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.
X-Trail starts ZAR 790200 cheaperCX-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 DrivingFuel 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
Spec
CX-60
X-Trail
Engine
2.5 litre in-line 4 cylinder SKYACTIV-G
2.5 Litre DOHC 16-valve direct injection I-4 petrol engine
Engine Type
2.5 litre in-line 4 cylinder SKYACTIV-G
2.5 Litre DOHC 16-valve direct injection I-4 petrol engine
Displacement
2488 cc
2488 cc
Cylinders
4
4
Power
141 kW
135 kW
Power @ RPM
6000
6,000 rpm
Torque
261 Nm
244 Nm
Torque @ RPM
3000
3,600 rpm
Turbocharger
Naturally Aspirated
-
Top Speed
201 km/h
195 km/h
0-100 km/h
9.9 sec
10.4 sec
Compression Ratio
13.0:1
-
Cylinder Bore
89 mm
-
Piston Stroke
100 mm
-
Power
189 bhp
181 bhp
Cylinder Layout
Inline
In-line 4
Engine Aspiration
Naturally Aspirated
Naturally aspirated
Engine Type Config
2.5 litre in-line 4 cylinder SKYACTIV-G
DOHC 16-valve direct injection I-4 petrol
0–100 km/h
9.9 sec
10.4 sec
Engine Displacement
2488 cc
2488 cc
Engine Displacement Litres
2488 cc
2488 cc
Acceleration 0 100
9.9 sec
10.4 sec
Engine Config
2.5 litre in-line 4 cylinder SKYACTIV-G
Inline-four petrol
Engine Cylinders
4
4
Engine Displacement Cc
2488 cc
2488 cc
Engine Power kW
141 kW
135 kW
Engine Torque Nm
261 Nm
244 Nm
Induction
Naturally Aspirated
Naturally aspirated
Max Power kW
141 kW
135 kW
Max Torque Nm
261 Nm
244 Nm
Maximum Power
141 kW
135 kW
Maximum Torque
261 Nm
244 Nm
Power kW Rpm
6000
6,000 rpm
Torque Nm Rpm
3000
3,600 rpm
Turbo Type
-
-
Active Exhaust
-
-
Battery Capacity
-
-
Charging Port
-
-
AC Charging Time
-
-
Combined System Power
-
-
Combined System Torque
-
-
EV Range
-
-
Motor Position
-
-
Motor Power
-
-
Motor Torque
-
-
Motor Type
-
-
System Output
-
-
Engine Code
-
-
Valves per Cylinder
-
16
Engine Valves
-
16
Fuel System
-
Direct injection
Power Assisted Steering
-
Dual pinion electric power steering
Variable Valve Timing
-
-
Engine Position
-
-
Engine Oil Capacity
-
-
Maximum Engine RPM
-
-
Power Sliding Doors
-
-
Fuel Grade Required
-
Petrol
Spec
CX-60
X-Trail
Transmission
8-Speed Auto
Xtronic CVT
Drive Type
AWD
Intelligent 4x4
Drivetrain Layout
Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Intelligent 4x4
Paddle Shifters
Standard
Standard
Final Drive Ratio
4.181
-
Number of Gears
8 km/h
-
Transmission Type
8-Speed Auto
Xtronic CVT
Drivetrain
AWD
Intelligent 4x4
Transmission
8-Speed Auto
Xtronic CVT
4WD Hi Range
-
Standard
4WD Lo Range
-
-
Automatic Shift Paddles
Standard
Standard
Gearbox Type
8-Speed Auto
Xtronic CVT
Low Range
-
-
Axle Layout
AWD
Intelligent 4x4
Transmission Speeds
8 km/h
-
4WD Engagement
-
Automatic Intelligent 4x4
4WD Selector
-
Drive and terrain mode selector
Drive Mode Selector
-
4WD/off-road drive mode support
Transfer Case
-
Intelligent 4x4 direct-coupling system
Differential Lock
-
-
LSD Available
-
Standard
Rear Differential Lock
-
-
Clutch Type
-
-
Differential Type Front
-
-
Differential Type Rear
-
-
Transfer Case Guard
-
-
Steering Turns Lock to Lock
-
-
Front Differential Lock
-
-
Spec
CX-60
X-Trail
Claimed Mileage
13.0 km/l
12.8 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity
58 l
55 l
Emission Standard
Euro stage IV
-
AdBlue Tank Capacity
-
-
Auto Start Stop
Standard
-
Average Fuel Consumption
7.7 l/100km
7.8 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption
7.7 l/100km
7.8 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency
7.7 l/100km
7.8 l/100km
AC Charging Power
-
-
Charging Port Type
-
-
Charging Time AC Full
-
-
