Mazda CX-60 vs Jaecoo J7 SHS

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
Jaecoo J7 SHS in South Africa

Jaecoo J7 SHS

SHS Plug-In Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 689,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 525 Nm ⛽ 100.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance J7 SHS
Fuel Economy J7 SHS
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership J7 SHS
J7 SHS starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · J7 SHS from ZAR 689,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 J7 SHS
Engine Power 141 kW 255 kW
Torque 261 Nm 525 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 100.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 174 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l -
Airbags 7 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1470 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

J7 SHS holds a noticeable edge over CX-60, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance J7 SHS +32 pts
Efficiency J7 SHS +45 pts
Safety CX-60 +5 pts
Practicality CX-60 +2 pts
Ownership J7 SHS +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-60

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

J7 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

J7 SHS

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 J7 SHS
Model Introduced Year 2023 2025
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture Current South Africa J7 SHS range
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. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Premium mid-size SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-60 J7 SHS
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 174 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2672 mm
Length 4745 mm 4500 mm
Width 1890 mm 1865 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1670 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg 2210 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 477 l -
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Turning Radius 5.85 m -
Load Bed Length 477 l -
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 -
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg 2210 kg
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 174 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 174 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 174 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1670 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4500 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg -
Cargo Volume 477 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg -
Turning Circle 5.85 m -
Turning Circle M 5.85 m -
Width Mm 1890 mm 1865 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

J7 SHS leads by 16 points

J7 SHS holds a noticeable edge over CX-60, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 84 /100
Lead 16 points
Data 66% confidence
84
#1 Winner

J7 SHS

66% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 96 Check Practicality 66
Performance 91
Efficiency 96
Safety 94
Practicality 66
Ownership 69
Leads by 16 points
68
#2

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
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance J7 SHS +32 Efficiency J7 SHS +45 Safety CX-60 +5 Practicality CX-60 +2 Ownership J7 SHS +14

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

J7 SHS

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 96/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 69/100

CX-60

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Jaecoo J7 SHS wins with 84 pts vs 68 pts for CX-60

In structured scoring, J7 SHS emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-60 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 J7 SHS 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 J7 SHS 96. 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, J7 SHS 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-60 55, J7 SHS 69. 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, J7 SHS 66. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, J7 SHS 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 J7 SHS edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The J7 SHS 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 J7 SHS 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 96.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 66.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives J7 SHS the advantage in this comparison.