Toyota South Africa introduced the new Land Cruiser to grace our roads and trails this year. Toyota regards this vehicle as a new chapter in the Land Cruiser Story, which has spanned decades. You could consider this a baby Land Cruiser, but it's a tough one; we'll say that's geared for the adventurous.
Now, what if we pit the FJ against another newcomer in the off-road space, the GWM Tank 300? The 300 formed part of the launch of the Tank brand, a GWM moniker that prides itself on off-road performance, luxury, design, and styling. Let's have a look at both the FJ and 300 to see how they match up on paper. For their variants, we'll look at the FJ in VX trim and the Tank 300 in Ultra Luxury Trim; both are the top-spec models.
Powertrain specs
Toyota
Surprisingly, the FJ isn't diesel-powered; instead, a 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is employed, producing 122 kW and 245 Nm. The power is sent to a part-time Four Wheel Drive system via a 6-speed automatic transmission. Claimed fuel consumption is 10.7 L/100 km.
GWM
Before, the Tank 300 was only available in petrol and petrol-hybrid fascia. Still, now, the addition of a 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine to the range is probably one of the best decisions GWM has made for the Tank 300, as I rate this a better-suited powerplant for this vehicle. You'll have figures of 135 kW and 480 Nm also sent to a part-time Four Wheel Drive system via a 9-speed automatic transmission. Claimed fuel consumption is rated at 7.7 L /100km
Offroad and Utility Specs
| Spec | Toyota | GWM |
| Ground Clearance | 245 mm | 224 mm |
| Approach Angle | 29.0 | 33.0 |
| Break-Over Angle | 29.0 | 23.1 |
| Departure Angle | 38.0 | 34.0 |
| Wading Depth | 750 mm | 700 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1970 kg | 2280 kg |
| Payload | 530 kg | 600 kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750 kg unbraked / 2500 kg braked | 750 kg unbraked / 3000 kg braked |
Notable Specs
| Feature | Toyota | GWM |
| Infotainment | Display Audio 8-inch | 12.3-inch Display |
| Instrument Cluster | 7-inch Digital | 12.3-inch Digital |
| Reverse Cameras | Panoramic View Monitor | 360-degree panoramic view |
| ADAS | Toyota Safety Sense | Level 2 |
| Seat upholstery | Synthetic Leather | Nappa Leather |
| Steering | Hydraulic | Electric |
| Bootspace | up to 795 litres | up 1635 litres |
Pricing and Service Plans
| Toyota | GWM | |
| Price | from R761 400 in VX trim | from R739 900 in Ultra Luxury trim |
| Service Plan | 9-services /90 000km with 10 000km service intervals | 7-year /75 000 km service plan with 15 000km service intervals |
| Warranty | 3-year / 100 000km | 7-years /200 000km |
Who wins?
This was a tough one when we look at what's on paper. The GWM has a more efficient, more powerful engine, a better-appointed cabin, and, most of all, it's cheaper. However, where it matters the most with these vehicles, being off-road performance, the FJ trounces the Tank in many off-road specs. The crown will have to go to the FJ here, but if you want a luxury off-roader, then the Tank 300 shouldn't be quickly dismissed. Should we test these vehicles in the field and make a video about it? Let us know.
Here are the latest Tank 300 and Land Cruiser FJ deals.
