New Toyota Models Have Landed In South Africa: 2026 Hilux, RAV4, Land Cruiser FJ & bZ4X

Toyota South Africa’s 2026 model wave has arrived. The next-generation Hilux, the all-new RAV4, the compact Land Cruiser FJ and the brand’s first fully electric vehicle, the bZ4X, have all launched locally with confirmed pricing and showroom stock. And for Durban in particular, this is more than a product story: the new Hilux is built here, backed by the largest single product investment Toyota has ever made in South Africa.

Here’s what actually landed, what each one costs, how they compare, and what’s still to come.

Key Takeaways

• Four major new Toyotas launched in South Africa in 2026: the RAV4, Land Cruiser FJ and bZ4X on 18 May, followed by the ninth-generation Hilux in June
• Toyota has committed R10.4 billion to building the new Hilux in Durban — its biggest-ever single product investment in South Africa
• The bZ4X is Toyota’s first fully electric passenger vehicle sold locally, from R1,182,800
• Pricing: Hilux R658,500–R999,900 · RAV4 R770,500–R1,043,900 · Land Cruiser FJ R714,000–R761,400 · bZ4X R1,182,800–R1,317,700

Toyota’s 2026 Line-Up: What’s Actually Landed

Toyota South Africa Motors used its May 2026 media event to put all four vehicles on the road together for the first time, ahead of a staggered rollout. The RAV4, Land Cruiser FJ and bZ4X went on sale on 18 May 2026; the ninth-generation Hilux followed in June. Between them they cover most of what a South African buyer is realistically cross-shopping right now — a workhorse bakkie, a family SUV, a compact off-roader and Toyota’s first EV.

Built In Durban: The R10.4 Billion Prospecton Story

This is the part of the 2026 story that matters most locally, and it got far less coverage than the cars themselves. In July 2026, Toyota South Africa Motors confirmed a R10.4 billion investment in its Prospecton plant in Durban to build the ninth-generation Hilux — the largest single product investment in the company’s South African history.

The money splits roughly two ways: about R7.2 billion into production preparation for the Hilux itself, and R3.2 billion into developing local suppliers. That has funded three significant new facilities on site — a 29,300 m² logistics centre, a chassis frame welding facility and a chassis frame coating facility. Pilot production has already begun, with roughly 77% of the programme complete and full completion targeted for June 2027.

The numbers behind it are worth sitting with, because they explain why the Hilux matters to this city well beyond the showroom floor:

• 140,000 units a year is the eventual production target, including exports to Europe and the rest of Africa
• 4,300+ people employed directly at the Prospecton facility
• 101 Tier One suppliers feed the plant, with annual supplier spend above R15 billion
• Close to 27,000 jobs sustained across that supplier network

Practically, local production also means something for ownership: parts supply stays steady, lead times are shorter than for imported rivals, and the plant’s long-term future is now secured well into the next decade. If you buy a new Hilux in Durban, it was assembled a short drive from where you’re reading this.

New-Generation Toyota Hilux (Ninth Generation)

South Africa’s favourite bakkie has been reworked from the ground up, and the launch range is deliberately tight: seven derivatives across Xtra Cab and Double Cab bodies, all automatic, all running the familiar 2.8-litre GD-6 turbodiesel.

Full South African Pricing

Derivative	Price
2.8 GD-6 Double Cab SRX	R658,500
2.8 GD-6 Double Cab SRX 4×4	R746,100
2.8 GD-6 Xtra Cab Raider X	R751,800
2.8 GD-6 Xtra Cab Raider X 4×4	R842,200
2.8 GD-6 Double Cab Raider 4×4	R892,900
2.8 GD-6 Double Cab Legend MHEV	R945,500
2.8 GD-6 Double Cab Legend MHEV 4×4	R999,900

Engines And The 48V Mild Hybrid

The standard 2.8 GD-6 produces 150kW and 500Nm, paired exclusively with a 6-speed automatic. The 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV) system is fitted to the Legend grades only, lifting output to 162kW and 565Nm and smoothing low-speed response and pull-away. Notably, the 2.4 GD-6 and the older petrol options have been dropped from the new range, and there is no manual gearbox at launch.

