Toyota Fortuner

Toyota Fortuner at a glance

The Fortuner is a seven-seat ladder-frame SUV with a longitudinal engine and part-time four-wheel drive, created for emerging markets. More Toyota models are listed in our Toyota catalogue, and its larger sibling is covered in our Toyota Land Cruiser 200 article.

History

Work on the Fortuner began in 2003, a prototype followed in 2004 and the production model was unveiled in 2005. At first it was built only in Thailand, later also in Indonesia and other countries, extending the success of the Hilux to a family SUV sold in many markets.

Toyota Fortuner generations

First generation (2005–2016)

The first Fortuner, also known as the Toyota SW4, is a typical mid-size SUV for emerging markets. It was unveiled in 2005, received a minor update in 2008 that refreshed the exterior, interior details and equipment, and a final update at the end of 2011.

Although somewhat dated, the styling has a rugged, masculine character with sharp edges, slanted headlights, a massive grille and a high front bumper that clears kerbs and obstacles more easily than a city crossover. Round fog lamps sit at the corners of the bumper. The side is typical of a traditional off-roader, with big doors, wide openings and fixed side steps. Ground clearance is an impressive 220 mm, and the Fortuner sits on 17-inch wheels. Large tail lights extend onto the heavy tailgate, topped by a prominent spoiler with a third brake light.

The interior matches the exterior: simple, solid and tasteful. A comfortable four-spoke multifunction steering wheel faces clean instruments with white markings. Ergonomics, materials and build quality are good. A colour infotainment screen sits in the centre console above a neat climate panel with its own monochrome display, and the gear lever and drive controls are below. Despite the seven seats there is plenty of room; the front seats have basic side support, and the second-row backrest splits 60/40. The first two rows are comfortable, while the third row really suits only children. In five-seat configuration the boot holds 620 litres, and folding the second row increases it considerably. The full-size spare is mounted under the car.

Petrol engines were a 2.7-litre four-cylinder with 120 kW (163 PS) and 214 Nm and a 4.0-litre V6 with 183 kW (249 PS) and 380 Nm, both with multi-point injection. Diesels were 2.5- to 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesels with direct injection and 16 valves, producing 75–126 kW (102–171 PS) and 260–360 Nm. Gearboxes were a five-speed manual or a four- or five-speed automatic. Drive went to the rear wheels or, with part-time four-wheel drive, to all four via a selector on the centre console, with a mechanical rear differential lock and low range. The ladder frame carried independent double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rigid rear axle, with coil springs and anti-roll bars at both ends. Steering was rack-and-pinion with hydraulic assistance, and the brakes were front discs and rear drums with ABS and EBD. Equipment could include front airbags, 17-inch wheels, fog lamps, climate control, a six-speaker audio system, electric windows all round and heated front seats.

Second generation (2015 onwards)

The second Fortuner was unveiled in Australia in summer 2015 and later updated. It kept its substantial dimensions and combines cues from other Toyota models with unique details: completely new grilles, wave-like surfacing, protective trim in various materials and menacing lights. The short, tall front is slightly inclined to improve visibility. A short bonnet with gentle ribs at the sides leads to a large trapezoidal grille set into the body, with a gloss-black mesh and a large chrome Toyota badge. The unusually shaped headlights look fierce and use LED technology on every version, with small chrome extensions framing the intakes below. Triangular side intakes cool the engine bay and brakes, slim fog lamps sit low down, and a central intake sits above a massive metal skid plate with the number-plate mount.

A long, wide window line with gloss-black frames and a thin chrome strip runs along the side, with large oval mirrors carrying indicators on every version, chrome door handles, near-square wheel arches with unpainted plastic cladding and fixed side steps. Ground clearance is 225 mm. Base versions have 17-inch steel wheels and more expensive versions 18-inch alloys. The almost square, upright rear has a spoiler with brake lights, a large rear window, plenty of chrome, triangular tail lights, a loading step, rear fog lamps and a black metal protective insert.

The seven seats are arranged two, three and two. Materials are good and build quality excellent. A three-spoke steering wheel with a silver lower spoke, leather on some versions and many audio and phone buttons faces two large analogue dials with fuel and temperature gauges and an informative trip computer between them, with chrome surrounds. The dashboard is partly leather-covered. At the top of the new centre console, small vents flank a digital clock, above the hazard switch and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system. Below are a conventional climate panel, an off-road drive selector with two extra buttons, USB, AUX and a 12 V socket. The tunnel has a large storage box with cupholders, a chunky gear selector and a mechanical parking brake, followed by an armrest. Leather front seats have modest side support; the leather second-row bench has a fold-down armrest with cupholders, and the two-seat third row suits children. Luggage space is 297 litres with all three rows in use, 621 litres with the third row folded and 1,934 litres with the second row folded too. The full-size spare is under the car.

Engines and transmissions (second generation)

The diesel reaches 180 km/h. Part-time four-wheel drive with a rigidly engaged front axle can be engaged at up to 100 km/h, with no restrictions on its use, and includes a rear differential lock and low range.

The second Fortuner is technically very close to the latest Toyota Hilux without being a straight copy. It has a ladder frame, double-wishbone front suspension and a five-link rear on coil springs. All four brakes are discs (ventilated at the front), with ABS and EBD.

Safety and equipment

The second generation offers ABS, EBD, emergency brake assist, A-TRC traction control, stability control, hill-start assist and trailer sway control, a lockable rear differential, front and side airbags, curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag, ISOFIX anchorages, active head restraints, hill descent control, a rear camera, tyre-pressure sensors, LED headlights and tail lights and daytime running lights. The rigid frame and programmed crumple zones reduce impact forces in a collision. The base version has three airbags, 17-inch steel wheels, ABS and ESP, fabric upholstery, two air-conditioning units, a light sensor, a four-speaker audio system, heated power mirrors and electric windows.

Key specifications by generation

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners say Toyota has built a good SUV, with attractive looks and a high-quality, comfortable interior, although some dislike the hard plastic on the dashboard. The diesel takes a long time to warm up in winter, and the suspension is somewhat firm — though that benefits handling. Despite its size and weight, it brakes like a regular car, the high seating position gives excellent visibility, and four-wheel drive takes it where others get stuck. Rivals include the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X, Nissan Terra (Navara-based) and Chevrolet Trailblazer — other pickup-based seven-seat SUVs.