Mazda CX-5 vs Mazda CX-60

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-5 in South Africa

Mazda CX-5

2.0 Carbon Edition Auto FWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 688,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
VS
Mazda CX-60 in South Africa

Mazda CX-60

2.5 Individual Edition Auto AWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 902,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 141 kW 🔧 261 Nm ⛽ 13.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-60
Fuel Economy CX-5
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership Tie
CX-5 starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · CX-60 from ZAR 790,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 CX-60
Engine Power 121 kW 141 kW
Torque 213 Nm 261 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 13.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 178.8 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 477 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1470 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years/Unlimited km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-5 and CX-60 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +11 pts
Efficiency CX-5 +5 pts
Safety CX-60 +17 pts
Practicality CX-60 +7 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

CX-60

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-5 CX-60
Model Introduced Year 2017 2023
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture
Facelift History The second generation arrived in 2017 and received a substantial update from 2021. An all-new replacement is scheduled to reach South Africa on 1 August 2026, while this current range remains on sale. Mazda introduced the CX-60 locally in 2023, added the six-cylinder Takumi in 2024 and revised suspension and drivetrain calibration for the 2025 update.
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Mid-size family SUV Premium mid-size SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-5 CX-60
Ground Clearance 200 mm 178.8 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2870 mm
Length 4575 mm 4745 mm
Width 1845 mm 1890 mm
Height 1680 mm 1687.5 mm
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1470 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2065 kg 2342 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 438 l 477 l
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 1500 kg
Turning Radius 5.95 m 5.85 m
Load Bed Length 438 l 477 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1041 mm 1058 mm
Rear Legroom 1007 mm 990 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1451 mm 1504 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1391 mm 1441 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1340 l 1148 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 490 kg 872 kg
Boot Volume 438 l 477 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2065 kg 2342 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 178.8 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 178.8 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1687.5 mm
Length Mm 4575 mm 4745 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 438 l 477 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 490 kg 872 kg
Cargo Volume 438 l 477 l
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1470 kg
Turning Circle 5.95 m 5.85 m
Turning Circle M 5.95 m 5.85 m
Width Mm 1845 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-60 leads by 7 points

Both CX-5 and CX-60 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 68 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 94% confidence
68
#1 Winner

CX-60

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 99
Practicality 68
Ownership 55
Leads by 7 points
61
#2

CX-5

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 56
Safety 82
Practicality 61
Ownership 55
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +11 Efficiency CX-5 +5 Safety CX-60 +17 Practicality CX-60 +7 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-60

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 55/100

CX-5

Performance 48/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 61 pts for CX-5

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-5 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. 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

On our scoring the CX-60 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-5 56 vs CX-60 51. 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-5 82, CX-60 99. 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-5 55, CX-60 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-5 61, CX-60 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, CX-60 59. 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-60 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CX-60 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-5 and CX-60 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 59.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 51.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 99.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 68.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives CX-60 the advantage in this comparison.