2021 Mazda CX-5

Mazda CX-5

Mazda’s CX-5 sits right in the thick of South Africa’s cutthroat family SUV market, squaring up to the Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Nissan X-Trail. This is the SUV for someone who wants a genuinely upmarket feel but doesn’t care about a badge war. You’ve got petrol and diesel options, automatic or CVT gearboxes, and a price spectrum that’s almost comically broad. There are 27 active listings running from R169,900 to R664,800, but the real meat sits above R400k — that’s where you’ll find the newer, more desirable examples. With twelve new and fifteen used units in the mix, you’re not short on choices, whether you’re hunting low-mileage or a real bargain. The 2.0 Carbon Edition Auto FWD stands out as the one most buyers will see on dealer floors — ten listings, priced from R419,900 up to R664,800. If you’re trawling the used market, you’ll spot models from 2016 to 2026 with an average of 52,636 km, which is decent value if you pack smart. For those pounding the N1 or N3, the 2.2DE AWD Akera diesel makes sense, thanks to its affordable price bracket (R269,900 to R329,900) and solid torque. Where the CX-5 pulls ahead of the X-Trail is with its interior: materials feel thoughtfully chosen, not just thrown together for a price point, and that’s the point when you’re spending R500k-plus. The RAV4 comes close on refinement, but Mazda still has the edge in how the cabin’s physical controls and materials gel — on paper at least, it’s what the CX-5 should have been from the start.