Mazda CX-5 vs Tata Harrier

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 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 688,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
VS
Tata Harrier in South Africa

Tata Harrier

Fearless+ DT AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 699,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 350 Nm ⛽ 15.15 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Harrier
Fuel Economy Harrier
🛡 Safety Harrier
📦 Practicality Harrier
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Harrier starts ZAR 20,600 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Harrier from ZAR 549,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Harrier
Maximum Power 121 kW @ 6000 rpm 125 kW @ 3750 rpm
Maximum Torque 213 Nm @ 4000 rpm 350 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1956 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 14.5 km/l 15.15 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 205 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 445 l
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1823 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 years / 125,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Harrier has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-5 remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Harrier +12 pts
Efficiency Harrier +3 pts
Safety Harrier +11 pts
Practicality Harrier +6 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Catalogue-index leader

Harrier

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Harrier

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-5 Harrier
Model Introduced Year 2017 2025
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range Current-generation South African-market Tata Harrier five-seat SUV
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. Introduced with Tata Passenger Vehicles' South African return in 2025; no South African facelift has been announced
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Active
Segment Mid-size family SUV Mid-size SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger Car
Spec CX-5 Harrier
Length 4575 mm 4605 mm
Width 1845 mm 1922 mm
Height 1680 mm 1718 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2741 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 205 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 50 l
Boot/Cargo Space 438 l 445 l
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1823 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2065 kg 2298 kg
Payload Capacity 490 kg 475 kg
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.95 m 5.8 m
Front Legroom 1041 mm 840 mm
Rear Legroom 1007 mm 980 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 150 mm
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 1020 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Harrier leads by 9 points

Harrier has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CX-5 remains close.

Index leader 72 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 75% source coverage
72
#1 Index leader

Harrier

75% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 59
Performance 60
Efficiency 59
Safety 99
Practicality 67
Leads by 9 points
63
#2

CX-5

78% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 56
Safety 88
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Harrier +12 Efficiency Harrier +3 Safety Harrier +11 Practicality Harrier +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Harrier

Performance 60/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 67/100

CX-5

Performance 48/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 61/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Tata Harrier leads the catalogue index with 72 pts vs 63 pts for CX-5

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Harrier leads. However, CX-5 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This CX-5 and Harrier comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CX-5 48 vs Harrier 60.

Efficiency index: CX-5 56 vs Harrier 59.

Safety-equipment index: CX-5 88 vs Harrier 99.

Practicality index: CX-5 61 vs Harrier 67.

Ownership-cover index: CX-5 not separately scored vs Harrier not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.