Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vs Lexus RX

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 Prado in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

2.8 VX 4x4 Automatic Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,150,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
VS
Lexus RX in South Africa

Lexus RX

RX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,642,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vs Lexus RX: the short answer

RX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Land Cruiser Prado remains close.

Land Cruiser Prado starts ZAR 536,500 cheaper Land Cruiser Prado from ZAR 980,000 · RX from ZAR 1,516,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Land Cruiser Prado RX
Maximum Power Land Cruiser Prado150 kW RX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Land Cruiser Prado500 Nm RX430 Nm
Engine Size Land Cruiser Prado2755 cc RX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Land Cruiser Prado12.3 km/l RX11.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Land Cruiser Prado220 mm RX185 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser Prado

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

RX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser Prado

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

RX

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser Prado RX
Model Introduced Year 1996 2023
Generation Current Prado represents the latest evolution of Toyota’s global Land Cruiser platform with modern safety and comfort upgrades Fifth-generation Lexus RX luxury SUV
Facelift History Major redesigns in 2009, 2017 and latest generation updates improving technology and safety Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices
Facelift Launched Since 2017 Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Dark Blue -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 VX 4x4 Automatic -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment SUV Luxury SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2250 kg 1895-2005 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Land Cruiser Prado RX
Length 4840 mm 4890 mm
Width 1885 mm 1920 mm
Height 1890 mm 1695 mm
Wheelbase 2790 mm 2850 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 220 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 87 l 67.5 l
Boot/Cargo Space 120 l 612 l
Kerb Weight 2250 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2990 kg 2590 kg
Payload Capacity 740 kg -
Towing Capacity 3000 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.9 m
Front Headroom 995 mm -
Rear Headroom 957 mm -
Front Legroom 1042 mm -
Rear Legroom 882 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Land Cruiser Prado and RX 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 Prado 76 vs RX 85.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser Prado 49 vs RX 46.

Safety-equipment index: Land Cruiser Prado 98 vs RX 93.

Practicality index: Land Cruiser Prado 69 vs RX 75.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser Prado 40 vs RX 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

RX leads by 8 points

RX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Land Cruiser Prado remains close.

Evidence leader 77 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 70% source coverage
77
#1 Evidence leader

RX

70% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 85
Efficiency 46
Safety 93
Practicality 75
Leads by 8 points
69
#2

Land Cruiser Prado

95% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Ownership 40
Performance 76
Efficiency 49
Safety 98
Practicality 69
Ownership 40
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance RX +9 Efficiency Land Cruiser Prado +3 Safety Land Cruiser Prado +5 Practicality RX +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

RX

Performance 85/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 75/100

Land Cruiser Prado

Performance 76/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 69/100
Ownership 40/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Lexus RX leads the specification evidence index with 77 pts vs 69 pts for Land Cruiser Prado

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

Land Cruiser Prado vs RX 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.