Toyota Fortuner

Expert Review by Maxabout

Introduction

The Toyota Fortuner is a mid-size SUV that was launched in the Indian market in 2009. The name "Fortuner" is derived from the English word "fortune." Toyota Kirloskar Motor's Bidadi facility in Karnataka assembles it from imported CKD kits. The Toyota Highlander has remained one of the best-selling SUVs in the country since its debut, and after huge success, the brand introduced the second-gen model of the car in November 2016. And then, later in January 2021, the facelift model of the Toyota Fortuner was offered to Indian Fortuner lovers. Loaded with a plethora of sophisticated features and premium design language, the Fortuner has never looked back since its inception. Let’s dive into discussing all the details related to the SUV.

Toyota Fortuner Design and Style

2023 Toyota Fortuner boasts a large mesh-pattern grille, which is beautifully designed to complement its masculine appearance. Its front fascia is further garnished with LED headlamps, along with LED DRLs for enhanced illumination. The use of silverish elements all around the grille and a redesigned bumper with an appealing skid plate give it a premium appearance.

On the side profile, the Fortuner SUV has a dynamic aspect thanks to the new 18-inch alloy wheels. Similarly, the longer side steps make it easier to climb into the vehicle. The wheel arc with strips dominates just above the tyres, while the remainder of the sides is kept basic yet attractive. The larger windows of the Fortuner facelift are also an eye-catching element that lets the passengers enjoy the outside views evenly.

Turning to the rear profile, the manufacturer has given the Fortuner a classy appearance on the rear as well. The split-style LED tail lights, rear windshield, bumper and extended spoiler are there to add to its beauty. In terms of body dimensions, the SUV is 4795mm in length, 1855mm in width, and 1835mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2745mm.

Toyota Fortuner Engine and Gearbox

The standard Fortuner comes with two engine options: petrol and diesel. The first one is a 2694cc, 4-cylinder, in-line, DOHC, Dual VVT-i, 16-valve petrol engine that generates 166 HP and 245 Nm of torque when combined with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The other one is a 2755cc, 4-cylinder, in-line, DOHC, 16-valve diesel engine that is capable of churning out 204 HP and 420 Nm of torque when coupled to a 6-speed iMT. Whereas, it produces 204 HP and 500 Nm of torque with 6-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota Fortuner Interior, Instrument Cluster & Boot Space

Get inside the 2023 Toyota Fortuner and you will be welcomed by the premium-looking cabin. Despite the fact that it appears to be the same as the previous model, the newly introduced 8.0-inch infotainment system, which also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, is something new for the SUV. Seats are now available in two colour options: chamois and black.

The maker has done its best to make your journeys pleasant by offering ventilated seats, which make the person feel cool even in the heated weather. There are no Captain's seats available in the second row, but the bench seat is rather large and provides the comfort you seek. The thigh support is adequate, and there is enough leg room and headroom.

The instrument cluster of the Fortuner facelift is somewhat changed, and the car is now supplied with numerous connection functions such as geo fence, car locating in parking, sending SOS in an emergency and more. The Fortuner SUV comes with 296-litres of ample boot space for carrying enough luggage, and this can be extended after folding the third row.

Toyota Fortuner Brakes, Suspension & Tyres

Braking duties are done by ventilated disc brakes on both ends while the suspension is handled by Double Wishbone at the front and 4-Link With Coil Spring at the rear. It rides on 18-inch wheels for the 4WD variant that is outfitted with 265/60 size tyres while the 2WD variants get 17-inch wheels that are clothed in 265/65 size tyres.

Toyota Fortuner Key Features

2023 Toyota Fortuner comes fitted with a vast range of features including LED headlamps, DRLs and taillamps, electronically controlled power back door, multi-axis spoke alloy wheels, 11 JBL speakers with one subwoofer, driving modes, ventilated front seats, cruise control, heat rejection glass, TFT MID, tilt & telescopic steering column, connected car technology, cooled glove box, dual-zone automatic climate control, New Optitron Cool-Blue Combimeter with Chrome Accents and Illumination Control and more. For passenger safety, it gets vehicle stability control with brake assist, Hill Assist control, traction control system, 7 SRS airbags, ISOFIX + tether anchor on the second row, ABS with EBD, emergency brake signal and anti-theft alarm with Ultrasonic Sensor and glass break sensor to name a few.

Toyota Fortuner Top Speed, Acceleration & Mileage

2023 Toyota Fortuner 4x4 AT accelerates from 0-100 km/h within 9.88 seconds and offers a top speed of 176 kmph. As far as mileage is concerned, for the petrol variant, it ranges from 10-11 km/l while for the diesel variant, it can be around 12-15 km/l depending on the various things such as terrain, transmission and driving style.

Toyota Fortuner Colour Options

The New Toyota Fortuner comes with a rich colour scheme of eight vibrant shades called Sparkling Black Crystal Shine, Phantom Brown, Super White, Attitude Black, Avant-Garde Bronze, Grey Metallic, White Pearl Crystal Shine and Silver Metallic.

Toyota Fortuner Ex-showroom Price & On-Road Price

Now, to understand the difference between ex-showroom and on-road prices, the ex-showroom price of a car is the sticker price that does not include the cost of road tax, insurance, and registration on the other hand the on-road price includes the previously mentioned cost and the cost of insurance, RC, one-time road tax, extended warranty, and all accessories purchased for the vehicle. It is worth noting that on-road prices in our country vary greatly from state to state.

Toyota Fortuner Competitors

Toyota Fortuner competes with the Jeep Meridian, Isuzu MU-X, Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq, Mahindra Alturas G4 and the MG Gloster.

Verdict - Should You Buy Toyota Fortuner or not?

2023 Toyota Fortuner is a feature-rich SUV with a sophisticated design language. It is well-suited for buyers who want a family car but one that doesn’t look like a cab. However, the lack of a sunroof and a USB socket are the major drawbacks of the SUV at this price point. But if these things don’t matter and you are an off-roading lover, you can surely go for the Fortuner.