Toyota Fortuner vs Gwm Tank 300

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.

Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 165 kW 🔧 550 Nm ⛽ 14.2 km/l
VS
Gwm Tank 300 in South Africa

Gwm Tank 300

2.0T Hi4-T Hybrid Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 849,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 240 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 2.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tank 300
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tank 300
🔑 Ownership Tank 300
Fortuner starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Fortuner from ZAR 620,000 · Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fortuner Tank 300
Engine Power 165 240
Torque 550 750
Engine Size 2755 1999
Claimed Mileage 14.2 2.8
Ground Clearance 225 224
Boot Space 296 490
Airbags 7 8
Kerb Weight 2210 2050
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Tank 300

75
/ 100
+13
pts
#2

Fortuner

62
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Tank 300 has a slight advantage, but Fortuner remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 300 +2 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Tank 300 +3 pts
Ownership Tank 300 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 15/20
Ownership 20/20

Fortuner

Performance 18/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Fortuner

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tank 300

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fortuner Tank 300
Ground Clearance 225 224
Wheelbase 2745 2750
Length 4795 4638
Width 1855 1926
Height 1835 1850
Kerb Weight 2210 2050
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 2200
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 296 490
Towing Capacity 3100 2500
Front Track Width 1545 1560
Rear Track Width 1535 1570
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 690
Turning Radius Available 12.4
Load Bed Length Available -
Load Bed Width Available -
Front Legroom Available 1050
Rear Legroom Available 890
Front Headroom Available 990
Rear Headroom Available 960
Front Shoulder Room Available 1430
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1390
Max Payload Available -
Boot Volume Available 490
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 880
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 65
Rear Overhang Available 890
Spec Fortuner Tank 300
Engine 2.8L Turbo Diesel 2.0L GW4C20D Turbocharged Petrol + Rear Electric Motor
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
Displacement 2755 1999
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 165 240
Torque 550 750
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Top Speed 190 195
0-100 km/h 9.5 167
Engine Position Front, Longitudinal Front Transverse
Cylinder Bore 92.0 82.5
Piston Stroke 94.6 93.1
Compression Ratio 15.9:1 10.5:1
Fuel Grade Required Diesel Petrol
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4C20D
Turbocharger Turbo Yes
Power @ RPM 150 5,500 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1,500-4,000 rpm
Engine Oil Capacity Available 5.5
Power 150 322
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6,000
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
0–100 km/h Available 5.8
Battery Capacity Available 19.1 kWh
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1999
EV Range Available 105

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Tank 300 wins with 75 pts vs 62 pts for Fortuner

In structured scoring, Tank 300 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Fortuner 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 Tank 300 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: Fortuner 0 vs Tank 300 0. 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: Fortuner 20, Tank 300 20. 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: Fortuner 12, Tank 300 20. 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: Fortuner 12, Tank 300 15. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fortuner 18, Tank 300 20. 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 Tank 300 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tank 300 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 Fortuner and Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Fortuner scores 18 vs 20.

Efficiency: Fortuner scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Fortuner scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Fortuner scores 12 vs 15.

Ownership: Fortuner scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Tank 300 the advantage in this comparison.