Mazda CX-60 vs Ford Everest

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-60 in South Africa

Mazda CX-60

2.5 Individual Edition Auto AWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 902,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 141 kW 🔧 261 Nm ⛽ 13.0 km/l
VS
Ford Everest in South Africa

Ford Everest

3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,340,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 184 kW 🔧 600 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Everest
Fuel Economy Everest
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Everest
🔑 Ownership CX-60
CX-60 starts ZAR 825000 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · Everest from ZAR 825,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 Everest
Engine Power 141 kW 184 kW
Torque 261 Nm 600 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 2993 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 226 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l Three-row cargo area
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 2450 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 4 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-60 and Everest are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Everest +32 pts
Efficiency Everest +1 pts
Safety CX-60 +54 pts
Practicality Everest +24 pts
Ownership CX-60 +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Everest

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Everest

  • 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-60 Everest
Model Introduced Year 2023 2015
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture Currently sold Everest belongs to the latest generation with enhanced comfort and safety systems
Facelift History Mazda introduced the CX-60 locally in 2023, added the six-cylinder Takumi in 2024 and revised suspension and drivetrain calibration for the 2025 update. Major generational update in 2022 with improved safety, technology, and design
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Premium mid-size SUV Large SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD
Spec CX-60 Everest
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 226 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2900 mm
Length 4745 mm 4914 mm
Width 1890 mm 1923 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1842 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 2450 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 477 l Three-row cargo area
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 3500 kg
Turning Radius 5.85 m -
Load Bed Length 477 l Three-row cargo area
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm -
Rear Legroom 990 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1504 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1441 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1148 l -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 872 kg -
Boot Volume 477 l Three-row cargo area
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 80 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 226 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 226 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 226 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1842 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4914 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l Three-row cargo area
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg -
Cargo Volume 477 l Three-row cargo area
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 2450 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m -
Turning Circle M 5.85 m -
Width Mm 1890 mm 1923 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

CX-60 leads by 2 points

Both CX-60 and Everest are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 68 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 94% confidence
68
#1 Winner

CX-60

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 99
Practicality 68
Ownership 55
Leads by 2 points
66
#2

Everest

77% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 92 Check Ownership 34
Performance 91
Efficiency 52
Safety 45
Practicality 92
Ownership 34
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Everest +32 Efficiency Everest +1 Safety CX-60 +54 Practicality Everest +24 Ownership CX-60 +21

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CX-60

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 55/100

Everest

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 45/100
Practicality 92/100
Ownership 34/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 66 pts for Everest

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Everest 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 CX-60 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-60 51 vs Everest 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-60 99, Everest 45. 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-60 55, Everest 34. 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-60 68, Everest 92. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, Everest 91. 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 CX-60 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CX-60 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-60 and Everest in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 91.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 52.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 45.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 92.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 34.

Final structured scoring gives CX-60 the advantage in this comparison.