With a market share of 40% and selling around 800 units a month, the Toyota Fortuner rules the medium SUV roost and has now been given design and technical enhancements in line with trends within the category.
The sharp-edge nose follows the current Toyota design language as seen on vehicles such as the Corolla Cross – Toyota refers to these creases as being ‘catamaran-inspired’ in that they mimic the design of a catamaran hull.
The new angular front and rear bumper treatment with aero-corner moulding is complemented by black trapezoidal foglamp housings upfront and L-shaped reflector inserts at the rear.
The headlamps now have split-quad LEDs with a waterfall LED Line Guide Signature, in combination with the LED L-shaped daytime running lamps and LED indicator lamps (featuring sequential functionality on 2.8 models).
The entire range now gets new two-tone black and metal 18-inch wheels and Fortuner 2,8-litre customers can specify the new bi-tone colour option which pairs a black roof (including spoiler, garnish, outer mirror housings and shark fin antenna) with the Platinum Pearl White exterior.
However, it is under the skin where a significant change has taken place. The suspension setup has been reworked along with Noiuse, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) characteristics to produce a much more stable and quieter ride – evidenced on the launch drive over the famous 23,8-kilometre Swartberg Pass in the Eastern Cape.
The Fortuner feels more connected to the road with little of the rear wheel shudder that often is present on rippled dirt roads. Equally, road, wind and tyre noise are reduced to the absolute minimum.
On the interior, leather is standard across the range, but 2.8-litre customers get a new dual-tone pairing of black and maroon leather.
All the 2.8 variants gain two Type C USB points for rear passengers along with a revised instrument cluster, which features all-new graphics, new black background ornamentation and revised opening animation for the TFT display.
The 2.8 models received a safety upgrade in 2022 where a Lane Keeping System with Land Departure Alert (LDA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Adaptive Cruise Control and a brake-synchronised Pre-Crash System were added.
These remain unchanged as do the standard safety features such as a full set of crash bags including driver knee and curtain bags along with anti-lock braking with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control (electronic Active Traction Control in the case of VX models).
There has been no change to the engine and gearbox options with the range headed by the 2,8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, developing 150 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque and mated exclusively with the six-speed automatic transmission. The 2.4 GD-6 produces 110 kW and 400 Nm and is available in both 6-speed manual and 6-speed auto transmission configurations.
All Fortuner models are covered by a 3-year/100 000 km warranty and a 9-services/90 000 km service plan. Service intervals are set at 10 000 km.
Model Line-up & pricing
2.4 GD-6 RB MT - R653,500
2.4 GD-6 RB AT - R677,500
2.4 GD-6 4x4 AT - R709,800
2.8 GD-6 RB - R794,600
2.8 GD-6 RB VX - R837,800
2.8 GD-6 4x4 - R873,500
2.8 GD-6 4x4 VX - R915,400
* Bi-tone models command an R10 200 premium
