Mazda CX-5 vs Ford Puma

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.

Ford Puma 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
Ford Puma in South Africa

Ford Puma

1.0T EcoBoost ST-Line Automatic Petrol 7-Speed DCT Discontinued model
ZAR 459,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 16.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-5
Fuel Economy Puma
🛡 Safety Puma
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Recorded price context CX-5: current from ZAR 570,500 · Puma: last listed from ZAR 389,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Puma
Maximum Power 121 kW @ 6000 rpm 92 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 213 Nm @ 4000 rpm 170 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 14.5 km/l 16.4 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 456 l
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1325 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 3

= leads in this spec

Archived vehicles remain available for comparison. Verified specs stay visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-5 +8 pts
Efficiency Puma +8 pts
Safety Puma +10 pts
Practicality Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

CX-5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance

Puma

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Puma

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

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 Puma
Model Introduced Year 2017 2023
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range First generation Puma in South Africa
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. New model introduced in South Africa
Facelift Launched Since 2017 Not confirmed
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
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1325 kg
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec CX-5 Puma
Length 4575 mm 4186 mm
Width 1845 mm 1805 mm
Height 1680 mm 1531 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2594 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 170 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 438 l 456 l
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1325 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2065 kg 1775 kg
Payload Capacity 490 kg Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 1200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors Not confirmed
Minimum Turning Radius 5.95 m 5.4 m
Front Legroom 1041 mm Not confirmed
Rear Legroom 1007 mm Not confirmed

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

CX-5 leads by 1 points

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

Index leader 63 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 78% source coverage
63
#1 Index leader

CX-5

78% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 56
Safety 88
Practicality 61
Leads by 1 points
62
#2

Puma

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Performance 40
Performance 40
Efficiency 64
Safety 98
Practicality 61
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-5 +8 Efficiency Puma +8 Safety Puma +10 Practicality Level

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

CX-5

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

Puma

Performance 40/100
Efficiency 64/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Mazda CX-5 leads the catalogue index with 63 pts vs 62 pts for Puma

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, CX-5 leads. However, Puma 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 Puma 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 Puma 40.

Efficiency index: CX-5 56 vs Puma 64.

Safety-equipment index: CX-5 88 vs Puma 98.

Practicality index: CX-5 61 vs Puma 61.

Ownership-cover index: CX-5 not separately scored vs Puma 43.

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.