Toyota’s Land Cruiser FJ is the most anticipated “affordable” off-road adventure vehicle since the 4th-generation Jimny. How does it compare to other sub-R800k SUVs with real off-road ability?
Toyota’s “baby” Land Cruiser, the FJ, is essentially a smaller version of the Fortuner, with retro styling and proven Toyota engineering. You don’t need to be a motor trade specialist to know that this new mid-sized adventure SUV is going to be wildly popular in South Africa.
The market for body-on-frame SUVs at the R800k-and-under mark is surprisingly underpopulated. But as new-vehicle price inflation has put even entry-level Fortuner 4x4s beyond the budget of many middle-class South Africans, the Land Cruiser FJ addresses a very real need.
Sparse the market may be but, priced under R800k , it’s not without rivals. And most of those rivals have a lot more power, features and space. So, how does the Land Cruiser FJ compare to other body-on-frame SUVs with low-range available in South Africa?
GWM Tank 300 2.4TD Ultra Luxury (4WD) – R739 900
Developed by GWM’s engineers as a more affordable rival to Toyota’s Prado, the Tank 300 is massively capable off road. Thanks to Chinese vehicle build costs and supply chains, it’s priced as a rival to the Land Cruiser FJ. It’s a lot of vehicle with a lot of technical capability for the price.
Built around a high-strength steel frame, the Tank 300 has less ground clearance (224 mm versus 245 mm), but better traction. How? The GWM features sway-bar disconnection for increased vertical wheel travel at ultra-low speeds. The Tank 300 also has front and rear axle lockers, while the Land Cruiser FJ has only a rear axle locker.
The Tank 300’s cabin architecture and trim are more like those of a luxury vehicle than of an African exploration vehicle. Inside, it’s clear GWM targeted the vastly more expensive Prado.
You’ll find lots of soft-touch cabin materials and laser-cut speaker grills, the latter something that was once the preserve of the most expensive Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles… The Tank 300’s infotainment screen quality and UX are also more sophisticated than those of the Land Cruiser.
Find a Tank 300 on Cars.co.za
Land Cruiser FJ load space…
An aspect where the Tank 300 is thoroughly out-manoeuvred by the Toyota is its boot. The former has just 400 litres of packing space compared with the Toyota’s 795 litres. As we know, luggage space is real currency for a South African adventure SUV.
What’s the reason for the big difference? Packaging limitations due to the Tank 300’s wheel-arch intrusion. GWM’s engineers chose to prioritise as much vertical wheel travel clearance as possible on the Tank 300’s rear axle.
That’s where the Tank’s deficiencies end… Its drivetrain is far superior. Instead of the Toyota’s old-fashioned and underpowered 2.7-litre, 4-cylinder petrol, the Tank 300 boasts the option of a 135 kW/480 Nm turbodiesel option . It’s mated to a more modern 8-speed auto ‘box versus the FJ’s 6-speeder.
While the Tank 300 turbodiesel isn’t particularly powerful, it’s plenty capable as a highway cruiser and has much lower fuel consumption than the Toyota. If power is essential, there are also a 2.0-litre turbopetrol and a hybrid model delivering 255 kW and 648 Nm.
But most importantly, diesels are the engine configuration most South African buyers in this segment choose. And GWM offers it on the Tank 300, while Toyota is making Land Cruiser FJ customers wait before introducing a turbodiesel engine to its new SUV.
Mahindra Scorpio-N 2.2D Z8 4XPlor Adventure – R665 999
One of South Africa’s best-value stealth SUVs, the Mahindra suits families who like exploring places way off the conventional routes. Like the Tank 300, the Scorpio N is larger than the FJ but priced inline.
Like the Toyota, this Mahindra is a proper body-on-frame SUV, with independent front and semi-independent rear suspension. It’s comfy enough on the highway and confident on the worst corrugated dirt roads.
Off-road ability isn’t comparable to Tank 300, though. The Mahindra has just 210 mm of ground clearance compared to the Toyota’s 245 mm. But the Z8 Adventure version does include steel off-road bumpers and all-terrain tyres. Those upgrades are convenient – there’s no need to have (often expensive) aftermarket accessories fitted.
Find a Mahindra Scorpio N on Cars.co.za
More versatile than Land Cruiser FJ
A big advantage the Scorpio N has over the Land Cruiser FJ is that it offers a 3rd row of seating. It makes it ideal for larger families when going away, or for use during the week as part of a school lift club.
Mahindra offers only a diesel engine with its body-on-frame SUV. But it’s a proven one that has earned the confidence of South African buyers. The Scorpio N’s 2.2-litre turbodiesel is an upgraded version of what’s available in the Mahindra bakkie range. It’s an engine trusted by South Africa’s demanding farmers.
Peak power is slightly better than the Toyota (128 kW versus 120 kW), but the Manindra torque advantage (400 Nm versus 245 Nm). That means better cruising performance when fully laden and lower fuel consumption at highway speeds.
BAIC B40 Plus Honor Edition – R699 500
Clearly an interpretation of Jeep’s Wrangler … The BAIC B40 even copies the Wrangler’s externally hinged doors and removable roof panels, should you wish to do the beach boulevard cruising thing during your coastal vacation.
There’s real substance underneath the copy-cat looks, however. The B40 Plus has lots of standard kit and real off-road ability , with a low-range transfer case and an electronically locking rear axle.
A body-on-frame structure means it should handle the roughest terrain without strain, but ground clearance is adequate rather than exceptional at 210 mm. If you worry about snagging you vehicle’s undercarriage on technical trails, the Land Cruiser FJ outclasses the B40 with its 35 mm of additional ground clearance. Like experienced 4×4 drivers will tell you, you only miss a few millimetres of ground clearance when it’s too late and you’re stuck on a rock.
Find a B40 on Cars.co.za
Tyres make all the difference…
The B40 rolls on 265/65 R17 tyres as standard, while the FJ is on 18s. And that’s important because it means you have excellent aftermarket all-terrain tyre options at a reasonable cost. The smaller wheel size paired with high-profile tyres are also more resilient to potholes and better in sandy conditions.
BAIC offers only a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine option for the current model-year B40 Plus. And, as you’d expect, the combination of a turbopetrol powertrain, lots of weight and poor aerodynamics makes it thirsty on fuel. Unsurprisingly, BAIC does not claim a fuel-consumption figure.
But at 165 kW and 380 Nm on tap, the B40’s turbopetrol engine does offer good responses and a power-to-weight ratio that’s much better than the Land Cruiser FJ’s.
So, which one are you picking?
See how the FJ compares with the GWM Tank 300 and Mahindra Scorpio-N
