Toyota

In a market saturated with crossovers and SUVs, the 86 proves that Toyota still serves true driving enthusiasts with what they need.

The 86 design looks timeless and delivers a terrific driving experience at an affordable price. With a much lower centre of gravity than most 4- or 5-door performance cars, and a steering and suspension setup that rewards the skilled driver, the 86's driving experience is pure and unrivalled.

This is a wonderfully engaging driver’s car that makes every journey rewarding.

Issues? The low roofline and seat position mean that if you are tall or nursing a legacy hip injury, getting into an 86 will be awkward and uncomfortable. Luggage space is severely limited, too.

The second-gen 86 has a larger 2.4-litre naturally aspirated engine. It’s characterful thanks to the boxer layout and soundtrack, but still feels a bit weak on the Highveld compared to 2-litre turbocharged rivals. Long-term durability of the 86’s naturally aspirated 2.4 engine will be superior to most German 2.0 turbomotors, though.

If you are going to buy an 86, it has to be a 6-speed manual, not the 6-speed auto. Why? Because the manual shift action enhances the driving experience, despite being more effort in traffic, it is a sacrifice worth making.

As an ownership and driving experience, the 86 is nearly faultless, because you have access to Toyota’s excellent after-sales and service support.

Corolla’s legacy of reliability and ease of ownership. In a trendy crossover body style.

Typical Toyota build quality, but Corolla Cross’s popularity makes them a theft risk.

Cabin infotainment screens can’t match the Chinese for graphics quality. Reasonable luggage space, but folded second-row seating doesn’t create a flat load area.

Hybrid version very light on fuel. But a fully loaded Corolla Cross is much slower when overtaking at Gauteng altitudes, than turbocharged rivals.

GR-S versions with lower profile tyres are silly. HEV if you live at the coast and standard 1.8 for the Highveld. XS versions best value.

Wildly popular and reliable continuation version of the ‘older’ Corolla, which ended production in 2025 but remains a clever buy.

Toyota South Africa has been smart with ‘continuation’ models: recycling a previous-generation platform for local production. To deliver value. It first did so with Conquest/Tazz in die 1990s and Corolla/Quest from the mid-2000s onwards.

The last version of Quest was a value model of the 11th-generation Corolla. A proven platform with a spacious cabin, easy-to-understand cabin ergonomics, and a massive boot.

Quest serves a real security purpose in South Africa, where the benefit of a sedan's locking metal boots for personal items and luggage is a feature. Why? Because a crossover or SUV with a tailgate and glass panel is a vulnerability entry point for thieves. Allowing them easy access to the luggage area. 

Quest’s 450-litre boot is enormous. It has 60/40 split folding rear seats, too, to increase load capacity for long items when required.

For the rest, it’s proven 11^th-gen Corolla: decent highway driving comfort and an incredibly durable 1.8-litre petrol engine. Being a naturally-aspirated engine, you lose a lot of its 103kW on the Highveld, where the Quest can feel unresponsive when fully laden.

Best buy is any entry-level spec 6-speed manual Quest. These models roll durable 15-inch steel wheels that are much more likely to survive a pothole strike without damage than larger alloy wheels, fitted to the Prestige and Exclusive trims.

Compact version of the second-gen Prado, with retro styling and lots of off-road ability.

Toyota’s FJ Cruiser only arrived in South Africa in 2011, almost six years after its global launch. Product planners doubted it would in a diesel-dominant market, because of the 4.0 V6 petrol engine’s heavy fuel consumption.

Shares a chassis and 4x4 hardware with the second-gen Prado, the FJ Cruiser is wildly capable in challenging off-road terrain. Ironically, its retro-styled bodywork helps, giving it better approach and departure angles than a Prado. That V6 petrol engine also makes FJ Cruiser hugely capable for dune and sand driving, compared to most turbodiesel 4x4s.

The interior packaging is very claustrophobic due to the small side windows and some component compromises. It’s cramped in the rear seats, and luggage space is limited. So, not a great family adventure touring vehicle, but an excellent overlander for two people.

FJ Cruiser isn’t that big, but it’s a parking and traffic driving nightmare, because of the poor visibility and extensive rear three-quarter blind spots.

The V6 petrol engine is powerful, reliable, easily serviceable, but very heavy on fuel. The FJ Cruiser does have an enormous 159-litre fuel tank to compensate for its thirst and ensure a good touring range, especially if you want to explore somewhere like Namibia. That huge fuel capacity is one of the reasons why the rear seat passengers have so little space…

Mechanically, these FJ Cruisers are well built, and although they are reaching high mileage, they are still desirable as charming and deeply capable off-road vehicles.

