Mazda CX-5 vs Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

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-5 in South Africa

Mazda CX-5

2.0 Carbon Edition Auto FWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 688,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 121 kW 🔧 213 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
VS
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

2.7 4x4 VX 6AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 761,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 122 kW 🔧 245 Nm ⛽ 9.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Land Cruiser FJ
⛽ Fuel Economy CX-5
🛡 Safety Land Cruiser FJ
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser FJ
🔑 Ownership CX-5
CX-5 starts ZAR 714000 cheaper CX-5 from ZAR 570,500 · Land Cruiser FJ from ZAR 714,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CX-5 Land Cruiser FJ
Engine Power 121 kW 122 kW
Torque 213 Nm 245 Nm
Engine Size 1998 cc 2700 cc
Claimed Mileage 14.5 km/l 9.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 245 mm
Boot / Load Bay 438 l -
Airbags 6 Curtain, Driver, Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1970 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 Years/Unlimited km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both CX-5 and Land Cruiser FJ are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Land Cruiser FJ +8 pts
Efficiency CX-5 +18 pts
Safety Land Cruiser FJ +12 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser FJ +15 pts
Ownership CX-5 +5 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CX-5

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
🏆 Overall Winner

Land Cruiser FJ

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

Which One's Right for You?

CX-5

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

Land Cruiser FJ

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CX-5 Land Cruiser FJ
Model Introduced Year 2017 2026
Generation Second-generation KF-series Mazda CX-5, current outgoing South African range First-generation compact Land Cruiser FJ introduced in South Africa in 2026
Facelift History The second generation arrived in 2017 and received a substantial update from 2021. An all-new replacement is scheduled to reach South Africa on 1 August 2026, while this current range remains on sale. New South African model line launched in 2026
Facelift Launched Since 2017 New South African model line launched in 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African 2026 specification
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Mid-size family SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CX-5 Land Cruiser FJ
Ground Clearance 200 mm 245 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2580 mm
Length 4575 mm 4610 mm
Width 1845 mm 1855 mm
Height 1680 mm 1890 mm
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1970 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2065 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 438 l -
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 2500 kg
Turning Radius 5.95 m 5.5 m
Load Bed Length 438 l -
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1041 mm -
Rear Legroom 1007 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1451 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1391 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1340 l -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 490 kg -
Boot Volume 438 l -
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 56 l 63 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2065 kg 2500 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 245 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 245 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 245 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1890 mm
Length Mm 4575 mm 4610 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 438 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 490 kg -
Cargo Volume 438 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1575 kg 1970 kg
Turning Circle 5.95 m 5.5 m
Turning Circle M 5.95 m 5.5 m
Width Mm 1845 mm 1855 mm
Front Track Width - 1540 mm
Rear Track Width - 1555 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Land Cruiser FJ leads by 4 points

Both CX-5 and Land Cruiser FJ are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 65 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 72% confidence
65
#1 Winner

Land Cruiser FJ

72% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 38
Performance 56
Efficiency 38
Safety 94
Practicality 76
Ownership 50
Leads by 4 points
61
#2

CX-5

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 56
Safety 82
Practicality 61
Ownership 55
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Land Cruiser FJ +8 Efficiency CX-5 +18 Safety Land Cruiser FJ +12 Practicality Land Cruiser FJ +15 Ownership CX-5 +5

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Land Cruiser FJ

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 38/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 50/100

CX-5

Performance 48/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ wins with 65 pts vs 61 pts for CX-5

In structured scoring, Land Cruiser FJ emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CX-5 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Land Cruiser FJ 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-5 56 vs Land Cruiser FJ 38. 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-5 82, Land Cruiser FJ 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-5 55, Land Cruiser FJ 50. 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-5 61, Land Cruiser FJ 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CX-5 48, Land Cruiser FJ 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 Land Cruiser FJ edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Land Cruiser FJ 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-5 and Land Cruiser FJ in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CX-5 scores 48 vs 56.

Efficiency: CX-5 scores 56 vs 38.

Safety: CX-5 scores 82 vs 94.

Practicality: CX-5 scores 61 vs 76.

Ownership: CX-5 scores 55 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives Land Cruiser FJ the advantage in this comparison.