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct
-
-
Charging Type
-
-
Combined Consumption
7.7 l/100km
7.8 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km
7.7 l/100km
7.8 l/100km
DC Charging Power
-
-
Fuel Economy Combined
7.7 l/100km
7.8 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres
58 l
55 l
Fuel Type
Petrol
Petrol
Low Range Ratio
-
-
Combined Driving Range
-
-
Electric Consumption
-
-
Range Real World Highway
-
-
Range Real World Mixed
-
-
Range Wltp
-
-
City Mileage
-
11.1 km/l
Highway Mileage
-
15.7 km/l
Fuel Consumption Urban
-
-
Fuel Consumption Extra Urban
-
-
Low Fuel Warning
-
-
Real-world Mileage
13.0 km/l
12.8 km/l
Spec
CX-60
X-Trail
Airbags
7
Driver, passenger, curtain, front side and front far-side airbags
ABS
Standard
Standard
Electronic Stability Control
Standard
Standard
Hill Descent Control
Standard
Standard
Hill Start Assist
Standard
Standard
ISOFIX Mounts
Standard
Standard
Brake Assist
Standard
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
Standard
Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
Front & Rear
Driver, passenger and rear seat belt reminder
Front Parking Sensors
Standard
Standard
AEB
Standard
Standard
BA
Standard
Standard
Curtain Airbags
Standard
Standard
Driver Airbag
Standard
Standard
EBD
Standard
Standard
Engine Immobiliser
Standard
Standard
Hill Hold
Standard
Standard
Passenger Airbag
Standard
Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Standard
Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Driver & Passenger
-
Side Airbags
Standard
Standard
Knee Airbag
Standard
-
ABS EBD
Standard
Standard
Traction Control
-
Standard
TCS
-
Standard
Brake Override System
-
-
Child Safety Lock
-
Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor
-
Standard
Central Locking
-
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring
-
Standard
Far Side Airbag
-
Standard
Alarm System
-
Vehicle security system
Anti Theft Alarm
-
Vehicle security system
Driver Front Passenger Airbags
-
Driver, passenger, front side, curtain and front far-side airbags
Driver Passenger Airbags
-
Driver, passenger, front side, curtain and front far-side airbags
ESC With Traction Control
-
Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System
Fatigue Detection
-
Intelligent Driver Alert
Pedestrian Detection AEB
-
Standard
Speed Alert System
-
Speed limiter
Whiplash Protection
-
-
Safety Rating
-
-
Side Impact Beams
-
-
Lane Change Warning
-
Blind Spot Warning and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention
Spec
CX-60
X-Trail
Cruise Control
Standard
Intelligent Cruise Control
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard
Intelligent Cruise Control
Lane Keep Assist
Standard
Intelligent Lane Intervention
Lane Departure Warning
Standard
Intelligent Lane Intervention
Blind Spot Monitoring
Standard
Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Standard
Standard
Parking Sensors
Front & Rear
Front and rear parking sensors
Rear View Camera
Standard
Standard
360 Degree Camera
Standard
Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Standard
Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert
Standard
Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition
-
-
Auto Highbeam
Standard
Standard
Auto Wipers
Standard
Standard
Drive Modes
Off-road, Sport, Towing
Eco / Normal / Sport plus terrain modes
Rear Parking Sensors
Standard
Standard
Reverse Camera
Standard
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control
Standard
Intelligent Cruise Control
Around View Monitor
Standard
Standard
Blind Spot Warning
