Mazda CX-5 vs KIA Sportage

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
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda CX-5 vs KIA Sportage: the short answer

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

CX-5 starts ZAR 92,495 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Sportage from ZAR 662,995

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CX-5 Sportage
Maximum Power CX-5121 kW @ 6000 rpm Sportage132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque CX-5213 Nm @ 4000 rpm Sportage265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size CX-51998 cc Sportage1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CX-514.5 km/l Sportage13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance CX-5200 mm Sportage181 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

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
Specification evidence leader

Sportage

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

Sportage

  • 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 Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2017 2022
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
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. Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Mid-size family SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1570 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Spec CX-5 Sportage
Length 4575 mm 4515 mm
Width 1845 mm 1865 mm
Height 1680 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 438 l 466 l
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1570 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2065 kg 2080 kg
Payload Capacity 490 kg 500 kg
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.95 m 10.8 m
Front Legroom 1041 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 1007 mm 855 mm
Front Headroom - 1010 mm
Rear Headroom - 955 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 181 mm
Number of Rows - 2 rows

In depth: how these cars differ

This CX-5 and Sportage 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 Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: CX-5 56 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: CX-5 88 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: CX-5 61 vs Sportage 63.

Ownership-cover index: CX-5 not separately scored vs Sportage 71.

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.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Sportage leads by 6 points

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

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 99% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

Sportage

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 63
Ownership 71
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 Sportage +9 Efficiency CX-5 +2 Safety Sportage +12 Practicality Sportage +2

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 71/100

CX-5

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Sportage leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 63 pts for CX-5

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Sportage leads. However, CX-5 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

CX-5 vs Sportage questions

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.