Vehicle of choice for upper income South Africans with families. With good reason.

Much safer to be in, if you hit a pothole a speed, than a crossover or Germany luxury car.

Fortuner’s Hilux platform and engines are proven, but all the Hilux designing ageing issues, are also present.

Cabin architecture and infotainment feel old. Third-row seating storage, folding up and to the sides, is a terrible design. Ruining the Fortuner’s load capacity.

Regardless of colour or spec, Fortuners are always in demand and hold their value well.

Theft and hijacking risks are real. Which insurance companies remind you of with hefty monthly premiums.

Hilux might sell more units, but this is South Africa’s most important vehicle.

For decades, the HiAce has moved millions of South Africans daily. Locally built and the 99.9% preference for the most demanding transport owners in South Africa: taxi operators.

HiAce has inadvertently established Toyota’s reputation for durability, without any marketing spend. Because everyone understands how hard taxi operators work these vehicles, yet they keep going.

There are legacy design limitations with HiAce. Like its proportionally small wheels, which limit brake size and stopping power. But HiAce has ABS and ESP as standard. And its petrol and turbodiesel engines are wildly reliable.

Built to last and keep running even with infrequent maintenance, the HiAce offers unrivalled value if you need a commercial-grade people mover. HiAce theft and hijacking risk is enormous, especially for private owners.

Successful enough to be a brand on its own. But theft and hijacking risks are high.

Due for replacement in 2026. Ageing cabin design lacks wireless- or USC-C charging.

Engines, dynamics and comfort aren’t class leading anymore. Still uses rear drum brakes.

But Hilux is engineered to a standard that prioritizes durability over sophistication.

Toyota has more cash than any other global car company. They contract the best suppliers. Use the best tooling. And that’s why Hilux is so well built.

Dedicated dealers and excellent build quality makes Hilux the best bakkie to own. If not drive. Raider spec offers best value.

Best large luxury car for South African conditions. That just happens to be a Toyota, too.

Unlike other luxury SUVs, the 300 can be both a long distance Gauteng-to-coast N7 tourer. And a three-week exploration vehicle, for that Namibian breakaway.

Proven body-on-frame construction and a solid rear axle, with a clever hydraulic cross-link suspension for optimized wheel travel across severe terrain. No air-suspension to fail and leave you stranded.

Diesel V6 is powerful enough for effortless cruising and tows with ease. And it is as reliable as the Japanese bullet train timetable.

No other limousine or large SUV keeps its value better. GR-S model, with the 18-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres, is the one to own.  

A global icon for its survivability in harsh terrain.

Three diff locks and a hand throttle give it amazing traction and control, in technical terrain, for skilled drivers.

Noisy and uncomfortable for highway journeys. Underpowered brakes a real issue at higher speeds, especially when fully laden or towing.

Rear track is narrower than front. Creating instability risk at high speeds and additional drag in sand.

Unrivalled durability – even by military standards. Engineered and built for a 25-year ownership cycle, which makes that initial purchase price cheap. If you amortize the cost.

No other 4x4 operates fully loaded on poor quality diesel across harsh terrain. Like these 70s.

Effectively a slightly smaller Land Cruiser 300. Without the excellent V6 engines.

Looks amazing and inside the cabin is comfortable with intuitive controls and functions. Unlike many rival luxury SUVs. Build quality rivals and exceeds German brands.

Land Cruiser 300 platform means more off-road ability than you’ll ever need.

Only weakness is the engine. The 2.8 diesel feels slow at highway speeds. And has much poorer overtaking acceleration than 6-cylinder rivals.

Prado is heavy and that old-school 2.8 engine isn’t going to be amazing for dune driving.

Much easier to live with in a city than the larger ‘Cruiser 300. Similarly depreciation proof.

Forget about Teslas and Ford’s F-150. This is the world’s best-selling vehicle for several years.

Rav4 has an outstanding vehicle architecture with enough dirt road ability for weekend getaways. But it's brilliant as an urban family vehicle, too.

Cabin is a very functional blend of physical controls and digitisation. Build quality is excellent throughout.

Regrettably, Toyota no longer offers a diesel engine option for the Rav4. The petrol engines and CVT transmissions can feel a bit lazy at Highveld altitudes when Rav4 is fully loaded.

Hybrid models offer better performance and fuel economy while retaining a full-size spare wheel. But at the price, Chinese hybrids offer nearly double the power, performance and features.

The Rav4 ownership logic is simple. You need a mid-size crossover/SUV as a family car. But don’t want to worry about the durability issues of turbocharged engines running on South African fuel. Then Rav4’s proven engine technology makes it a superior ownership choice compared to turbocharged rivals.

