Toyota Land Cruiser FJ vs Isuzu MU-X

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 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
Isuzu MU-X in South Africa

Isuzu MU-X

3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 973,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance MU-X
Fuel Economy MU-X
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality MU-X
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Land Cruiser FJ starts ZAR 38,400 cheaper Land Cruiser FJ from ZAR 714,000 · MU-X from ZAR 752,400

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser FJ MU-X
Maximum Power 122 kW @ 5200 rpm 110 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque 245 Nm @ 4000 rpm 350 Nm
Engine Size 2700 cc 3000 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 9.3 km/l 13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 245 mm 235 mm
Boot / Load Bay - -
Airbags Curtain, Driver, Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side Standard
Kerb Weight 1970 kg 2080 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 5 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance MU-X +6 pts
Efficiency MU-X +14 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality MU-X +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser FJ

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Catalogue-index leader

MU-X

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser FJ

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

MU-X

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser FJ MU-X
Model Introduced Year 2026 2013
Generation First-generation compact Land Cruiser FJ introduced in South Africa in 2026 Current generation MU-X built on Isuzu D-Max platform
Facelift History New South African model line launched in 2026 Latest updates improved styling and safety tech
Facelift Launched Since New South African model line launched in 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Current
Body Style SUV 7-seat SUV
Model Year 2026 MY26
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1970 kg 2080 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Grey, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT
Gross Combined Mass Kg - 5900 kg
Spec Land Cruiser FJ MU-X
Length 4610 mm 4850 mm
Width 1855 mm 1870 mm
Height 1890 mm 1825 mm
Wheelbase 2580 mm 2855 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 245 mm 235 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 80 l
Kerb Weight 1970 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2500 kg 2800 kg
Towing Capacity 2500 kg 3500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.5 m 11.4 m
Payload Capacity - 659 kg

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

MU-X leads by 8 points

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

Index leader 75 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 62% source coverage
75
#1 Index leader

MU-X

62% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 62
Efficiency 52
Safety 93
Practicality 88
Leads by 8 points
67
#2

Land Cruiser FJ

58% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 38
Performance 56
Efficiency 38
Safety 93
Practicality 76
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance MU-X +6 Efficiency MU-X +14 Safety Level Practicality MU-X +12

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

MU-X

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 88/100

Land Cruiser FJ

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 38/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 76/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Isuzu MU-X leads the catalogue index with 75 pts vs 67 pts for Land Cruiser FJ

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, MU-X leads. However, Land Cruiser FJ 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 FJ and MU-X 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 FJ 56 vs MU-X 62.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser FJ 38 vs MU-X 52.

Safety-equipment index: Land Cruiser FJ 93 vs MU-X 93.

Practicality index: Land Cruiser FJ 76 vs MU-X 88.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser FJ not separately scored vs MU-X 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.