Lexus NX vs Toyota Vitz

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.

Lexus NX in South Africa

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,276,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
VS
Toyota Vitz in South Africa

Toyota Vitz

1.0 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 229,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 51 kW 🔧 91 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Lexus NX vs Toyota Vitz: the short answer

NX has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Vitz.

Vitz starts ZAR 864,210 cheaper NX from ZAR 1,074,200 · Vitz from ZAR 209,990

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification NX Vitz
Maximum Power NX205 kW @ 6000 rpm Vitz51 kW
Maximum Torque NX430 Nm Vitz91 Nm
Engine Size NX2400 cc Vitz998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy NX12.3 km/l Vitz20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance NX195 mm Vitz145 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Toyota Vitz

1.0 XR CVT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

NX

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

Vitz

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

NX

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Vitz

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec NX Vitz
Model Introduced Year 2023 2019
Generation Second-generation Lexus NX mid-size luxury SUV Third-generation Vitz adapted for SA market
Facelift History Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives Current generation introduced in SA in 2019
Facelift Launched Since Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives 2019
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17 Current
Body Style SUV Hatchback
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Luxury SUV Hatchback
Tare Mass Kg 1760-1860 kg 900 kg
Vehicle Type SUV Hatchback
Color Note - White Pearl, Silver, Black, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Spec NX Vitz
Length 4660 mm 3785 mm
Width 1865 mm 1695 mm
Height 1670 mm 1530 mm
Wheelbase 2690 mm 2460 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 195 mm 145 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space 520 l 230 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2370 kg 1250 kg
Towing Capacity 1000 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m 4.7 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 125 mm
Kerb Weight - 900 kg
Payload Capacity - 350 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 983 mm
Rear Headroom - 951 mm
Front Legroom - 1048 mm
Rear Legroom - 899 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This NX and Vitz 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: NX 86 vs Vitz 22.

Efficiency index: NX 49 vs Vitz 76.

Safety-equipment index: NX 93 vs Vitz 47.

Practicality index: NX 65 vs Vitz 49.

Ownership-cover index: NX not separately scored vs Vitz 43.

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

NX leads by 29 points

NX has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over Vitz.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 29 points
Data 70% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

NX

70% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 86
Efficiency 49
Safety 93
Practicality 65
Leads by 29 points
46
#2

Vitz

85% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 76 Check Performance 22
Performance 22
Efficiency 76
Safety 47
Practicality 49
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance NX +64 Efficiency Vitz +27 Safety NX +46 Practicality NX +16

Large difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

NX

Performance 86/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 65/100

Vitz

Performance 22/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 49/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Lexus NX leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 46 pts for Vitz

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

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NX vs Vitz 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.