Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

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
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2.8 VX 4x4 Automatic Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,150,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Land Cruiser Prado
Fuel Economy CX-5
🛡 Safety Land Cruiser Prado
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser Prado
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
CX-5 starts ZAR 409,500 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Land Cruiser Prado from ZAR 980,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Land Cruiser Prado
Maximum Power 121 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW
Maximum Torque 213 Nm @ 4000 rpm 500 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 2755 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 14.5 km/l 12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 220 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 120 l
Airbags 6 9
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 2250 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CX-5 and Land Cruiser Prado are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Land Cruiser Prado +28 pts
Efficiency CX-5 +7 pts
Safety Land Cruiser Prado +10 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser Prado +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Catalogue-index leader

Land Cruiser Prado

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Land Cruiser Prado

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 Land Cruiser Prado
Model Introduced Year 2017 1996
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range Current Prado represents the latest evolution of Toyota’s global Land Cruiser platform with modern safety and comfort upgrades
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. Major redesigns in 2009, 2017 and latest generation updates improving technology and safety
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Mid-size family SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 2250 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Grey, Dark Blue
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 VX 4x4 Automatic
Spec CX-5 Land Cruiser Prado
Length 4575 mm 4840 mm
Width 1845 mm 1885 mm
Height 1680 mm 1890 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2790 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 220 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 87 l
Boot/Cargo Space 438 l 120 l
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 2250 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2065 kg 2990 kg
Payload Capacity 490 kg -
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 3000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.95 m -
Front Legroom 1041 mm -
Rear Legroom 1007 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

Land Cruiser Prado leads by 6 points

CX-5 and Land Cruiser Prado are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 69 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 92% source coverage
69
#1 Index leader

Land Cruiser Prado

92% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Ownership 40
Performance 76
Efficiency 49
Safety 98
Practicality 68
Ownership 40
Leads by 6 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 Land Cruiser Prado +28 Efficiency CX-5 +7 Safety Land Cruiser Prado +10 Practicality Land Cruiser Prado +7

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Land Cruiser Prado

Performance 76/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 40/100

CX-5

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado leads the catalogue index with 69 pts vs 63 pts for CX-5

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Land Cruiser Prado 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 Land Cruiser Prado 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 Land Cruiser Prado 76.

Efficiency index: CX-5 56 vs Land Cruiser Prado 49.

Safety-equipment index: CX-5 88 vs Land Cruiser Prado 98.

Practicality index: CX-5 61 vs Land Cruiser Prado 68.

Ownership-cover index: CX-5 not separately scored vs Land Cruiser Prado 40.

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.