A safe, if bumpy, bet from Fortuner
“This one is a hotcake!” exclaims the security consultant managing the exit boom at the University of Witwatersrand. She takes my licence then makes a copy of it.
The reference to confectionery is no jibe about my festive-season weight gain, but rather, a comment about my wheels. Her closer-than-usual inspection is a ritual reserved for selected vehicles with the misfortune of being on thieves’ to-do lists.
Yes, there are parking spaces in some establishments reserved specifically for the Toyota Fortuner, among other names found towards the top of the monthly new-car sales charts.
But it is easy to understand why the popular sport-utility vehicle remains the go-to for many South African families. Reputation as a “hotcake” aside; the product is a safe bet. Good resale values are all but guaranteed. The inherent Toyota reliability factor imbues buyers with a smug confidence. It is sturdy enough to tackle the challenges of the urban jungle and beyond. Don’t forget it owes most of its makeup to the unbreakable Hilux.
And with a base price of R477,600, you could almost describe it as a bargain. The figure sits in the same ballpark as the outlay required for certain C-segment premium hatchbacks, in entry-level specification. Get the starter 2.7 VVTi RB automatic and the list of standard kit is quite impressive. Leather upholstery, a reverse camera and keylessstart are among the niceties.
We spent a month with the 2.8 GD-6 4x4 automatic over the festive season. On the hierarchy it is one notch below the top. That space is occupied by the 4.0 V6 4x4 automatic — which few people buy — ostensibly because of the diesel’s better fuel consumption and torque. There is a price difference between the two, of course. The former costs R678,200 and the petrol version R715,400.
Against the demands of December, the rugged, spacious Fortuner fared well. Its height and robustness proved assuring. Especially in the wake of torrential rains, leaving lacerated tarmac and sizable pools. The cavernous rear quarters accommodated an entire bookshelf, as part of a thorough and ruthless spring-cleaning operation.
I covered 1,529km during my Gautengbase holiday and averaged a consumption figure of 10l/100km. The 130kW and 450Nm underfoot was used in a reserved fashion. Although one sees many a Fortuner driven offensively and hurriedly in the cut and thrust of traffic, it struck me instead as a vehicle that feels happiest when coaxed gently along.
Now allow me to list my three biggest gripes. The packaging of that third seating row remains a bugbear. A Ford Everest, for example, offers the easy-to-use method of chairs that fold flat into the floor of the luggage compartment. Then there is the electronic tailgate which is simply dim-witted and frustratingly slow in operation. Lastly… I never remembered the ride quality of the Fortuner being as jittery in previous experiences — given its four-link rear suspension and all.
Blame the extended length together for this deeper insight. The distinctive bounciness I noted inspired an affectionate nickname: when January 15 came around, I was a little sad to bid farewell to the