The salary you need to afford the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ in South Africa

You will need to earn at least R76,765 per month to afford the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ in South Africa if you decide to buy it with a finance plan, according to a calculation by TopAuto.

The latest model in Toyota’s legendary Land Cruiser stable is finally here, and it’s available in two specifications – the GX and VX – with prices starting at R714,000 and R761,400, respectively.

The FJ is a compact Adventure SUV equipped with a 2.7-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which produces 122kW and 245Nm.

This is sent to a part-time four-wheel-drive system via a six-speed automatic gearbox, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 10.7l/100km.

Combined with a 63-litre tank, the Toyota has a range of 589km.

Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, side steps, stainless steel scuff plates, LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lamps, LED taillights, and a full-size spare wheel.

The GX also comes with keyless entry and start, a multifunction steering wheel, fabric seats, dual-zone climate control, six speakers, two USB Type-C ports, a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, and an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety fittings include seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and hill-descent control.

The range-topping VX will then add a leather steering wheel, faux leather upholstery, traction control, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, and lane-departure warning.

Each purchase comes with a 3-year/100,000km warranty and a 6-year/90,000km service plan.

What you need to earn

We can use the following formula to work out the monthly payments on the new Toyota:

• Car price – R714,000/R761,400
• Payment term – 60 months (5 years)
• Interest – 10.25%
• Deposit – 0%
• Balloon – No balloon payment
• Extras – No optional extras

According to this, you’ll need to pay at least R15,353 per month for the GX, and up to R16,366 per month for the VX.

Financial experts then recommend that you do not spend more than 20% of your gross monthly salary on vehicle payments.

This means you’ll need to earn anywhere from R76,765 per month to R81,830 per month to afford the SUV on a finance plan, assuming you don’t pay a deposit.

Note that this figure does not account for insurance, fuel, and maintenance, which must all be factored into your budget.