Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vs GWM Tank 500

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 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,150,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
VS
GWM Tank 500 in South Africa

GWM Tank 500

3.0T Hi4-T Luxury Plug-in Hybrid 9-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,149,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 340 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 40 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vs GWM Tank 500: the short answer

Tank 500 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Land Cruiser Prado.

Land Cruiser Prado starts ZAR 169,900 cheaper Land Cruiser Prado from ZAR 980,000 · Tank 500 from ZAR 1,149,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Land Cruiser Prado Tank 500
Maximum Power Land Cruiser Prado150 kW Tank 500340 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque Land Cruiser Prado500 Nm Tank 500750 Nm
Engine Size Land Cruiser Prado2755 cc Tank 5002999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Land Cruiser Prado12.3 km/l Tank 50040 km/l
Ground Clearance Land Cruiser Prado220 mm Tank 500224 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Land Cruiser Prado

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Tank 500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
  • Stronger published ownership cover
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 Prado

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Tank 500

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Land Cruiser Prado Tank 500
Model Introduced Year 1996 2025
Generation Current Prado represents the latest evolution of Toyota’s global Land Cruiser platform with modern safety and comfort upgrades First generation Tank 500, launched globally in 2023 and brought to South Africa in 2025. Local specification leans toward maximum equipment loading and softer suspension calibration versus the Chinese-domestic version.
Facelift History Major redesigns in 2009, 2017 and latest generation updates improving technology and safety Recently launched into the SA market in 2025; no facelift to date. Software updates expected to refine hybrid system behaviour and adaptive air suspension calibration based on early SA fleet feedback.
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2025
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Dark Blue Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Pittsburgh Silver, Cosmos Grey, Atlantic Blue and Adventure Olive Green. Two-tone roof options available with selected base colours.
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup 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 SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2250 kg 2680 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Land Cruiser Prado Tank 500
Length 4840 mm 5060 mm
Width 1885 mm 1996 mm
Height 1890 mm 1905 mm
Wheelbase 2790 mm 2950 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 220 mm 224 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 87 l 80 l
Boot/Cargo Space 120 l 580 l
Kerb Weight 2250 kg 2680 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2990 kg 3200 kg
Towing Capacity 3000 kg 3000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 960 mm
Front Legroom - 1050 mm
Rear Legroom - 890 mm
Minimum Turning Radius - 13 m

In depth: how these cars differ

This Land Cruiser Prado and Tank 500 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 Prado 76 vs Tank 500 100.

Efficiency index: Land Cruiser Prado 49 vs Tank 500 97.

Safety-equipment index: Land Cruiser Prado 98 vs Tank 500 100.

Practicality index: Land Cruiser Prado 68 vs Tank 500 83.

Ownership-cover index: Land Cruiser Prado 40 vs Tank 500 65.

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

Tank 500 leads by 21 points

Tank 500 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Land Cruiser Prado.

Evidence leader 90 /100
Lead 21 points
Data 96% source coverage
90
#1 Evidence leader

Tank 500

96% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 100
Practicality 83
Ownership 65
Leads by 21 points
69
#2

Land Cruiser Prado

92% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Ownership 40
Performance 76
Efficiency 49
Safety 98
Practicality 68
Ownership 40
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 500 +24 Efficiency Tank 500 +48 Safety Tank 500 +2 Practicality Tank 500 +15 Ownership Tank 500 +25

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tank 500

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 83/100
Ownership 65/100

Land Cruiser Prado

Performance 76/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 40/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM Tank 500 leads the specification evidence index with 90 pts vs 69 pts for Land Cruiser Prado

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Tank 500 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 Tank 500 questions

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.