‘Toyota Fortuner’ Review: An Excellent Experience on Every Terrain

A favourite in South Africa due to its comfort and adaptability, the Toyota Fortuner has long been one of the most popular SUV models on the market. Introducing a brand-new era, Toyota now offers an upgraded Fortuner that promises to tick all the boxes. While it is somewhat predictable in many ways, the new Toyota Fortuner delivers an excellent experience on every terrain.

Starting our journey on the city streets, the Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD6 4x4 VX AT has a notable strength from the first ignition. Its size can be felt in every turn as there is no doubt that this is a titan of a vehicle. It does feel heavy but this doesn’t limit the power of its 2.8-litre diesel engine. Speed won’t be an issue for any driver, especially if you select the breathtaking Sport Mode. It certainly is a strong vehicle but it never feels unwieldy nor does it ever seem unsafe. However, the one downside to the Fortuner’s performance is its high fuel consumption. Toyota claims the mileage to be 7.9l/100km but what we experienced was closer to 9.5l/100km on average.

As a fully capable 4x4 model, it would have been a shame if the Toyota Fortuner wasn’t also put to the test on off-road terrain. Taking advantage of its outdoor capabilities, we visited the Clifton Canyon 4x4 Track to see if it was as adventurous as Toyota claims. We soon discovered that the Fortuner is built to tackle a variety of conditions and is a confident explorer in many scenarios. Even when we found ourselves in a tight spot, the low-range 4x4 setting allowed us to quickly dominate every slope and hill.

As far as its design goes, the Toyota Fortuner hasn’t changed much with the new model but this is not necessarily a negative. Although familiar, the outside is exceedingly attractive and the interior is incredibly comfortable. The partial leather seat trim and 4-spoke leather + wood steering wheel create a premium quality that owners will surely appreciate. When it comes to technology and music, the JBL audio system is a wonderful addition but the noticeable lack of a navigation system is fairly glaring when you consider the Fortuner’s price.

Costing R870 900, the new Toyota Fortuner continues a famous legacy and is undoubtedly impressive both on and off the road. It may be too predictable for those that owned previous Fortuner models but that fact doesn’t stop this vehicle from being one of the best 4x4 SUVs on the market today.