From rugged off-roaders to electrified SUVs, Toyota South Africa Motors used the inaugural Toyota Matsuri festival to give media, dealers, business partners and stakeholders a first-hand look at the brand’s future product direction.
Held at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 15–17 May 2026, Toyota Matsuri brought guests together for a carefully curated experience designed not only to celebrate the Toyota brand, but to place stakeholders behind the wheel of some of Toyota’s most anticipated upcoming vehicles.
Inspired by the Japanese word for “festival”, Matsuri blended immersive product experiences, hospitality and hands-on driving activities into a showcase of where Toyota is heading in South Africa.
The all-new Toyota RAV4, Toyota bZ4X and Toyota Land Cruiser FJ officially go on sale from today, 18 May 2026. Together, these family and lifestyle-focused SUVs are expected to play an important role in bolstering TSAM’s presence and market share within the highly competitive D-SUV segment.
Opening the festival, TSAM Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Leon Theron described Matsuri as a celebration of partnership, innovation and shared progress.
“This experience was designed to give our stakeholders a real taste of what’s coming from Toyota,” said Theron. “From electrification to off-road capability and lifestyle-focused mobility, the vehicles showcased at Matsuri reflect how the brand continues to evolve alongside our customers.”
At the heart of the festival was a line-up of vehicles that highlighted Toyota’s evolving mobility strategy – balancing performance, technology, sustainability and genuine capability.
The New Toyota Hilux: Tougher, Smarter and More Refined
One of the standout moments at Matsuri was the unveiling of the new Toyota Hilux, which builds on more than five decades of durability while introducing major upgrades in technology, refinement and comfort.
Guided by Toyota’s Cyber-Sumo design philosophy, the refreshed Hilux features a bolder exterior design, stronger road presence and improved day-to-day usability.
Inside, guests experienced a redesigned cabin with dual displays, improved ergonomics, seamless connectivity and Toyota Connect services – all aimed at creating a more premium and intuitive driving experience.
While the trusted 2.8 GD engine remains central to the range, the latest Hilux introduces enhanced suspension tuning and electric power steering for improved comfort, stability and control across varying terrain.
Toyota also showcased a range of advanced safety and convenience technologies, including Toyota Safety Sense 3, Blind Spot Monitoring, Safe Exit Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a 360-degree panoramic view monitor.
The Hilux range strategy continues to cater for a broad customer base – from hardworking Single Cab derivatives and versatile Xtra-Cab models to lifestyle-focused Double Cab variants featuring MHEV and future BEV capability.
More than just a workhorse, the new Hilux positions itself as a connected, intelligent and lifestyle-oriented bakkie while remaining firmly rooted in Toyota’s Quality, Durability and Reliability philosophy.
The ninth-generation Hilux will go on sale in June 2026.
The All-New Toyota RAV4: A New Generation of SUV
Another major talking point at Matsuri was the arrival of the all-new Toyota RAV4 – a bold evolution of one of the world’s most recognisable SUVs.
The latest RAV4 introduces Toyota’s widest range of powertrain options yet, including petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and the performance-inspired GR-S Hybrid derivative. The new-generation SUV places strong emphasis on electrified performance, advanced safety and refined everyday usability.
Guests experienced Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, next-generation hybrid technology and a thoroughly modernised interior featuring a large 12.9-inch display, head-up display and premium comfort features.
The new RAV4 also reinforces Toyota’s multi-pathway mobility strategy by allowing customers to choose the technology best suited to their lifestyles.
The new-generation RAV4 is priced as follows:
RAV4 2.5 HEV GX: R770 500
RAV4 2.0 VX: R799 900
RAV4 2.5 HEV VX: R927 800
RAV4 2.5 HEV GR-S: R941 800
RAV4 2.5 PHEV: to be confirmed upon release to dealer
Toyota bZ4X: Electric Without Compromise
Toyota’s electric future also took centre stage at Matsuri with the introduction of the Toyota bZ4X, an all-electric SUV engineered to combine battery-electric efficiency with genuine SUV capability.
Rather than positioning electrification purely as an urban solution, Toyota showcased the bZ4X as a vehicle built for real-world versatility across varying conditions.
Guests experienced its combination of strong electric performance, intelligent all-wheel-drive capability and terrain-focused systems such as X-MODE, Grip Control and Downhill Assist Control.
With a driving range exceeding 450km, premium interior technology and futuristic styling, the bZ4X demonstrated Toyota’s commitment to making electric mobility practical and accessible for South African motorists. The Toyota bz4X is priced at R1 182 800.
The All-New Land Cruiser FJ Arrives
Perhaps the most anticipated reveal of the festival was the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ, a compact yet highly capable off-roader that carries the legendary Land Cruiser DNA into a bold new era.
Designed for a new generation of adventurers, the Land Cruiser FJ blends authentic off-road engineering with lifestyle-focused versatility and modern design.
Built around Toyota’s renowned QDR philosophy – Quality, Durability and Reliability – the vehicle features low-range gearing, rear differential lock and the kind of true off-road capability expected of the Land Cruiser badge.
The FJ also stood out for its extensive customisation potential, with Toyota showcasing a wide range of accessories and enhancements available from launch.
In one of the festival’s biggest announcements, Toyota confirmed that the Land Cruiser FJ officially goes on sale from today, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the iconic nameplate. The Land Cruiser FJ is priced as follows:
Land Cruiser FJ 4X4 6AT GX: R714 000
Land Cruiser FJ 4X4 6AT VX: R761 400
