Mazda CX-60 vs Volkswagen Tayron

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 Tayron in South Africa

Volkswagen Tayron

1.4 TSI 110kW R-Line DSG Petrol Automatic
ZAR 899,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-60
Fuel Economy Tayron
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality Tayron
🔑 Ownership CX-60
CX-60 starts ZAR 799000 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · Tayron from ZAR 799,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 Tayron
Engine Power 141 kW 110 kW
Torque 261 Nm 250 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 1400 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 201 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l Seven-seat cargo area
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1640 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 3 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +10 pts
Efficiency Tayron +7 pts
Safety CX-60 +54 pts
Practicality Tayron +16 pts
Ownership CX-60 +29 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Tayron

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tayron

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 Tayron
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 Tayron 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 SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
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 - 4x2 configuration for the local line-up
Spec CX-60 Tayron
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 201 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2791 mm
Length 4745 mm 4770 mm
Width 1890 mm 1852 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1660 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1640 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 477 l Seven-seat cargo area
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Turning Radius 5.85 m -
Load Bed Length 477 l Seven-seat cargo area
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 -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 872 kg -
Boot Volume 477 l Seven-seat cargo area
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 201 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 201 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 201 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1660 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4770 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l Seven-seat cargo area
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg -
Cargo Volume 477 l Seven-seat cargo area
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1640 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m -
Turning Circle M 5.85 m -
Width Mm 1890 mm 1852 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 14 points

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

Winner 68 /100
Lead 14 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 14 points
54
#2

Tayron

73% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 84 Check Ownership 26
Performance 49
Efficiency 58
Safety 45
Practicality 84
Ownership 26
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +10 Efficiency Tayron +7 Safety CX-60 +54 Practicality Tayron +16 Ownership CX-60 +29

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

Tayron

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 58/100
Safety 45/100
Practicality 84/100
Ownership 26/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 54 pts for Tayron

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Tayron 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 Tayron 58. 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, Tayron 45. 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, Tayron 26. 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, Tayron 84. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, Tayron 49. 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 Tayron in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 49.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 58.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 45.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 84.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 26.

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