Toyota Land Cruiser 300 vs Lexus LX

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 Land Cruiser 300 in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser 300

3.3D VX-R 4x4 Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 2,149,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 227 kW 🔧 700 Nm ⛽ 9.4 km/l
VS
Lexus LX in South Africa

Lexus LX

LX 500d F SPORT Diesel Automatic 10-speed
ZAR 2,687,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 700 Nm ⛽ 11.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance LX
⛽ Fuel Economy LX
🛡 Safety Land Cruiser 300
📦 Practicality LX
🔑 Ownership LX
Land Cruiser 300 starts ZAR 2687500 cheaper Land Cruiser 300 from ZAR 1,849,900 · LX from ZAR 2,687,500

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser 300 LX
Engine Power 227 kW 225 kW
Torque 700 Nm 700 Nm
Engine Size 3346 cc 3300 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.4 km/l 11.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 235 mm 205 mm
Boot / Load Bay 309 l 1109 l
Airbags 10 Side,Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger
Kerb Weight 2430 kg 2670 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 7 years / 100,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

LX has a slight advantage, but Land Cruiser 300 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance LX +3 pts
Efficiency LX +7 pts
Safety Land Cruiser 300 +5 pts
Practicality LX +3 pts
Ownership LX +50 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser 300

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

LX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser 300

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

LX

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 300 LX
Model Introduced Year 2021 2022
Generation 300-series Land Cruiser on latest LGAA platform Fourth-generation Lexus LX flagship body-on-frame SUV
Facelift History New generation introduced in 2021 with complete redesign Current range adds LX 700h hybrid and Overtrail grades while retaining LX 500d diesel choices
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Current range adds LX 700h hybrid and Overtrail grades while retaining LX 500d diesel choices
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Dark Blue, Bronze -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.3D VX-R 4x4 Automatic -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Land Cruiser 300 LX
Ground Clearance 235 mm 205 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2850 mm
Length 4985 mm 5090 mm
Width 1980 mm 1990 mm
Height 1910 mm 1895 mm
Kerb Weight 2430 kg 2670 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 3300 kg 3280 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 309 l 1109 l
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 3500 kg
Front Track Width 1675 mm 1675 mm
Rear Track Width 1675 mm 1675 mm
Turning Radius 6.0 m 6.0 m
Load Bed Length 309 l 1109 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 309 l -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - 610 kg
Boot Volume 309 l 1109 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 110 l 110 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3300 kg 3280 kg
Ground Clearance Max 235 mm 205 mm
Ground Clearance Min 235 mm 205 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 235 mm 205 mm
Height Mm 1910 mm 1895 mm
Length Mm 4985 mm 5090 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 309 l 1109 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - 610 kg
Cargo Volume 309 l 1109 l
Tare Mass Kg 2430 kg 2670 kg
Turning Circle 6.0 m 6.0 m
Turning Circle M 6.0 m 6.0 m
Width Mm 1980 mm 1990 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

LX leads by 9 points

LX has a slight advantage, but Land Cruiser 300 remains highly competitive.

Winner 85 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 75% confidence
85
#1 Winner

LX

75% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 98
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 84
Ownership 93
Leads by 9 points
76
#2

Land Cruiser 300

89% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 40
Performance 95
Efficiency 40
Safety 99
Practicality 81
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance LX +3 Efficiency LX +7 Safety Land Cruiser 300 +5 Practicality LX +3 Ownership LX +50

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

LX

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 84/100
Ownership 93/100

Land Cruiser 300

Performance 95/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 43/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus LX wins with 85 pts vs 76 pts for Land Cruiser 300

In structured scoring, LX emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Land Cruiser 300 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 LX 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: Land Cruiser 300 40 vs LX 47. 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: Land Cruiser 300 99, LX 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: Land Cruiser 300 43, LX 93. 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: Land Cruiser 300 81, LX 84. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Land Cruiser 300 95, LX 98. 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 LX edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The LX 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 Land Cruiser 300 and LX in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Land Cruiser 300 scores 95 vs 98.

Efficiency: Land Cruiser 300 scores 40 vs 47.

Safety: Land Cruiser 300 scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: Land Cruiser 300 scores 81 vs 84.

Ownership: Land Cruiser 300 scores 43 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives LX the advantage in this comparison.