Toyota recently introduced its Land Cruiser FJ in Cape Town, and almost immediately, the comparisons started. The most obvious rival — at least visually — is the Jetour T2, just announced as South Africa’s Car of the Year. Both wear boxy, upright proportions and both hover around the R700k mark. On paper, they’re in the same conversation. Stand them next to each other, though, and things get interesting.
Before we get to that, it’s worth acknowledging how different these two are under the skin. The FJ is old school in the best possible sense — a ladder-frame body-on-frame construction, a part-time 4×4 system with low range, and a 2.7-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol producing 122kW and 245Nm. No turbos, no electric motors, no drama. The T2, by contrast, is thoroughly modern: a unibody crossover, all-wheel drive, and powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre making 180kW and 375Nm, with a PHEV variant pushing those figures further still. Two very different philosophies wearing vaguely similar outfits. But it’s the size differences that genuinely surprised us.
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ VX 4,575mm long, 1,855mm wide, 1,960mm tall.
From R761,400
Smaller than anticipated. Considerably so. The FJ is compact — upright, yes, but notably narrower than its competition and shorter than you’d expect from a vehicle wearing the Land Cruiser name. That height, though, gives it a commanding presence that punches above its footprint.
Jetour T2 2.0T Odyssey XWD 4,785mm long, 2,006mm wide, 1,870–1,880mm tall.
From R679,900
This is the big one. Two metres wide is proper SUV territory, and the T2 makes the FJ look almost dainty in comparison. At R679,900 for the Odyssey flagship, it also undercuts the FJ — which makes the value proposition fairly compelling.
Jetour T1 2.0T Odyssey XWD 4,705mm long, 1,967mm wide, 1,843mm tall.
From R634,900
For those who want the T2’s formula in a slightly more manageable size, the T1 delivers. Still wider than the FJ by a significant margin, still enormously well-specced for the money, and actually a closer rival to the Land Cruiser FJ in terms of footprint than its bigger sibling.
Suzuki Jimny 5-Door GLX 3,985mm long, 1,645mm wide, 1,720mm tall.
From R465,900
Just for fun, and because someone was always going to ask. The Jimny is in a different class entirely — smaller, simpler, and considerably cheaper — but its off-road credentials are genuine and its cult status is entirely deserved. Think of it as the entry point to this boxy adventure set.
GWM Tank 300D Ultra Luxury 4WD — 4,760mm long, 1,930mm wide, 1,903mm tall.
From R769,950
And then there’s the Tank 300 — the one you genuinely see more of every week on South African roads, and with good reason. It’s the largest of the group, the most overtly rugged, and one of the best-value proper 4x4s on the local market. Powered by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel producing 135kW and 480Nm, it brings serious towing capacity and serious road presence. We like it a lot.
So there you have it. Four very different takes on the same basic idea — boxy, capable, go-anywhere. Which one would you take if money was no object?