Rav4s in white could rival physical gold as a safe investment. They are effectively depreciation-proof and a better family vehicle than the Fortuner for buyers who know they aren’t really going to do much gravel travelling.

Rebadged Suzuki Baleno. So, why should you buy one?

If you want a reliable compact hatchback as a family car, or city commuter, the Starlet offers a lot.

Starlet is powered by Suzuki’s proven 1.5-litre petrol engine, which makes 77kW. That’s enough to keep up with highway traffic, even on the Highveld, where the engine does suffer some performance loss. Fuel consumption is average, and the five-speed manual gearbox versions are preferable to the 4-speed automatics, which can feel very old-tech to drive.

Cabin architecture is decent, and luggage space is useful, at 345-litres, which is quite a bit bigger than a VW Polo Vivo’s 280-litres.

Why would you buy one over a Suzuki Baleno, though? Because Toyota has a much bigger, better-distributed, and more profitable dealer network. That means support, parts supply, and servicing will be better with the Starlet compared to a Baleno.

Toyota’s powerful brand reputation in South Africa also helps keep the Starlet’s residual values a touch stronger than the Baleno’s, despite both cars being mechanically identical.

Best spec to buy? As with any compact car, the base spec is best. Starlet Xi has a 7-inch infotainment screen and after a late 2025 safety upgrade, it has 6 airbags, so all the core features are present. And it rolls on 15-inch wheels, which are the most practical size for South African road conditions, with many quality tyre options available at a reasonable price.

Proves that Toyota can do wild designs with an excellent driving experience. With some help from BMW.

One of the best pure two-door driver’s cars you can buy. Supra combines BMW engineering with Toyota build quality. What more could you ask for?

The B58 BMW inline-six engine is characterful and powerful, and beneath the Supra’s dramatic bodywork is an excellent mechanical platform. With superb steering and a suspension set-up that copes well with local driving conditions and imperfect road surfaces.

In a market where there are very few true two-door sports cars left, Supra offers all the driving excitement you need. With the peace of mind that Toyota's after-sales and service support delivers.

In a world where authentic driver’s cars are rare, the Supra proves that Toyota still cares about driving enthusiasts. And can build what they desire.

The best buy and a guaranteed future classic is the GR Supra 6-speed manual.

Toyota’s version of the Suzuki Brezza. And proof of Toyota's power in the South African market.

Suzuki no longer sells the Brezza locally, having discontinued it in 2023. This has given Toyota all the market share for the compact, affordable crossover segment.

Urban Cruiser has a tidy design, a cabin with the correct blend of physical controls and screen interfacing, and proven Suzuki mechanical bits.

There’s only one engine option, the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder. Rated at 77kW, it is okay for coastal cities, but it loses a lot of power on the Highveld. And it can feel slow with the old-school, but reliable, 4-speed automatic transmission.

Urban Cruiser has decent dirt road capability, with an impressive 210mm of ground clearance. And there’s 353-liters of luggage space, too, which isn’t class leading but enough for weekends away with all the family gear.

Not amazing to drive, but competent and safe, with all Urban Cruisers featuring ABS and VSC (Toyota’s name for ESP). And they all come with a full-size spare wheel, too.

Urban Cruiser might be outranked by Chinese crossovers on price, standard equipment and performance. But what really matters is Toyota’s extensive dealership network and dependable parts supply chain.

As an ownership experience, Urban Cruiser is the proven formula Toyota has perfected in South Africa. That’s one of the reasons why Suzuki decided to stop competing with it in the local market.

Urban Cruiser best buy? Avoid the automatics and get an entry-level Xs 5-speed manual.

Another rebadged Suzuki, for buyers who prefer the huge Toyota dealership network.

Vitz is mechanically a Suzuki Celerio. That means it’s a proven compact city car. But you get all the ownership benefits of Toyota’s enormous dealership network across South Africa. And the brand reputation of owning a Toyota, which always means something when it comes to resale value.

Vitz is powered by a 1-litre 3-cylinder engine. It’s a light car, but it does feel very slow on the Highveld or any highway.

The 5-speed manual gearbox versions feel a lot more responsive and better to drive than the 5-speed automated manual versions, which you should only consider if you have real left lower limb discomfort issues and can’t comfortably operate a clutch in traffic.

The entry-level Vitz is very affordable, priced well below R200 000. But it has no infotainment or audio equipment. This is a deal-breaker because you need USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and smartphone syncing in a vehicle. Even when you are on a budget.

Best buy is the Vitz XR, which adds all the missing digital screen and entertainment tech, with a 7-inch touchscreen. But don’t spend extra money on the XR automated-manual; just buy the standard 5-speed manual gearbox version.