Upgrade of an old favourite
TOYOTA FORTUNER: STILL GOING RIGHT
Latest models have been given a stylish finish to what is a rugged, reliable vehicle.
Toyota have become known for building vehicles that claim iconic status in South Africa – evident from success vehicles like the Hilux, Landcruiser and Corolla models over the years.
The Toyota Fortuner has also become part of this exclusive club and all the proof we need of that is visible on the roads.
You are almost guaranteed to see a Fortuner when you are on the road. Loved by the adventurous family or even as kid cabs school runs, it easily transforms from the urban to the open road.
It isn’t the only SUV available in the market though, with some outstanding contenders from other manufacturers as well, but what makes the Fortuner special is the purpose-built approach to match our desire as South African outdoor lifestylers.
We love the open road, the game drives, the 4x4 trails, and getting muddied up is an indication of both vehicle capability and fun in the sun family road trips.
I drove the 2.8-litre turbodiesel-engined GD-6 4x4, which puts out 150kW and 500Nm of torque. It is the same engine found in the Hilux and Landcruiser Prado range.
This is coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission which makes for smooth shifting.
I took the Fortuner on an adventure to the Dinokeng Game reserve before we were locked down and, given the current Covid regulations, we lived in the SUV for the four hours that we explored the reserve and it was comfortable throughout the drive.
The folded-up sixth and seventh seats were the pick for the kids and added to their experience on the game spotting drive.
The highlights of the exterior for me is the blacked-out mesh pattern grille and new front bumper, with LED fogs and striplike LED turn-signal indicators.
But my favourite features come from inside the Fortuner. It is an updated, stylish finish to a rugged vehicle that gives you all the comfort you need, be it on the dirt or the tar.
Black leather seats and interior does wonders for the internal appearance.
It also comes with an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality that links to your Apple music, Spotify, JOOX and SoundCloud accounts. All of these were pointed out to me by my teenage daughter, who looks at things like Wi-Fi and music systems first, let alone worrying about whether the car has headlights.
Yes, the car does come with incar Wi-Fi hotspot and complimentary 15Gb data through its Toyota
Connect telematics system.
The interior also serves up numerous storage compartments, cup and bottle holders.
On the passenger side the Fortuner has two in-dash storage compartments and a centre arm storage for driver and passenger.
It feels luxurious, and with new trends like “glamping” becoming such a craze with many, the Fortuner could be the perfect accessory.
Although it feels massive in urban settings, when you are on the open road it really announces itself with perfect power distribution and cruise control.
The height advantage really makes the long trips so much easier and accommodating.
The 2.8 GD-6 comes with sexy, new 18-inch alloy wheels with a sort of turbine design and metallic surface treatment.
The Fortuner, although still a youngster in the Toyota stable, ticks all the right boxes with its versatility and reliability.
It is a great all-rounder for the average SA family, but with the base model starting at around R581 000, and the top of the range going for about R806 300, it will be interesting to see how they sell, given the current economic climate.