Citroen C4 Cactus vs Mazda CX-3
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Mazda CX-3 wins on money kept: 67% retained after three years vs 60%, worth about R 157 910 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| C4 Cactus | CX-3 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 224 900 | R 440 000 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 3 931/m | R 7 690/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 78% | 82% |
| Retained after 3 years | 60% | 67% |
| Value after 3 years | R 135 708 | R 293 618 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 89 192 | R 146 382 |
| Value after 5 years | R 105 141 | R 233 185 |
| Our tier | Weak-franchise mainstream | Mainstream |
Citroen C4 Cactus →
Launched in April 2015 from R224,900 with plastic Airbump side panels and a light kerb weight. It stood out in the compact crossover crowd but sold slowly, and Citroen's local wind-down at the time cut its run short. Cheap used pricing now makes it a quirky value pick.
Known for: airbump panels and light weight
Mazda CX-3 →
A light crossover on Mazda2 underpinnings, the CX-3 has been on sale in South Africa since 2015 and is one of the brand's local volume models. Recent ranges are sold only with the 2.0 petrol and automatic gearbox. Steady demand and a long warranty help it hold value reasonably well for the segment.
Known for: polished light crossover, petrol auto only
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Citroen C4 Cactus or the Mazda CX-3?
The Mazda CX-3. It keeps about 67% of its price after three years against 60% for the Citroen C4 Cactus, a gap of 6 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Citroen C4 Cactus loses about R 89 192 over three years and the Mazda CX-3 loses about R 146 382. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Citroen C4 Cactus runs about R 3 931 per month and the Mazda CX-3 about R 7 690, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.