30
⛽ Fuel Economy CX-30
🛡 Safety CX-30
📦 Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross
🔑 Ownership CX-30
Tiggo 4 Cross starts ZAR 539800 cheaper CX-30 from ZAR 539,800 · Tiggo 4 Cross from ZAR 279,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-30 Tiggo 4 Cross
Engine Power 121 kW 83 kW
Torque 213 Nm 170 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.2 km/l 14.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 180 mm
Boot / Load Bay 295 l -
Airbags 7 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1340 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-30 and Tiggo 4 Cross are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-30 +11 pts
Efficiency CX-30 +3 pts
Safety CX-30 +8 pts
Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross +12 pts
Ownership CX-30 +8 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-30

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Tiggo 4 Cross

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-30

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tiggo 4 Cross

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-30 Tiggo 4 Cross
Model Introduced Year 2021 2026
Generation First-generation DM-series Mazda CX-30 using seventh-generation Mazda architecture Current South Africa Tiggo 4 Cross range
Facelift History South African editions received a focused technology and equipment update in 2024, including the 10.25-inch display and revised connectivity. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2021 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-30 Tiggo 4 Cross
Ground Clearance 175 mm 180 mm
Wheelbase 2655 mm 2610 mm
Length 4395 mm 4351 mm
Width 1795 mm 1831 mm
Height 1540 mm 1662 mm
Kerb Weight 1340 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 1937 kg 1701 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 295 l -
Towing Capacity 1200 kg -
Turning Radius 5.7 m -
Load Bed Length 295 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 5
Max Payload 597 kg -
Boot Volume 295 l -
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1937 kg 1701 kg
Ground Clearance Max 175 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance Min 175 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 175 mm 180 mm
Height Mm 1540 mm 1662 mm
Length Mm 4395 mm 4351 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 295 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 597 kg -
Cargo Volume 295 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1340 kg -
Turning Circle 5.7 m -
Turning Circle M 5.7 m -
Width Mm 1795 mm 1831 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

CX-30 leads by 3 points

Both CX-30 and Tiggo 4 Cross are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 60 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 94% confidence
60
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 3 points
57
#2

Tiggo 4 Cross

68% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 75 Check Performance 38
Performance 38
Efficiency 56
Safety 75
Practicality 67
Ownership 47
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-30 +11 Efficiency CX-30 +3 Safety CX-30 +8 Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross +12 Ownership CX-30 +8

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-30

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

Tiggo 4 Cross

Performance 38/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 75/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 47/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-30 wins with 60 pts vs 57 pts for Tiggo 4 Cross

In structured scoring, CX-30 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Tiggo 4 Cross 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 CX-30 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 Tiggo 4 Cross 56. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross 75. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross 47. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-30 49, Tiggo 4 Cross 38. 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 CX-30 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CX-30 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 Tiggo 4 Cross in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-30 scores 49 vs 38.

Efficiency: CX-30 scores 59 vs 56.

Safety: CX-30 scores 83 vs 75.

Practicality: CX-30 scores 55 vs 67.

Ownership: CX-30 scores 55 vs 47.

Final structured scoring gives CX-30 the advantage in this comparison.