Toyota Land Cruiser 79 vs Gwm P Series

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 in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser 79

4.0 V6 Double Cab MT Petrol Manual
ZAR 870,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 202 kW 🔧 381 Nm ⛽ 13.0 km/l
VS
Gwm P Series in South Africa

Gwm P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Land Cruiser 79
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety P Series
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser 79
🔑 Ownership P Series
P Series starts ZAR 706200 cheaper Land Cruiser 79 from ZAR 706,200 · P Series from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser 79 P Series
Engine Power 202 110
Torque 381 480
Engine Size 3956 1996
Claimed Mileage 13.0 9.8
Ground Clearance 235 210
Boot Space Not Available -
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 2050 1985
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

P Series

60
/ 100
+15
pts
#2

Land Cruiser 79

45
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

P Series holds a noticeable edge over Land Cruiser 79, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Land Cruiser 79 +4 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety P Series +12 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser 79 +1 pts
Ownership P Series +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

P Series

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 20/20

Land Cruiser 79

Performance 18/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 6/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser 79

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

P Series

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser 79

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

P Series

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser 79 P Series
Ground Clearance 235 210
Wheelbase 3085 3220
Length 5270 5360
Width 1855 1900
Height 1855 1815
Kerb Weight 2050 1985
Gross Vehicle Weight 3100 3000
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space Not Available -
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Turning Radius 6.4 13.6
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 0
Front Track Width 1550 1560
Rear Track Width 1540 1560
Load Bed Length Available 1520
Load Bed Width Available 1560
Front Legroom Available 1070
Rear Legroom Available 880
Front Headroom Available 1020
Rear Headroom Available 975
Front Shoulder Room Available 1440
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1420
Max Payload Available 900
Boot Volume Available 0
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 980
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 75
Rear Overhang Available 1160
Spec Land Cruiser 79 P Series
Engine 1GR-FE 2.0L GW4D20 Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Type V6 Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Diesel
Displacement 3956 1996
Cylinders 6 4
Valves per Cylinder 24 16
Power 202 110
Torque 381 480
Fuel System Multi-Point EFI Common Rail Direct Injection
Top Speed 175 175
0-100 km/h 9.5 110
Power @ RPM 5600 rpm 3,400-3,600 rpm
Torque @ RPM 4400 rpm 1,600-2,600 rpm
Turbocharger No Yes
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4D20
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 16.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 84
Piston Stroke 92.0 90
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Diesel
Engine Position Available Front Longitudinal
Engine Oil Capacity Available 8.0
Power 150 148
Variable Valve Timing Available No
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4,000
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
0–100 km/h Available 13.2
Battery Capacity Available -
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1996
EV Range Available -

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm P Series wins with 60 pts vs 45 pts for Land Cruiser 79

In structured scoring, P Series emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Land Cruiser 79 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. 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

On our scoring the P Series 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 79 0 vs P Series 0. 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 79 6, P Series 18. 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 79 12, P Series 20. 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 79 9, P Series 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Land Cruiser 79 18, P Series 14. 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 P Series edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P Series 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 79 and P Series in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Land Cruiser 79 scores 18 vs 14.

Efficiency: Land Cruiser 79 scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Land Cruiser 79 scores 6 vs 18.

Practicality: Land Cruiser 79 scores 9 vs 8.

Ownership: Land Cruiser 79 scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives P Series the advantage in this comparison.