How The Grades Step Up

SRX is the honest workhorse: 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights and DRLs, side steps, fabric seats, manual air conditioning, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera and a limited-slip differential.

Raider / Raider X adds 17-inch alloys, keyless start, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel and gear lever, eight speakers, wireless charging, front and rear parking sensors, hill descent control, Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select system, and the step up to dual 12.3-inch displays — a digital instrument cluster plus a 12.3-inch central touchscreen.

Legend tops the range with leather upholstery, a nine-speaker JBL system, an electric driver’s seat, electronic handbrake, rear privacy glass, a cooled storage box, and the full driver-assistance set: adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist and a panoramic camera system. The range carries a five-star Global NCAP safety rating, with seven airbags standard across the board.

The Outgoing Hilux Isn’t Gone

One detail worth knowing before you shop: because the new range launches with only seven derivatives and no single cabs, Toyota is continuing to build selected eighth-generation Hilux workhorse variants alongside it — including single, extended and double cab models. For fleet buyers, farmers and anyone who needs a straightforward, lower-cost bakkie, that older range remains the value play. If you’re weighing the two, it’s worth a conversation rather than a spec sheet.

Toyota Land Cruiser FJ: The Compact, Boxy Off-Roader

The Land Cruiser FJ is the boldest new shape in Toyota’s range: a short-wheelbase, square-shouldered off-roader that trades the Prado’s size for a tighter turning circle and sharper approach and departure angles. At 4,575mm long and 1,855mm wide it is roughly 350mm shorter and 125mm narrower than a Prado — small enough for a Durban parking bay, serious enough for a Drakensberg pass.

Two grades are offered: GX at R714,000 and VX at R761,400. Both use a 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 122kW and 245Nm through a 6-speed automatic, with selectable part-time four-wheel drive, high and low range, and a rear differential lock. It’s not a fast car — roughly 12.4 seconds to 100km/h — but that was never the brief.

Standard kit includes seven airbags and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control across all speeds, lane departure alert and blind spot monitoring. The VX adds a Bird’s Eye Camera, a parking support brake, 18-inch alloys and synthetic leather; the GX runs 17-inch wheels and durable cloth. Both get the rear-mounted external spare wheel that gives the FJ its silhouette.

What it competes with: the FJ sits in an unusual gap. The five-door Suzuki Jimny undercuts it heavily at around R489,900 but is far smaller and less stable at highway speed; the GWM Tank 300 is the closest direct rival on size and price. The FJ’s pitch is that it pairs genuine body-on-frame ability with Toyota’s parts network and resale record — which, on a vehicle you intend to take off-road, tends to matter more over five years than the sticker price does on day one.

All-New Toyota RAV4 (Sixth Generation)

The sixth-generation RAV4 keeps its footprint close to the outgoing model — 4,600mm long, 1,855mm wide — but rides on a 9.7% stiffer version of Toyota’s TNGA-K platform, aimed at a quieter cabin and sharper handling. Context worth noting: the RAV4 was the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2025, with over 1.28 million units sold globally.

Variant	Price
2.5 HEV GX CVT	R770,500
2.0 VX CVT	R799,900
2.5 HEV VX CVT	R927,800
2.5 HEV GR-Sport CVT	R941,800
2.5 PHEV E-Four CVT	R1,043,900

The GR-Sport hybrid is the enthusiast pick: 137kW from the 2.5-litre engine, a combined system output of 176kW, specially tuned suspension, red brake callipers, 20-inch black alloys and a claimed 4.7 litres per 100km. VX and PHEV models step up to a 12.9-inch infotainment screen (10.5-inch on GX), Toyota Safety Sense 4.0 with adaptive cruise control and lane tracing assist, a panoramic roof and a shift-by-wire dial selector. Even the entry GX gets 18-inch alloys, seven airbags, climate control and park distance control front and rear.

