Toyota Land Cruiser FJ vs Lexus UX

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 Automatic
ZAR 761,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 122 kW 🔧 245 Nm ⛽ 9.3 km/l
VS
Lexus UX in South Africa

Lexus UX

UX 300h EX Hybrid ECVT
ZAR 957,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 146 kW 🔧 188 Nm ⛽ 23.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Land Cruiser FJ
Fuel Economy UX
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser FJ
🔑 Ownership UX
Land Cruiser FJ starts ZAR 957100 cheaper Land Cruiser FJ from ZAR 714,000 · UX from ZAR 957,100

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser FJ UX
Engine Power 122 kW 146 kW
Torque 245 Nm 188 Nm
Engine Size 2700 cc 2000 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.3 km/l 23.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 245 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 268 l
Airbags Curtain, Driver, Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side Side,Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger
Kerb Weight 1970 kg 1585 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

UX has a slight advantage, but Land Cruiser FJ remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Land Cruiser FJ +1 pts
Efficiency UX +54 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Land Cruiser FJ +21 pts
Ownership UX +43 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser FJ

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

UX

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser FJ

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

UX

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser FJ UX
Model Introduced Year 2026 2019
Generation First-generation compact Land Cruiser FJ introduced in South Africa in 2026 Current Lexus UX compact luxury crossover with the 300h hybrid powertrain
Facelift History New South African model line launched in 2026 Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Launched Since New South African model line launched in 2026 Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Land Cruiser FJ UX
Ground Clearance 245 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2580 mm 2640 mm
Length 4610 mm 4495 mm
Width 1855 mm 1840 mm
Height 1890 mm 1520 mm
Kerb Weight 1970 kg 1585 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2500 kg 2110 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Towing Capacity 2500 kg -
Front Track Width 1540 mm 1550 mm
Rear Track Width 1555 mm 1550 mm
Turning Radius 5.5 m 5.2 m
Load Bed Length - 268 l
Load Bed Width - -
Number of Doors 5 5
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 43 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2500 kg 2110 kg
Ground Clearance Max 245 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 245 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 245 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1890 mm 1520 mm
Length Mm 4610 mm 4495 mm
Loadbox Length Mm - 268 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Tare Mass Kg 1970 kg 1585 kg
Turning Circle 5.5 m 5.2 m
Turning Circle M 5.5 m 5.2 m
Width Mm 1855 mm 1840 mm
Boot Space - 268 l
Max Payload - 525 kg
Boot Volume - 268 l
Payload Kg - 525 kg
Cargo Volume - 268 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

UX leads by 11 points

UX has a slight advantage, but Land Cruiser FJ remains highly competitive.

Winner 76 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 75% confidence
76
#1 Winner

UX

75% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 55
Performance 55
Efficiency 92
Safety 94
Practicality 55
Ownership 93
Leads by 11 points
65
#2

Land Cruiser FJ

72% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 38
Performance 56
Efficiency 38
Safety 94
Practicality 76
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Land Cruiser FJ +1 Efficiency UX +54 Safety Level Practicality Land Cruiser FJ +21 Ownership UX +43

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

UX

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 92/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 93/100

Land Cruiser FJ

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 38/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus UX wins with 76 pts vs 65 pts for Land Cruiser FJ

In structured scoring, UX emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Land Cruiser FJ 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 UX 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 FJ 38 vs UX 92. 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 FJ 94, UX 94. 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 FJ 50, UX 93. 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 FJ 76, UX 55. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Land Cruiser FJ 56, UX 55. 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 UX edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The UX 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 FJ and UX in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Land Cruiser FJ scores 56 vs 55.

Efficiency: Land Cruiser FJ scores 38 vs 92.

Safety: Land Cruiser FJ scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: Land Cruiser FJ scores 76 vs 55.

Ownership: Land Cruiser FJ scores 50 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives UX the advantage in this comparison.