Toyota Land Cruiser 300 vs Lexus NX

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 NX in South Africa

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT Petrol Automatic 8-speed
ZAR 1,276,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Land Cruiser 300
⛽ Fuel Economy NX
🛡 Safety Land Cruiser 300
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser 300
🔑 Ownership NX
NX starts ZAR 1849900 cheaper Land Cruiser 300 from ZAR 1,849,900 · NX from ZAR 1,074,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser 300 NX
Engine Power 227 kW 205 kW
Torque 700 Nm 430 Nm
Engine Size 3346 cc 2400 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.4 km/l 12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 235 mm 195 mm
Boot / Load Bay 309 l 520 l
Airbags 10 Side,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Driver Knee
Kerb Weight 2430 kg 1760-1860 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Land Cruiser 300 and NX are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Land Cruiser 300 +9 pts
Efficiency NX +9 pts
Safety Land Cruiser 300 +5 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser 300 +17 pts
Ownership NX +50 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser 300

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
🏆 Overall Winner

NX

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

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser 300

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

NX

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 300 NX
Model Introduced Year 2021 2023
Generation 300-series Land Cruiser on latest LGAA platform Second-generation Lexus NX mid-size luxury SUV
Facelift History New generation introduced in 2021 with complete redesign Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
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 NX
Ground Clearance 235 mm 195 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2690 mm
Length 4985 mm 4660 mm
Width 1980 mm 1865 mm
Height 1910 mm 1670 mm
Kerb Weight 2430 kg 1760-1860 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 3300 kg 2370 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 309 l 520 l
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 1000 kg
Front Track Width 1675 mm 1605 mm
Rear Track Width 1675 mm 1625 mm
Turning Radius 6.0 m 5.8 m
Load Bed Length 309 l 520 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 - 510-610 kg
Boot Volume 309 l 520 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 110 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3300 kg 2370 kg
Ground Clearance Max 235 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Min 235 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 235 mm 195 mm
Height Mm 1910 mm 1670 mm
Length Mm 4985 mm 4660 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 309 l 520 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - 510-610 kg
Cargo Volume 309 l 520 l
Tare Mass Kg 2430 kg 1760-1860 kg
Turning Circle 6.0 m 5.8 m
Turning Circle M 6.0 m 5.8 m
Width Mm 1980 mm 1865 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

NX leads by 2 points

Both Land Cruiser 300 and NX are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 78 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 79% confidence
78
#1 Winner

NX

79% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 86
Efficiency 49
Safety 94
Practicality 64
Ownership 93
Leads by 2 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 Land Cruiser 300 +9 Efficiency NX +9 Safety Land Cruiser 300 +5 Practicality Land Cruiser 300 +17 Ownership NX +50

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

NX

Performance 86/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 64/100
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 NX wins with 78 pts vs 76 pts for Land Cruiser 300

In structured scoring, NX 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.

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.

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Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the NX 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 NX 49. 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, NX 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, NX 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, NX 64. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Land Cruiser 300 95, NX 86. 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 NX edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Land Cruiser 300 scores 95 vs 86.

Efficiency: Land Cruiser 300 scores 40 vs 49.

Safety: Land Cruiser 300 scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: Land Cruiser 300 scores 81 vs 64.

Ownership: Land Cruiser 300 scores 43 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives NX the advantage in this comparison.