Mazda CX-60 vs Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

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
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid in South Africa

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

1.6T Hybrid Elite AWD 6AT Hybrid Current
ZAR 1,249,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 175 kW 🔧 367 Nm ⛽ 13.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Mazda CX-60 vs Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: the short answer

CX-60 and Santa Fe Hybrid are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

CX-60 starts ZAR 459,700 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · Santa Fe Hybrid from ZAR 1,249,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CX-60 Santa Fe Hybrid
Maximum Power CX-60141 kW @ 6000 rpm Santa Fe Hybrid175.2 kW
Maximum Torque CX-60261 Nm @ 3000 rpm Santa Fe Hybrid367 Nm
Engine Size CX-602488 cc Santa Fe Hybrid1598 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CX-6013.0 km/l Santa Fe Hybrid13.3 km/l
Ground Clearance CX-60178.8 mm Santa Fe Hybrid177 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-60

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Santa Fe Hybrid

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Santa Fe Hybrid

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 Santa Fe Hybrid
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 Santa Fe Hybrid 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 Current
Body Style SUV Seven-seat SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Premium mid-size SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1980 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.6T Hybrid Elite AWD 6AT
Spec CX-60 Santa Fe Hybrid
Length 4745 mm 4830 mm
Width 1890 mm 1900 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1770 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2815 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 178.8 mm 177 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 67 l
Boot/Cargo Space 477 l 413 l
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2342 kg 2675 kg
Payload Capacity 872 kg 695 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.85 m -
Front Legroom 1058 mm -
Rear Legroom 990 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This CX-60 and Santa Fe Hybrid comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CX-60 59 vs Santa Fe Hybrid 72.

Efficiency index: CX-60 51 vs Santa Fe Hybrid 59.

Safety-equipment index: CX-60 98 vs Santa Fe Hybrid 89.

Practicality index: CX-60 68 vs Santa Fe Hybrid 73.

Ownership-cover index: CX-60 not separately scored vs Santa Fe Hybrid 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Santa Fe Hybrid leads by 3 points

CX-60 and Santa Fe Hybrid are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 73 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 75% source coverage
73
#1 Evidence leader

Santa Fe Hybrid

75% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Efficiency 59
Performance 72
Efficiency 59
Safety 89
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Leads by 3 points
70
#2

CX-60

81% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 98
Practicality 68
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Santa Fe Hybrid +13 Efficiency Santa Fe Hybrid +8 Safety CX-60 +9 Practicality Santa Fe Hybrid +5

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Santa Fe Hybrid

Performance 72/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

CX-60

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 68/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts vs 70 pts for CX-60

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Santa Fe Hybrid leads. However, CX-60 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

CX-60 vs Santa Fe Hybrid questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.