Mazda CX-60 vs Hyundai Palisade

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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Palisade
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
Hyundai Palisade in South Africa

Hyundai Palisade

2.2D Elite AWD 8AT 7-Seater Diesel Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,204,500 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 142 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 8.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Palisade
Fuel Economy CX-60
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Palisade
🔑 Ownership CX-60
CX-60 starts ZAR 1204500 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · Palisade from ZAR 1,204,500

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 Palisade
Engine Power 141 kW 142 kW
Torque 261 Nm 440 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 2199 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 8.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm Not confirmed
Boot / Load Bay 477 l Not confirmed
Airbags 7 Driver, passenger, side and curtain
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1952 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5 years / 150 000 km plus 2 years / 50 000 km powertrain

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

CX-60 has a slight advantage, but Palisade remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Palisade +15 pts
Efficiency CX-60 +11 pts
Safety CX-60 +61 pts
Practicality Palisade +9 pts
Ownership CX-60 +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

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

Palisade

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Palisade

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec CX-60 Palisade
Model Introduced Year 2023 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture Current South African Palisade listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
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. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style SUV Seven-seat SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active Not confirmed
Segment Premium mid-size SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec CX-60 Palisade
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm Not confirmed
Wheelbase 2870 mm Not confirmed
Length 4745 mm Not confirmed
Width 1890 mm Not confirmed
Height 1687.5 mm Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1952 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 477 l Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2200 kg
Turning Radius 5.85 m Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 477 l Not confirmed
Load Bed Width - Not confirmed
Front Legroom 1058 mm Not confirmed
Rear Legroom 990 mm Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room 1504 mm Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room 1441 mm Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded 1148 l Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 Not confirmed
Max Payload 872 kg Not confirmed
Boot Volume 477 l Not confirmed
Doors 5 Not confirmed
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 71 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm Not confirmed
Height Mm 1687.5 mm Not confirmed
Length Mm 4745 mm Not confirmed
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l Not confirmed
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Payload Kg 872 kg Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 477 l Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1952 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m Not confirmed
Turning Circle M 5.85 m Not confirmed
Width Mm 1890 mm Not confirmed

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-60 leads by 10 points

CX-60 has a slight advantage, but Palisade remains highly competitive.

Winner 68 /100
Lead 10 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 10 points
58
#2

Palisade

69% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 77 Check Safety 38
Performance 74
Efficiency 40
Safety 38
Practicality 77
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Palisade +15 Efficiency CX-60 +11 Safety CX-60 +61 Practicality Palisade +9 Ownership CX-60 +4

Moderate difference between the models.

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

Palisade

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 77/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 58 pts for Palisade

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Palisade 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 Palisade 40. 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, Palisade 38. 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, Palisade 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, Palisade 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, Palisade 74. 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 Palisade in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 74.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 40.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 38.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 77.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 51.

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