New Toyota Land Cruiser FJ coming to South Africa – What to expect

Toyota has officially confirmed that the new Land Cruiser FJ is coming to South Africa.

The retro-themed SUV was one of several products that Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) recently unveiled at the company’s annual State of the Motoring Industry (SOMI) event.

The Land Cruiser FJ was one of this year’s headline announcements, alongside other exciting entries like the new bZ4X (Toyota’s first electric car) and the next-gen RAV4.

It is set to release in the second quarter of 2026, meaning we won’t have to wait much longer to get our hands on it.

A new baby Prado?

The new FJ has been likened by many to the current-generation Prado and for good reason, as that model’s success appears to have set the template for all of Toyota’s 4x4s for the foreseeable future.

It’s built on the same ladder-frame IMV 0 platform as the Hilux and Fortuner, and will be made available in both rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations.

The vehicle’s styling is fairly similar to the Prado, as the overall shape favours the boxy retro theme that seems to be in vogue with most off-road vehicles these days.

The FJ made its international debut at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, where it was showcased with two different headlight designs.

Toyota fans will remember that the Prado was initially available with a limited “First Edition” series with circular LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs), and it appears that the company will do the same for the FJ.

The standard models have rectangular LED headlights with C-shaped DRLs (similar to the Ford Ranger), but the FJ will also have a version with circular headlights to hammer home the retro design.

In terms of size, the FJ is smaller than the Prado, as shown below:

The FJ is still quite large overall, but its compact dimensions have understandably led motorists to refer to the SUV as a “baby Prado.”

Indeed, this is what many are hoping the FJ will turn out to be, as the Prado is a highly sought-after vehicle, but its premium status and R1.3-million starting price means its inaccessible to most households.

The FJ’s interior is almost identical to its big brother’s, as it has a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a centre console with the same gearshift, circular air vents, and a large infotainment screen and digital driver display.

One critical detail about the new Land Cruiser that is still unknown is the powertrain, as there have been conflicting reports about which engines it will be made available with.

In Japan and other markets, the FJ be exclusively sold with the brand’s 2.7-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which produces 120kW and 246Nm.

This will likely be a disappointment to many South Africans, as diesel is the preferred fuel type for the vast majority of off-road vehicles.

However, there have been reports out of Japan that select markets may eventually receive the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel block used by the Hilux, Fortuner, and Prado, but time will tell whether these rumours bear any fruit.

The other unknown factor is price, which will ultimately determine whether the FJ truly a “budget Prado.”

It’s unlikely to be cheap, but it has the potential to be a smash hit if it sells for less than seven figures when it debuts in South Africa later this year.

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