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 Automatic
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 Automatic
ZAR 1,249,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 175 kW 🔧 367 Nm ⛽ 13.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Santa Fe Hybrid
⛽ Fuel Economy Santa Fe Hybrid
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Santa Fe Hybrid
🔑 Ownership Santa Fe Hybrid
CX-60 starts ZAR 1249900 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · Santa Fe Hybrid from ZAR 1,249,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 Santa Fe Hybrid
Engine Power 141 kW 175.2 kW
Torque 261 Nm 367 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 1598 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 13.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 177 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l 413 l
Airbags 7 Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1980 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CX-60 has a slight advantage, but Santa Fe Hybrid remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Santa Fe Hybrid +13 pts
Efficiency Santa Fe Hybrid +8 pts
Safety CX-60 +71 pts
Practicality Santa Fe Hybrid +5 pts
Ownership Santa Fe Hybrid +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use

Santa Fe Hybrid

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Santa Fe Hybrid

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

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
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
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 177 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2815 mm
Length 4745 mm 4830 mm
Width 1890 mm 1900 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1770 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg 2675 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 477 l 413 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Turning Radius 5.85 m -
Load Bed Length 477 l 413 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 2253 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 872 kg 695 kg
Boot Volume 477 l 413 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 67 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg 2675 kg
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 177 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 177 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 177 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1770 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4830 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l 413 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg 695 kg
Cargo Volume 477 l 413 l
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1980 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m -
Turning Circle M 5.85 m -
Width Mm 1890 mm 1900 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 9 points

CX-60 has a slight advantage, but Santa Fe Hybrid remains highly competitive.

Winner 68 /100
Lead 9 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 9 points
59
#2

Santa Fe Hybrid

83% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 73 Check Safety 28
Performance 72
Efficiency 59
Safety 28
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
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 +71 Practicality Santa Fe Hybrid +5 Ownership Santa Fe Hybrid +10

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

Santa Fe Hybrid

Performance 72/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 59 pts for Santa Fe Hybrid

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Santa Fe Hybrid may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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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 Santa Fe Hybrid 59. 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, Santa Fe Hybrid 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, Santa Fe Hybrid 65. 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, Santa Fe Hybrid 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, Santa Fe Hybrid 72. 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 Santa Fe Hybrid in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 72.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 59.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 28.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 73.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 65.

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