Mazda CX-60 vs Volkswagen T-Roc

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
Volkswagen T-Roc in South Africa

Volkswagen T-Roc

2.0 TSI 140kW 4Motion R-Line DSG Petrol Automatic
ZAR 760,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance T-Roc
Fuel Economy T-Roc
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership CX-60
T-Roc starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · T-Roc from ZAR 648,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 T-Roc
Engine Power 141 kW 140 kW
Torque 261 Nm 320 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 2000 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 15.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 168 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l 392 l
Airbags 7 7
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1400 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 3

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance T-Roc +5 pts
Efficiency T-Roc +10 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality CX-60 +10 pts
Ownership CX-60 +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

T-Roc

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

T-Roc

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 T-Roc
Model Introduced Year 2023 2021
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture Current first-generation T-Roc remains on sale while the second generation is prepared for South Africa
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. Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status Active published
Segment Premium mid-size SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Orange
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - 4x4 configuration for the local line-up
Spec CX-60 T-Roc
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 168 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2593 mm
Length 4745 mm 4234 mm
Width 1890 mm 1819 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1573 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1400 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg 2020 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 477 l 392 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 1200 kg
Turning Radius 5.85 m 5.4 m
Load Bed Length 477 l 392 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 392 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 872 kg -
Boot Volume 477 l 392 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg 2020 kg
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 168 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 168 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 168 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1573 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4234 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l 392 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg -
Cargo Volume 477 l 392 l
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1400 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m 5.4 m
Turning Circle M 5.85 m 5.4 m
Width Mm 1890 mm 1819 mm
Front Track Width - 1569 mm
Rear Track Width - 1546 mm
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 1 points

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

Winner 68 /100
Lead 1 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 1 points
67
#2

T-Roc

89% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Ownership 43
Performance 64
Efficiency 61
Safety 99
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance T-Roc +5 Efficiency T-Roc +10 Safety Level Practicality CX-60 +10 Ownership CX-60 +12

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

T-Roc

Performance 64/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 67 pts for T-Roc

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, T-Roc 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 T-Roc 61. 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, T-Roc 99. 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, T-Roc 43. 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, T-Roc 58. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, T-Roc 64. 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 T-Roc in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 64.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 61.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 99.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 58.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 43.

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