Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vs Lexus RZ

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 Prado in South Africa

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado

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

Lexus RZ

RZ 550e F SPORT Electric Automatic
ZAR 1,977,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 300 kW 🔧 Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance RZ
Fuel Economy RZ
🛡 Safety Land Cruiser Prado
📦 Practicality Land Cruiser Prado
🔑 Ownership RZ
Land Cruiser Prado starts ZAR 1682600 cheaper Land Cruiser Prado from ZAR 980,000 · RZ from ZAR 1,682,600

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Land Cruiser Prado RZ
Engine Power 150 kW 300 kW
Torque 500 Nm Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm
Engine Size 2755 cc -
Claimed Mileage 12.3 km/l -
Ground Clearance 220 mm 200 mm
Boot / Load Bay 120 l 522 l
Airbags 9 Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Front Side
Kerb Weight 2250 kg 2145-2165 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

RZ holds a noticeable edge over Land Cruiser Prado, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance RZ +7 pts
Efficiency RZ +41 pts
Safety Land Cruiser Prado +5 pts
Practicality Land Cruiser Prado +6 pts
Ownership RZ +59 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser Prado

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

RZ

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Land Cruiser Prado

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

RZ

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser Prado RZ
Model Introduced Year 1996 2026
Generation Current Prado represents the latest evolution of Toyota’s global Land Cruiser platform with modern safety and comfort upgrades Updated dedicated battery-electric Lexus RZ range launched locally in 2026
Facelift History Major redesigns in 2009, 2017 and latest generation updates improving technology and safety 2026 South African range introduces RZ 500e, RZ 550e F SPORT and RZ 600e F SPORT derivatives
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2026 South African range introduces RZ 500e, RZ 550e F SPORT and RZ 600e F SPORT derivatives
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 published published
Segment SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Land Cruiser Prado RZ
Ground Clearance 220 mm 200 mm
Wheelbase 2790 mm 2850 mm
Length 4840 mm 4805 mm
Width 1885 mm 1895 mm
Height 1890 mm 1635 mm
Kerb Weight 2250 kg 2145-2165 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2990 kg 2640 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 120 l 522 l
Towing Capacity 3000 kg 750 kg
Front Track Width - 1614 mm
Rear Track Width - 1636 mm
Turning Radius - 5.6 m
Load Bed Length 120 l 522 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 120 l -
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - 475-495 kg
Boot Volume 120 l 522 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 87 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2990 kg 2640 kg
Ground Clearance Max 220 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance Min 220 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 220 mm 200 mm
Height Mm 1890 mm 1635 mm
Length Mm 4840 mm 4805 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 120 l 522 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - 475-495 kg
Cargo Volume 120 l 522 l
Tare Mass Kg 2250 kg 2145-2165 kg
Turning Circle - 5.6 m
Turning Circle M - 5.6 m
Width Mm 1885 mm 1895 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

RZ leads by 15 points

RZ holds a noticeable edge over Land Cruiser Prado, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 83 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 65% confidence
83
#1 Winner

RZ

65% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 62
Performance 83
Efficiency 90
Safety 94
Practicality 62
Ownership 93
Leads by 15 points
68
#2

Land Cruiser Prado

95% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Ownership 34
Performance 76
Efficiency 49
Safety 99
Practicality 68
Ownership 34
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance RZ +7 Efficiency RZ +41 Safety Land Cruiser Prado +5 Practicality Land Cruiser Prado +6 Ownership RZ +59

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

RZ

Performance 83/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 62/100
Ownership 93/100

Land Cruiser Prado

Performance 76/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 34/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Lexus RZ wins with 83 pts vs 68 pts for Land Cruiser Prado

In structured scoring, RZ emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Land Cruiser Prado 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 RZ 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 Prado 49 vs RZ 90. 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 Prado 99, RZ 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 Prado 34, RZ 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 Prado 68, RZ 62. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Land Cruiser Prado 76, RZ 83. 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 RZ edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Land Cruiser Prado scores 76 vs 83.

Efficiency: Land Cruiser Prado scores 49 vs 90.

Safety: Land Cruiser Prado scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: Land Cruiser Prado scores 68 vs 62.

Ownership: Land Cruiser Prado scores 34 vs 93.

Final structured scoring gives RZ the advantage in this comparison.