Mazda CX-60 vs Toyota Fortuner

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
Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Fortuner
Fuel Economy Fortuner
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership CX-60
Fortuner starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · Fortuner from ZAR 685,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 Fortuner
Engine Power 141 kW 150 kW
Torque 261 Nm 500 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 2755 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 279 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume
Airbags 7 Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags
Kerb Weight 1470 kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Fortuner +21 pts
Efficiency Fortuner +5 pts
Safety CX-60 +71 pts
Practicality Fortuner +21 pts
Ownership CX-60 +4 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

Fortuner

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

Fortuner

  • 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 Fortuner
Model Introduced Year 2023 2006
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades
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 updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2021
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status Active published
Segment Premium mid-size SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT
Spec CX-60 Fortuner
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 279 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2745 mm
Length 4745 mm 4795 mm
Width 1890 mm 1855 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1835 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg 2735 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 477 l Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2800 kg
Turning Radius 5.85 m -
Load Bed Length 477 l Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume
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; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 80 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg 2735 kg
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 279 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 279 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 279 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1835 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4795 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg -
Cargo Volume 477 l Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass
Turning Circle 5.85 m -
Turning Circle M 5.85 m -
Width Mm 1890 mm 1855 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 6 points

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

Winner 68 /100
Lead 6 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 6 points
62
#2

Fortuner

74% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 89 Check Safety 28
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 28
Practicality 89
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Fortuner +21 Efficiency Fortuner +5 Safety CX-60 +71 Practicality Fortuner +21 Ownership CX-60 +4

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

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 62 pts for Fortuner

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Fortuner 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 Fortuner 56. 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, Fortuner 28. 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, Fortuner 51. 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, Fortuner 89. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, Fortuner 80. 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 Fortuner in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 80.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 56.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 28.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 89.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 51.

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