Toyota Land Cruiser FJ vs Nissan Magnite

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 FJ in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

2.7 4x4 VX 6AT Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 761,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 122 kW 🔧 245 Nm ⛽ 9.3 km/l
VS
Nissan Magnite in South Africa

Nissan Magnite

1.0 Acenta Plus EZ-Shift Petrol Current
ZAR 323,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 53 kW 🔧 96 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ vs Nissan Magnite: the short answer

Land Cruiser FJ has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Magnite remains close.

Magnite starts ZAR 484,100 cheaper Land Cruiser FJ from ZAR 714,000 · Magnite from ZAR 229,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Land Cruiser FJ Magnite
Maximum Power Land Cruiser FJ122 kW @ 5200 rpm Magnite53 kW @ 6250 rpm
Maximum Torque Land Cruiser FJ245 Nm @ 4000 rpm Magnite96 Nm @ 3500 rpm
Engine Size Land Cruiser FJ2700 cc Magnite999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Land Cruiser FJ9.3 km/l Magnite16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance Land Cruiser FJ245 mm Magnite205 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 FJ

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

Magnite

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 FJ

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

Magnite

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser FJ Magnite
Model Introduced Year 2026 2021
Generation First-generation compact Land Cruiser FJ introduced in South Africa in 2026 First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment
Facelift History New South African model line launched in 2026 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades
Facelift Launched Since New South African model line launched in 2026 2023
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1970 kg 1007 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data
Spec Land Cruiser FJ Magnite
Length 4610 mm 3995 mm
Width 1855 mm 1758 mm
Height 1890 mm 1571 mm
Wheelbase 2580 mm 2500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 245 mm 205 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 488 l 336 l
Kerb Weight 1970 kg 1007 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2500 kg 1399 kg
Payload Capacity 530 kg -
Towing Capacity 2500 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.5 m 5 m
Front Headroom 994 mm -
Rear Headroom 958 mm -
Front Legroom 1044 mm -
Rear Legroom 900 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Land Cruiser FJ and Magnite 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 FJ 60 vs Magnite 16.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser FJ 38 vs Magnite 65.

Safety-equipment index: Land Cruiser FJ 94 vs Magnite 86.

Practicality index: Land Cruiser FJ 74 vs Magnite 64.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser FJ not separately scored vs Magnite 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 FJ leads by 12 points

Land Cruiser FJ has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Magnite remains close.

Evidence leader 68 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 74% source coverage
68
#1 Evidence leader

Land Cruiser FJ

74% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 38
Performance 60
Efficiency 38
Safety 94
Practicality 74
Leads by 12 points
56
#2

Magnite

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 86 Check Performance 16
Performance 16
Efficiency 65
Safety 86
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Land Cruiser FJ +44 Efficiency Magnite +27 Safety Land Cruiser FJ +8 Practicality Land Cruiser FJ +10

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Land Cruiser FJ

Performance 60/100
Efficiency 38/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 74/100

Magnite

Performance 16/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 86/100
Practicality 64/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Land Cruiser FJ leads the specification evidence index with 68 pts vs 56 pts for Magnite

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

Land Cruiser FJ vs Magnite 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.