Toyota Hilux Single Cab vs Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

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 Hilux Single Cab in South Africa

Toyota Hilux Single Cab

2.4 GD-6 4X4 RAIDER 6MT Diesel 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 636,300 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

4.0 V6 Single Cab MT Petrol 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 780,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 202 kW 🔧 381 Nm ⛽ 13 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab
Fuel Economy Hilux Single Cab
🛡 Safety Hilux Single Cab
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Hilux Single Cab starts ZAR 380,000 cheaper Hilux Single Cab from ZAR 326,200 · Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab from ZAR 706,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Hilux Single Cab Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 3400 rpm 202 kW
Maximum Torque 400 Nm 381 Nm
Engine Size 2393 cc 3956 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 13.2 km/l 13 km/l
Ground Clearance 269 mm 235 mm
Boot / Load Bay - -
Airbags Side, Curtain, Driver, Passenger, Driver Knee 2
Kerb Weight - 1850 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 3 seats
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Hilux Single Cab has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab +13 pts
Efficiency Hilux Single Cab +7 pts
Safety Hilux Single Cab +40 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Hilux Single Cab

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Hilux Single Cab

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Hilux Single Cab Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab
Generation Eighth-generation Hilux Single Cab in Toyota South Africa's current range Current South African Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification Current
Body Style Pickup Pickup
Production Status published published
Segment Bakkie Pickup
Vehicle Type Pickup Pickup
Model Introduced Year - Current local generation year not confirmed
Facelift History - Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since - Original current-generation version
Body Type Cab - Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Mid grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year - 2026
Tare Mass Kg - 1850 kg
Spec Hilux Single Cab Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab
Length 5325 mm 5275 mm
Width 1855 mm 1855 mm
Height 1795 mm 1855 mm
Wheelbase 3085 mm 3085 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 269 mm 235 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 87 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2870 kg 2800 kg
Payload Capacity 850 kg -
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 3500 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 3 seats
Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.4 m 6.4 m
Kerb Weight - 1850 kg

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Hilux Single Cab leads by 10 points

Hilux Single Cab has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab remains close.

Index leader 71 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 55% source coverage
71
#1 Index leader

Hilux Single Cab

55% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 56
Performance 65
Efficiency 56
Safety 90
Practicality 72
Leads by 10 points
61
#2

Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

77% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 78 Check Ownership 43
Performance 78
Efficiency 49
Safety 50
Practicality 73
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab +13 Efficiency Hilux Single Cab +7 Safety Hilux Single Cab +40 Practicality Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab +1

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Hilux Single Cab

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 72/100

Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

Performance 78/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 50/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Toyota Hilux Single Cab leads the catalogue index with 71 pts vs 61 pts for Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Hilux Single Cab leads. However, Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Hilux Single Cab and Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Hilux Single Cab 65 vs Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 78.

Efficiency index: Hilux Single Cab 56 vs Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 49.

Safety-equipment index: Hilux Single Cab 90 vs Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 50.

Practicality index: Hilux Single Cab 72 vs Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 73.

Ownership-cover index: Hilux Single Cab not separately scored vs Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.