Mazda CX-30 vs Chery Tiggo 7 Pro

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 7 Pro in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 7 Pro

Distinction 1.5T CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 389,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 108 kW 🔧 210 Nm ⛽ 14.7 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance CX-30
⛽ Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety CX-30
📦 Practicality Tiggo 7 Pro
🔑 Ownership Tie
Tiggo 7 Pro starts ZAR 539800 cheaper CX-30 from ZAR 539,800 · Tiggo 7 Pro from ZAR 389,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-30 Tiggo 7 Pro
Engine Power 121 kW 108 kW
Torque 213 Nm 210 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.2 km/l 14.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm -
Boot / Load Bay 295 l 475 l
Airbags 7 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1340 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Year / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-30 and Tiggo 7 Pro are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-30 +3 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety CX-30 +8 pts
Practicality Tiggo 7 Pro +13 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-30

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 Pro

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-30

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Tiggo 7 Pro

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-30 Tiggo 7 Pro
Model Introduced Year 2021 2022
Generation First-generation DM-series Mazda CX-30 using seventh-generation Mazda architecture Current South Africa Tiggo 7 Pro 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 2022
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 7 Pro
Ground Clearance 175 mm -
Wheelbase 2655 mm 2670 mm
Length 4395 mm 4500 mm
Width 1795 mm 1842 mm
Height 1540 mm 1705 mm
Kerb Weight 1340 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 1937 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 295 l 475 l
Towing Capacity 1200 kg -
Turning Radius 5.7 m -
Load Bed Length 295 l 475 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 1500 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 597 kg -
Boot Volume 295 l 475 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1937 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 175 mm -
Ground Clearance Min 175 mm -
Ground Clearance Mm 175 mm -
Height Mm 1540 mm 1705 mm
Length Mm 4395 mm 4500 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 295 l 475 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 597 kg -
Cargo Volume 295 l 475 l
Tare Mass Kg 1340 kg -
Turning Circle 5.7 m -
Turning Circle M 5.7 m -
Width Mm 1795 mm 1842 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 7 Pro leads by 1 points

Both CX-30 and Tiggo 7 Pro are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 61 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 68% confidence
61
#1 Winner

Tiggo 7 Pro

68% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 75 Check Performance 46
Performance 46
Efficiency 59
Safety 75
Practicality 68
Ownership 55
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 CX-30 +3 Efficiency Level Safety CX-30 +8 Practicality Tiggo 7 Pro +13 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 Pro

Performance 46/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 75/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 55/100

CX-30

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro wins with 61 pts vs 60 pts for CX-30

In structured scoring, Tiggo 7 Pro 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 Tiggo 7 Pro 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 7 Pro 59. 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 7 Pro 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 7 Pro 55. 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 7 Pro 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-30 49, Tiggo 7 Pro 46. 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 7 Pro edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 7 Pro 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 7 Pro in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-30 scores 49 vs 46.

Efficiency: CX-30 scores 59 vs 59.

Safety: CX-30 scores 83 vs 75.

Practicality: CX-30 scores 55 vs 68.

Ownership: CX-30 scores 55 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 7 Pro the advantage in this comparison.