Mazda CX-5 vs Suzuki Grand Vitara

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
Suzuki Grand Vitara in South Africa

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 542,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 17.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance CX-5
⛽ Fuel Economy Grand Vitara
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Grand Vitara
🔑 Ownership Grand Vitara
Grand Vitara starts ZAR 570500 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Grand Vitara from ZAR 359,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Grand Vitara
Engine Power 121 kW 76 kW
Torque 213 Nm 137 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1462 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 17.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 310 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1225 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-5 +14 pts
Efficiency Grand Vitara +17 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Grand Vitara +1 pts
Ownership Grand Vitara +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Grand Vitara

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Grand Vitara

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-5 Grand Vitara
Model Introduced Year 2017 2022
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range Third generation YHB-series Grand Vitara; shared platform with Toyota Urban Cruiser (a partnership-specific platform development); mild-hybrid system uses belt-integrated starter generator technology; all-new design and powertrain versus the previous generation
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. Third-generation Grand Vitara launched in SA in 2022; previous second-generation model discontinued in SA in 2015; current generation is a complete redesign on a new platform shared with the Toyota Urban Cruiser
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Mid-size family SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Pearl Arctic White, Metallic Grandeur Grey, Metallic Midnight Blue, Premium Silver, Pearl Burning Red
Spec CX-5 Grand Vitara
Ground Clearance 200 mm 210 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2600 mm
Length 4575 mm 4345 mm
Width 1845 mm 1795 mm
Height 1680 mm 1645 mm
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1225 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2065 kg 1680 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 438 l 310 l
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 0 kg
Turning Radius 5.95 m 5.4 m
Load Bed Length 438 l 310 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1041 mm 1060 mm
Rear Legroom 1007 mm 935 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1451 mm 1455 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1391 mm 1430 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1340 l 708 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 490 kg 530 kg
Boot Volume 438 l 310 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 45 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2065 kg 1680 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 210 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 210 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1645 mm
Length Mm 4575 mm 4345 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 438 l 310 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 490 kg 530 kg
Cargo Volume 438 l 310 l
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1225 kg
Turning Circle 5.95 m 5.4 m
Turning Circle M 5.95 m 5.4 m
Width Mm 1845 mm 1795 mm
Front Track Width - 1565 mm
Rear Track Width - 1565 mm
Front Headroom - 1010 mm
Rear Headroom - 970 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1340 l 708 l

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Grand Vitara leads by 2 points

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

Winner 63 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 94% confidence
63
#1 Winner

Grand Vitara

94% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 73
Safety 82
Practicality 62
Ownership 71
Leads by 2 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-5 +14 Efficiency Grand Vitara +17 Safety Level Practicality Grand Vitara +1 Ownership Grand Vitara +16

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Grand Vitara

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 62/100
Ownership 71/100

CX-5

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Grand Vitara wins with 63 pts vs 61 pts for CX-5

In structured scoring, Grand Vitara 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.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Grand Vitara 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 Grand Vitara 73. 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, Grand Vitara 82. 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, Grand Vitara 71. 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, Grand Vitara 62. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, Grand Vitara 34. 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 Grand Vitara edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Grand Vitara 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 Grand Vitara in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 34.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 73.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 82.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 62.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Grand Vitara the advantage in this comparison.