Toyota Land Cruiser 300 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota Land Cruiser 300 in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser 300

3.3D VX-R 4x4 Automatic Diesel 10-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 2,149,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 227 kW 🔧 700 Nm ⛽ 9.4 km/l
VS
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in South Africa

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

2.4L DI-DC 8-speed A/T 4X4 Exceed Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 904,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 133 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Land Cruiser 300 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport: the short answer

Land Cruiser 300 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Pajero Sport starts ZAR 1,059,910 cheaper Land Cruiser 300 from ZAR 1,849,900 · Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Land Cruiser 300 Pajero Sport
Maximum Power Land Cruiser 300227 kW Pajero Sport133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque Land Cruiser 300700 Nm Pajero Sport430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size Land Cruiser 3003346 cc Pajero Sport2442 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Land Cruiser 3009.4 km/l Pajero Sport12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance Land Cruiser 300235 mm Pajero Sport218 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Land Cruiser 300

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

Pajero Sport

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

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser 300

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 300 Pajero Sport
Model Introduced Year 2021 2017
Generation 300-series Land Cruiser on latest LGAA platform Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
Facelift History New generation introduced in 2021 with complete redesign South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
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 active active
Segment SUV Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2430 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec Land Cruiser 300 Pajero Sport
Length 4985 mm 4825 mm
Width 1980 mm 1815 mm
Height 1910 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 235 mm 218 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 190 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 110 l 68 l
Boot/Cargo Space 309 l 193 l
Kerb Weight 2430 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3300 kg 2775 kg
Payload Capacity 870 kg 695 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2850 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 3 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 1022 mm
Rear Headroom 957 mm 957 mm
Front Legroom 1105 mm 1067 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 880 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Land Cruiser 300 and Pajero Sport comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Land Cruiser 300 95 vs Pajero Sport 65.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser 300 40 vs Pajero Sport 49.

Safety-equipment index: Land Cruiser 300 99 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Practicality index: Land Cruiser 300 82 vs Pajero Sport 71.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser 300 43 vs Pajero Sport not separately scored.

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.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Land Cruiser 300 leads by 11 points

Land Cruiser 300 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Pajero Sport remains close.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 92% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

Land Cruiser 300

92% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 40
Performance 95
Efficiency 40
Safety 99
Practicality 82
Ownership 43
Leads by 11 points
65
#2

Pajero Sport

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 72 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 65
Efficiency 49
Safety 72
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Land Cruiser 300 +30 Efficiency Pajero Sport +9 Safety Land Cruiser 300 +27 Practicality Land Cruiser 300 +11

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Land Cruiser 300

Performance 95/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 82/100
Ownership 43/100

Pajero Sport

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 72/100
Practicality 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Land Cruiser 300 leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 65 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Land Cruiser 300 leads. However, Pajero Sport may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Land Cruiser 300 vs Pajero Sport questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.