Mazda CX-5 vs GWM Jolion GT

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

GWM Jolion GT Discontinued model
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
GWM Jolion GT in South Africa

GWM Jolion GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Discontinued model
ZAR 629,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 6.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Jolion GT
Fuel Economy CX-5
🛡 Safety Jolion GT
📦 Practicality CX-5
🔑 Ownership Jolion GT
Recorded price context CX-5: current from ZAR 570,500 · Jolion GT: last listed from ZAR 579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Jolion GT
Maximum Power 121 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 213 Nm @ 4000 rpm 380 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 6.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 185 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 298 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity - Not confirmed
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Jolion GT +20 pts
Efficiency CX-5 +17 pts
Safety Jolion GT +12 pts
Practicality CX-5 +4 pts
Ownership Jolion GT +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Jolion GT

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Jolion GT

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec CX-5 Jolion GT
Model Introduced Year 2017 2024
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range First generation, sharing platform fundamentals with the regular Jolion but with bodywork, suspension calibration, powertrain and cabin treatment differentiated to position as a halo product within the Haval lineup.
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. First-generation Jolion GT launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have improved driver-assistance calibration and refined hybrid system behaviour during cold starts on the Highveld.
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status Active Not confirmed
Segment Mid-size family SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1600 kg
Spec CX-5 Jolion GT
Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive Front Engine Front Wheel Drive
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Standard Not confirmed
Gearbox 6-Speed Auto DHT Hybrid Transmission
Final Drive Ratio 4.624 3.73
Number of Gears 6 2
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Drivetrain FWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not confirmed
Low Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
Axle Layout 4x2 Not confirmed
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds 6 2
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
LSD Available - No
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 14.7:1
Clutch Type - Wet Multi-Disc
Gear Shift Indicator - Yes
Drive Mode Selector - Yes
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Jolion GT leads by 5 points

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

Winner 66 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 97% confidence
66
#1 Winner

Jolion GT

97% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 39
Performance 68
Efficiency 39
Safety 94
Practicality 57
Ownership 65
Leads by 5 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 Jolion GT +20 Efficiency CX-5 +17 Safety Jolion GT +12 Practicality CX-5 +4 Ownership Jolion GT +10

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Jolion GT

Performance 68/100
Efficiency 39/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 57/100
Ownership 65/100

CX-5

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Jolion GT wins with 66 pts vs 61 pts for CX-5

In structured scoring, Jolion GT 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 Jolion GT 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 Jolion GT 39. 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, Jolion GT 94. 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, Jolion GT 65. 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, Jolion GT 57. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, Jolion GT 68. 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 Jolion GT edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 68.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 39.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 57.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Jolion GT the advantage in this comparison.