One timing note: the range-topping 2.5 PHEV was not available from launch day and arrives after the rest of the range, despite being priced. If a plug-in hybrid is specifically what you’re after, check current availability rather than assuming stock.

In the local market the RAV4 is squaring up against a much more crowded field than its predecessor did — the Haval H6, Jetour T2, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson all sell hard on price. Toyota’s counter-argument is hybrid running costs, a 10-year/300,000km extended service plan option, and residual values that have historically held up better than the segment average.

bZ4X: Toyota’s First Fully Electric Vehicle In South Africa

The bZ4X launched at R1,182,800 for the standard crossover, with the longer, wagon-styled bZ4X Touring from R1,317,700. A 73.1kWh lithium-ion battery drives a dual-motor E-Four all-wheel-drive system with a combined 255kW and 438Nm, and Toyota quotes a WLTP range of roughly 450–480km. Braked towing capacity is 750kg.

Standard equipment is generous: Toyota Safety Sense, a panoramic roof, a nine-speaker JBL system, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, dual wireless charging pads, and genuine off-road aids including Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist and Hill Assist Control.

Charging It In Real Life

This is where an honest conversation helps more than a brochure. Toyota’s official 0–80% charging figures are:

Charger	0–80% time
150kW DC fast charger	29 minutes
22kW AC public charger	3 hours 19 minutes
2.3kW household plug	31 hours

That last row is the one to pay attention to. Charging off a standard wall socket is not a practical daily solution — if you’re buying a bZ4X, budget for a proper AC wallbox at home. Do that, and overnight charging covers the vast majority of Durban commuting without ever visiting a public charger.

For public charging, South Africa had roughly 650 public chargers across about 445 sites in 2026, with GridCars operating the largest network at around R5.50/kWh. The eThekwini metro has approximately 15 public charging locations, with about 20 across KwaZulu-Natal as a whole. The Johannesburg–Durban run has also improved: CHARGE opened South Africa’s first off-grid, solar-powered charging stations on the N3 corridor in 2026, including the Tugela site at the Colenso–Winterton interchange. It’s a workable network for planned trips, but it’s still thin enough that a home charger should be considered part of the purchase, not an accessory.

Where it sits in the market: the bZ4X enters a segment already contested by the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5, Kia EV5 and Tesla Model Y, several of which undercut it. Toyota’s argument is a familiar one — an 8-year/160,000km battery warranty, a nationwide dealer and parts network that EV-only importers can’t match, and a genuinely off-road-capable AWD system that most rivals in the class simply don’t offer.

Warranty And Service Plans At A Glance

Model	Warranty	Service plan	Battery
Hilux	3 years / 100,000km	9 services / 90,000km	—
RAV4	3 years / 100,000km	6 services / 90,000km	8 years / 160,000km (HEV & PHEV)
bZ4X	3 years / 100,000km	6 services / 90,000km	8 years / 160,000km
Land Cruiser FJ	3 years / 100,000km	Confirm with us	—

Across the range, Toyota’s Genuine Extended Service Plan can be extended to 10 years or 300,000km, and the Genuine Unlimited Warranty offers cover up to 10 years with unlimited mileage. Paying today’s rates for tomorrow’s maintenance is one of the more reliable ways to protect resale value, since a full service history is what a buyer actually pays for three years from now. Terms vary by derivative — worth confirming before you sign.

Which One Is Right For You?

