Mazda CX-5 vs Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max

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 8 Pro Max in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Executive 7DCT 2.0TGDI Petrol Automatic
ZAR 609,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 187 kW 🔧 390 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Fuel Economy CX-5
🛡 Safety Tiggo 8 Pro Max
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 8 Pro Max
CX-5 starts ZAR 609900 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Tiggo 8 Pro Max from ZAR 609,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Engine Power 121 kW 187 kW
Torque 213 Nm 390 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 2.0 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 203 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l 117 l
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1658 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 8 Pro Max has a slight advantage, but CX-5 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 8 Pro Max +27 pts
Efficiency CX-5 +4 pts
Safety Tiggo 8 Pro Max +12 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Tiggo 8 Pro Max +22 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

  • 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

Spec CX-5 Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Model Introduced Year 2017 2023
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range Current South Africa Tiggo 8 Pro Max 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 2023
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 8 Pro Max
Ground Clearance 200 mm 203 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2710 mm
Length 4575 mm 4720 mm
Width 1845 mm 1860 mm
Height 1680 mm 1705 mm
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1658 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2065 kg 2211 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 438 l 117 l
Towing Capacity 1000 kg -
Turning Radius 5.95 m -
Load Bed Length 438 l 117 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 739 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 490 kg -
Boot Volume 438 l 117 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 51 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2065 kg 2211 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 203 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 203 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 203 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1705 mm
Length Mm 4575 mm 4720 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 438 l 117 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 490 kg -
Cargo Volume 438 l 117 l
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1658 kg
Turning Circle 5.95 m -
Turning Circle M 5.95 m -
Width Mm 1845 mm 1860 mm
Front Track Width - 1582 mm
Rear Track Width - 1604 mm
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 8 Pro Max leads by 11 points

Tiggo 8 Pro Max has a slight advantage, but CX-5 remains highly competitive.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 74% confidence
72
#1 Winner

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 75
Efficiency 52
Safety 94
Practicality 61
Ownership 77
Leads by 11 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 8 Pro Max +27 Efficiency CX-5 +4 Safety Tiggo 8 Pro Max +12 Practicality Level Ownership Tiggo 8 Pro Max +22

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Performance 75/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 77/100

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 8 Pro Max wins with 72 pts vs 61 pts for CX-5

In structured scoring, Tiggo 8 Pro Max 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 Tiggo 8 Pro Max 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 8 Pro Max 52. 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 8 Pro Max 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, Tiggo 8 Pro Max 77. 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 8 Pro Max 61. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, Tiggo 8 Pro Max 75. 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 8 Pro Max edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max 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 8 Pro Max in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 75.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 52.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 61.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 77.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 8 Pro Max the advantage in this comparison.