Standard
Standard
EV Mode
-
-
Surround View Camera
Standard
Standard
Park Assist
-
-
Forward Collision Warning
-
Standard
Blind Spot Intervention
-
Standard
Automatic High Beam
-
Standard
Auto Lights
-
Automatic headlights
Eco Mode
-
Standard
Front Camera
-
Around View Monitor camera system
Parking Distance Sensors
-
Front and rear parking sensors
Parking Sensor
-
Front and rear parking sensors
Pre-Collision System
-
Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Emergency Braking
Rain Sensor Wipers
-
Standard
Rear View Camera
-
Standard
Reverse Camera Type
-
Rear parking camera
Reversing Camera
-
Standard
Sport Mode
-
Standard
Emergency Braking
-
Intelligent Emergency Braking with junction assist and pedestrian/cyclist detection
Spec
CX-60
X-Trail
Seat Material
Black Leather
Leather-accented
Heated Seats
-
Standard
Ventilated Seats
-
-
Ambient Lighting
-
-
Steering Wheel Material
Standard
Leather-accented
60 40 Split Seat
(40:20:40)
40/20/40 split-fold second row
Driver Seat Adjustment
8-Way Power adjustable (Driver & Passenger) w. memory (Driver)
Power slide, reclining, lifter, tilt and 2-way lumbar
Passenger Seat Adjustment
8-Way Power adjustable (Driver & Passenger) w. memory (Driver)
Manual slide and reclining
Seat Trim
Black Leather
Leather-accented / synthetic leather
Fabric Seats
-
Quilted premium leather
Instrument Cluster Type
-
12.3-inch full TFT digital meter
Interior Colour Options
-
5
Interior Colours
-
5
Leather Accented Seat Trim
-
Quilted premium leather
Massage Seats
-
Driver and passenger seat massage functionality
Seat Capacity
-
7
Seat Count
-
7
Heated Front Seats
-
Standard
Third Row Seats
-
Standard
Boot Space Seats Up
-
485
Boot Space Seats Down
-
651
Front Passenger Headroom
-
1050 mm
Rear Passenger Headroom
-
1000 mm
Front Passenger Legroom
-
1095 mm
Rear Passenger Legroom
-
892 mm
Seat Adjustment
-
Power driver seat with manual passenger seat
Driver Lumbar Support
-
2-way power driver lumbar
Steering Adjustment
-
Tilt and telescopic
Rear Armrest
-
Second-row centre armrest
Third Row Seat Configuration
-
50/50 split third row with manual reclining and dive-down folding
Third Row Seating Capacity
-
2
Cup Holders
-
6
Rear AC Vents
-
Standard
Adjustable Driver Seat
-
8-way power driver seat with 2-way power lumbar
Adjustable Front Seat
-
Manual slide and reclining passenger seat
Front Armrest
-
Centre armrest
Armrest Front
-
Centre armrest
Armrest Rear
-
Rear centre armrest
Cargo Space
-
485
Cooled Seats
-
-
Driver Seat
-
8-way power driver seat with 2-way power lumbar
Interior Trim Colour
-
Black
Leather Seats
-
Leather-accented / synthetic leather
Door Map Pockets
-
Front seat back pockets
Rear Seat Centre Armrest
-
Standard
Seat Adjustment Driver Backrest
-
Power reclining
Seat Belt Warning
-
Driver, passenger and rear seat belt reminder
Seat Fold Type
-
40/20/40 split second row and 50/50 dive-down third row
Rear USB Ports
-
2
Memory Seats
-
-
Front Headrest
-
-
Rear Headrest
-
-
Folding Rear Seats
-
40:20:40 sliding/reclining second row and 50:50 third-row dive-down seats
Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.
Why this scoreView 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.
Other Comparisons Worth Checking
See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.
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.
Compare
Get Best Price
We'll Contact You
Fill in your details and a dedicated executive will reach out shortly.
✓
We've Got Your Details!
An executive will contact you shortly. Thank you for your interest.