Mazda CX-60 vs Lexus UX

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
Lexus UX in South Africa

Lexus UX

UX 300h EX Hybrid ECVT
ZAR 957,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 146 kW 🔧 188 Nm ⛽ 23.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-60
Fuel Economy UX
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality CX-60
🔑 Ownership UX
CX-60 starts ZAR 957100 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · UX from ZAR 957,100

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 UX
Engine Power 141 kW 146 kW
Torque 261 Nm 188 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 2000 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 23.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l 268 l
Airbags 7 Side,Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1585 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +4 pts
Efficiency UX +41 pts
Safety CX-60 +5 pts
Practicality CX-60 +13 pts
Ownership UX +38 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-60

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

UX

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

UX

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 UX
Model Introduced Year 2023 2019
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture Current Lexus UX compact luxury crossover with the 300h hybrid powertrain
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. Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Premium mid-size SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-60 UX
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2640 mm
Length 4745 mm 4495 mm
Width 1890 mm 1840 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1520 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1585 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg 2110 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 477 l 268 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Turning Radius 5.85 m 5.2 m
Load Bed Length 477 l 268 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 -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 872 kg 525 kg
Boot Volume 477 l 268 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 43 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg 2110 kg
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1520 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4495 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l 268 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg 525 kg
Cargo Volume 477 l 268 l
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1585 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m 5.2 m
Turning Circle M 5.85 m 5.2 m
Width Mm 1890 mm 1840 mm
Front Track Width - 1550 mm
Rear Track Width - 1550 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

UX leads by 8 points

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

Winner 76 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 75% confidence
76
#1 Winner

UX

75% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 55
Performance 55
Efficiency 92
Safety 94
Practicality 55
Ownership 93
Leads by 8 points
68
#2

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
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +4 Efficiency UX +41 Safety CX-60 +5 Practicality CX-60 +13 Ownership UX +38

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

UX

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 92/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 93/100

CX-60

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus UX wins with 76 pts vs 68 pts for CX-60

In structured scoring, UX emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-60 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 UX 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 UX 92. 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, UX 94. 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, UX 93. 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, UX 55. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, UX 55. 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 UX edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The UX 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 UX in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 55.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 92.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 55.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives UX the advantage in this comparison.