Mazda CX-60 vs GWM ORA 5

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 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 902,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 141 kW 🔧 261 Nm ⛽ 13.0 km/l
VS
GWM ORA 5 in South Africa

GWM ORA 5

BEV Ultra Luxury Electric Current
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 260 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-60
Fuel Economy ORA 5
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership ORA 5
ORA 5 starts ZAR 425,300 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · ORA 5 from ZAR 364,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 ORA 5
Maximum Power 141 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW
Maximum Torque 261 Nm @ 3000 rpm 260 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc Not Applicable
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l -
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l -
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 1470 kg -
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 years / 200,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-60 and ORA 5 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +3 pts
Efficiency ORA 5 +39 pts
Safety CX-60 +7 pts
Practicality CX-60 +5 pts
Ownership ORA 5 +22 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-60

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

ORA 5

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

ORA 5

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 ORA 5
Model Introduced Year 2023 2026
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture First-generation ORA 5; South African launch specification
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. No facelift; first South African model year
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style SUV Compact SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active On sale
Segment Premium mid-size SUV Compact SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg -
Spec CX-60 ORA 5
Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, all-wheel drive -
Paddle Shifters Standard -
Gearbox 8-Speed Auto Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 4.181 -
Number of Gears 8 -
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Drivetrain AWD -
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable -
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable -
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard -
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable -
Low Range Not Applicable -
Axle Layout 4x4 -
Transmission Speeds 8 -
Gear Shift Type Automatic Electronic column shifter

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

ORA 5 leads by 6 points

Both CX-60 and ORA 5 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 56% confidence
74
#1 Winner

ORA 5

56% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 63
Ownership 77
Leads by 6 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 CX-60 +3 Efficiency ORA 5 +39 Safety CX-60 +7 Practicality CX-60 +5 Ownership ORA 5 +22

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

ORA 5

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 77/100

CX-60

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM ORA 5 wins with 74 pts vs 68 pts for CX-60

In structured scoring, ORA 5 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 ORA 5 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 ORA 5 90. 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, ORA 5 92. 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, ORA 5 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-60 68, ORA 5 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, ORA 5 56. 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 ORA 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The ORA 5 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 ORA 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 56.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 90.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 92.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 63.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 77.

Final structured scoring gives ORA 5 the advantage in this comparison.