Mazda CX-60 vs Nissan X-Trail

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
Nissan X-Trail in South Africa

Nissan X-Trail

2.5 Acenta Plus 4WD CVT 7-seat Petrol Automatic
ZAR 812,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 244 Nm ⛽ 12.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CX-60
Fuel Economy CX-60
🛡 Safety CX-60
📦 Practicality X-Trail
🔑 Ownership CX-60
X-Trail starts ZAR 790200 cheaper CX-60 from ZAR 790,200 · X-Trail from ZAR 687,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-60 X-Trail
Engine Power 141 kW 135 kW
Torque 261 Nm 244 Nm
Engine Size 2488 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.0 km/l 12.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 211 mm
Boot / Load Bay 477 l 485 l
Airbags 7 Driver, passenger, curtain, front side and front far-side airbags
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1666 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 6 years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CX-60 +3 pts
Efficiency CX-60 +1 pts
Safety CX-60 +5 pts
Practicality X-Trail +10 pts
Ownership CX-60 +3 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CX-60

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

X-Trail

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-60

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

X-Trail

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-60 X-Trail
Model Introduced Year 2023 2001
Generation First-generation KH-series Mazda CX-60 on Mazda's Large Product architecture T33 fourth-generation Nissan X-Trail 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. Current South African T33 X-Trail specification from Nissan official page and September 2025 brochure
Facelift Launched Since 2023 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Premium mid-size SUV Family SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - White, Silver, Black, Grey, Blue
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.5 Acenta Plus 4WD CVT 7-seat
Spec CX-60 X-Trail
Ground Clearance 178.8 mm 211 mm
Wheelbase 2870 mm 2705 mm
Length 4745 mm 4680 mm
Width 1890 mm 1840 mm
Height 1687.5 mm 1725 mm
Kerb Weight 1470 kg 1666 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2342 kg 2295 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 477 l 485 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2000 kg
Turning Radius 5.85 m 11.1 m
Load Bed Length 477 l 485 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1058 mm 1095 mm
Rear Legroom 990 mm 892 mm
Front Shoulder Room 1504 mm 1451 mm
Rear Shoulder Room 1441 mm 1422 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1148 l 1298 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 872 kg -
Boot Volume 477 l 485 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2342 kg 2295 kg
Ground Clearance Max 178.8 mm 211 mm
Ground Clearance Min 178.8 mm 211 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 178.8 mm 211 mm
Height Mm 1687.5 mm 1725 mm
Length Mm 4745 mm 4680 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 477 l 485 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 872 kg -
Cargo Volume 477 l 485 l
Tare Mass Kg 1470 kg 1666 kg
Turning Circle 5.85 m 11.1 m
Turning Circle M 5.85 m 11.1 m
Width Mm 1890 mm 1840 mm
Front Track Width - 1585 mm
Rear Track Width - 1590 mm
Front Headroom - 1050 mm
Rear Headroom - 1000 mm
Front Overhang - 935 mm
Front Overhang Mm - 935 mm
Rear Overhang - 1040 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1148 l 1298 l
Rear Overhang Mm - 1040 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CX-60 leads by 0 points

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

Winner 68 /100
Lead 0 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 0 points
68
#2

X-Trail

79% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 50
Performance 56
Efficiency 50
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 52
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CX-60 +3 Efficiency CX-60 +1 Safety CX-60 +5 Practicality X-Trail +10 Ownership CX-60 +3

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

X-Trail

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 52/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mazda CX-60 wins with 68 pts vs 68 pts for X-Trail

In structured scoring, CX-60 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, X-Trail 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 X-Trail 50. 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, X-Trail 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, X-Trail 52. 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, X-Trail 78. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-60 59, X-Trail 56. 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 X-Trail in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-60 scores 59 vs 56.

Efficiency: CX-60 scores 51 vs 50.

Safety: CX-60 scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-60 scores 68 vs 78.

Ownership: CX-60 scores 55 vs 52.

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