Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab vs Ford Ranger Sport

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 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
VS
Ford Ranger Sport in South Africa

Ford Ranger Sport

2.3T EcoBoost Double Cab Sport 10AT 4x2 Petrol 10-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 839,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 222 kW 🔧 452 Nm ⛽ 10.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Ranger Sport
Fuel Economy Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab
🛡 Safety Ranger Sport
📦 Practicality Ranger Sport
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab starts ZAR 28,800 cheaper Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab from ZAR 706,200 · Ranger Sport from ZAR 735,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab Ranger Sport
Maximum Power 202 kW 222 kW @ 5900 rpm
Maximum Torque 381 Nm 452 Nm
Engine Size 3956 cc 2261 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 13 km/l 10.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 235 mm 237 mm
Boot / Load Bay - -
Airbags 2 Dual front, front side, curtain and driver knee
Kerb Weight 1850 kg 2055 kg
Seating Capacity 3 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 4 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Ranger Sport holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Ranger Sport +9 pts
Efficiency Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab +3 pts
Safety Ranger Sport +40 pts
Practicality Ranger Sport +13 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

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

Ranger Sport

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

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Ranger Sport

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab Ranger Sport
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African Ranger Sport listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
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. 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 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Pickup Double Cab Pickup
Body Type Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name 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. 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 Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Pickup Mid-size Bakkie
Tare Mass Kg 1850 kg 2055 kg
Vehicle Type Pickup Pickup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.3T EcoBoost Double Cab Sport 10AT 4x2
Spec Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab Ranger Sport
Length 5275 mm 5350 mm
Width 1855 mm 1918 mm
Height 1855 mm 1886 mm
Wheelbase 3085 mm 3270 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 235 mm 237 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 87 l 80 l
Kerb Weight 1850 kg 2055 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2800 kg 3100 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 3500 kg
Seating Capacity 3 seats 5 seats
Doors 2 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.4 m 12.9 m
Payload Capacity - 1045 kg
Front Headroom - 1024 mm
Rear Headroom - 989 mm
Front Legroom - 1057 mm
Rear Legroom - 879 mm

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Ranger Sport leads by 18 points

Ranger Sport holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab.

Index leader 79 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 55% source coverage
79
#1 Index leader

Ranger Sport

55% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 87
Efficiency 46
Safety 90
Practicality 86
Leads by 18 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 Ranger Sport +9 Efficiency Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab +3 Safety Ranger Sport +40 Practicality Ranger Sport +13

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Ranger Sport

Performance 87/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 86/100

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

🏆 Ford Ranger Sport leads the catalogue index with 79 pts vs 61 pts for Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Ranger Sport 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 Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab and Ranger Sport 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: Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 78 vs Ranger Sport 87.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 49 vs Ranger Sport 46.

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

Practicality index: Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 73 vs Ranger Sport 86.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab 43 vs Ranger 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.