Mazda CX-5 vs Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

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 Automatic
ZAR 688,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
VS
Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

Comfort HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 439,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm ⛽ 18.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
🛡 Safety CX-5
📦 Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
🔑 Ownership Tie
Tiggo 4 Cross HEV starts ZAR 570500 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Tiggo 4 Cross HEV from ZAR 439,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Engine Power 121 kW 150 kW
Torque 213 Nm 310 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 18.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 180 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l -
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1575 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 Years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-5 and Tiggo 4 Cross HEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +14 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +19 pts
Safety CX-5 +7 pts
Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +6 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-5 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Model Introduced Year 2017 2026
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range Current South Africa Tiggo 4 Cross HEV range
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. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Mid-size family SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-5 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV
Ground Clearance 200 mm 180 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2610 mm
Length 4575 mm 4351 mm
Width 1845 mm 1831 mm
Height 1680 mm 1662 mm
Kerb Weight 1575 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2065 kg 1905 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 438 l -
Towing Capacity 1000 kg -
Turning Radius 5.95 m -
Load Bed Length 438 l -
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1041 mm -
Rear Legroom 1007 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1451 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1391 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1340 l -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 490 kg -
Boot Volume 438 l -
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2065 kg 1905 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 180 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 180 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1662 mm
Length Mm 4575 mm 4351 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 438 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 490 kg -
Cargo Volume 438 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg -
Turning Circle 5.95 m -
Turning Circle M 5.95 m -
Width Mm 1845 mm 1831 mm
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV leads by 6 points

Both CX-5 and Tiggo 4 Cross HEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 67 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 68% confidence
67
#1 Winner

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

68% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 75 Check Ownership 55
Performance 62
Efficiency 75
Safety 75
Practicality 67
Ownership 55
Leads by 6 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +14 Efficiency Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +19 Safety CX-5 +7 Practicality Tiggo 4 Cross HEV +6 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 4 Cross HEV

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 75/100
Safety 75/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 55/100

CX-5

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 4 Cross HEV wins with 67 pts vs 61 pts for CX-5

In structured scoring, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 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.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 75. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 75. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 55. 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, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 62. 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 4 Cross HEV 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 Tiggo 4 Cross HEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 62.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 75.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 75.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 67.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 4 Cross HEV the advantage in this comparison.