Toyota Land Cruiser 300 vs MG ZS

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
MG ZS in South Africa

MG ZS

1.5L 4AT Luxury Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 309,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 84 kW 🔧 150 Nm ⛽ 14.08 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Land Cruiser 300 vs MG ZS: the short answer

Land Cruiser 300 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over ZS.

ZS starts ZAR 1,560,000 cheaper Land Cruiser 300 from ZAR 1,849,900 · ZS from ZAR 289,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Land Cruiser 300 ZS
Maximum Power Land Cruiser 300227 kW ZS84 kW
Maximum Torque Land Cruiser 300700 Nm ZS150 Nm
Engine Size Land Cruiser 3003346 cc ZS1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Land Cruiser 3009.4 km/l ZS14.08 km/l
Ground Clearance Land Cruiser 300235 mm ZS175 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

ZS

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

ZS

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 300 ZS
Model Introduced Year 2021 2025
Generation 300-series Land Cruiser on latest LGAA platform Current local value-positioned ZS compact SUV, sold alongside rather than replaced by the larger turbocharged ZS Pro.
Facelift History New generation introduced in 2021 with complete redesign Current South African ZS specification introduced with MG's market return in 2025.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV Five-door compact 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 2024
Production Status active active
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2430 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Land Cruiser 300 ZS
Length 4985 mm 4314 mm
Width 1980 mm 1809 mm
Height 1910 mm 1624 mm
Wheelbase 2850 mm 2585 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 235 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 110 l 48 l
Boot/Cargo Space 309 l 359 l
Kerb Weight 2430 kg 1258 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3300 kg 1695 kg
Payload Capacity 870 kg 437 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 500 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 1043 mm
Rear Headroom 957 mm 995 mm
Front Legroom 1105 mm 1070 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 850 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Land Cruiser 300 and ZS 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 ZS 37.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser 300 40 vs ZS 55.

Safety-equipment index: Land Cruiser 300 99 vs ZS 87.

Practicality index: Land Cruiser 300 82 vs ZS 52.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser 300 43 vs ZS 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 19 points

Land Cruiser 300 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over ZS.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 19 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 19 points
57
#2

ZS

73% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 55
Safety 87
Practicality 52
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Land Cruiser 300 +58 Efficiency ZS +15 Safety Land Cruiser 300 +12 Practicality Land Cruiser 300 +30

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

ZS

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 52/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Land Cruiser 300 leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 57 pts for ZS

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

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Land Cruiser 300 vs ZS 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.