If you…	Look at	From
Tow, carry loads, or need a work vehicle that doubles as family transport	Hilux Double Cab	R658,500
Want the lowest fuel bill on a daily family SUV	RAV4 2.5 HEV GX	R770,500
Genuinely go off-road and want something compact enough for daily use	Land Cruiser FJ GX	R714,000
Drive mostly urban kilometres and can charge at home	bZ4X	R1,182,800
Want performance and equipment above all	RAV4 GR-Sport / Hilux Legend MHEV	R941,800 / R945,500
Need a straightforward, lower-cost workhorse bakkie	Outgoing Hilux range (still in production)	Ask us

What’s Still Coming

The 2026 line-up isn’t finished. A few things to keep an eye on:

• More Hilux derivatives. Seven variants is a deliberately narrow start against the outgoing range’s 37. Expect the line-up to broaden over time as local production ramps up toward its 140,000-unit target.
• RAV4 2.5 PHEV. Priced at R1,043,900 but arriving after the rest of the range.
• Two more electric vehicles. Toyota South Africa CEO Andrew Kirby confirmed three BEVs for the local market in 2026. The bZ4X is the first; the Lexus RZ, which shares its platform, is expected next. The third has not been announced.
• An electric Hilux is not imminent. Toyota continues to test electric and hybrid bakkie concepts globally, but for South Africa — where towing, rural range and charging access all matter — it remains a medium-term prospect rather than a 2026 or 2027 launch.

The bigger picture is that Toyota is deliberately not betting on a single powertrain. Diesel, mild hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric all now exist in the local range at once. For buyers, that’s the useful part: you can pick the technology that suits how you actually drive, rather than the one the market is pushing hardest this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which new Toyota models are available in South Africa right now?

The RAV4, Land Cruiser FJ and bZ4X have been on sale since 18 May 2026, and the ninth-generation Hilux joined them in June 2026. All four are in dealer stock, though the RAV4 PHEV arrives later than the rest of its range.

Which Hilux models get the 48V mild hybrid?

The mild-hybrid system is fitted to the Legend grades only — the Double Cab Legend MHEV and Legend MHEV 4×4. These produce 162kW and 565Nm, against 150kW and 500Nm for the standard 2.8 GD-6 in the SRX, Raider and Raider X.

Is the new Hilux built in South Africa?

Yes. It’s built at Toyota’s Prospecton plant in Durban, backed by a R10.4 billion investment — the largest single product investment in Toyota South Africa’s history. The plant employs over 4,300 people directly and targets around 140,000 units a year, including exports.

Can I still buy the previous-generation Hilux?

Yes. Selected eighth-generation workhorse variants — including single cab models, which the new range doesn’t yet offer — continue in production alongside the new Hilux. They remain the more affordable option for fleet and business buyers.

What does the bZ4X cost and how far does it go on a charge?

From R1,182,800, with the bZ4X Touring from R1,317,700. Toyota’s WLTP range is approximately 450–480km depending on configuration. A 150kW DC fast charger takes it from 0–80% in about 29 minutes.

Do I need a home charger for the bZ4X?

Practically, yes. A standard household plug takes around 31 hours to reach 80%, which isn’t workable day to day. A proper AC wallbox at home is the sensible approach, and it covers most Durban commuting without needing public charging at all.

How much does the Land Cruiser FJ cost?

R714,000 for the GX and R761,400 for the VX, both using the 2.7-litre petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic, part-time 4WD and a rear diff lock.

Does the new RAV4 come as a plug-in hybrid?

Yes — the 2.5 PHEV E-Four tops the range at R1,043,900, alongside a 2.0-litre petrol, three 2.5-litre hybrids and the hybrid GR-Sport. The PHEV arrives after the rest of the range, so confirm availability.

See Them For Yourself

Specs and pricing only tell you so much. The difference between a Hilux SRX and a Legend, or between a RAV4 hybrid and the bZ4X, becomes obvious in about ten minutes behind the wheel — and choosing between them usually comes down to how you actually drive rather than what’s on paper.

Get in touch with Durban South Toyota to book a test drive, check current stock and lead times, talk through finance options, or get a trade-in valuation on your current vehicle. If you’re weighing up the new Hilux against the outgoing range, or trying to work out whether an EV genuinely fits your daily driving, that’s exactly the sort of conversation worth having in person.

Pricing and specifications correct at the time of publication and subject to change. All prices are recommended retail and exclude optional extras. Confirm current pricing, availability and cover with us before purchase.