Toyota Fortuner

Here's one SUV that befuddles us almost every single time we look at the sales numbers. For a vehicle that costs nearly Rs 40 lakh, it sells in numbers that even a few affordable hatchbacks struggle to match. In its new generation, the Fortuner drops its utilitarian image for an upmarket appeal. It looks less like a truck and more like a posh SUV. What's appreciable is that under all that flash, it's still a sensible Toyota. The engines are reliable and dependable as ever and service costs are affordable as well. Add the phenomenal resale value to the mix and you've got an almost irresistible package on hand.

The new Fortuner looks bold and brash. Yes, the old one had a 'destroy me if you can' vibe that's kinda missing here. But in exchange, you've got a design that will be equally at home teaching nature a lesson on the weekend and sitting pretty at the porch of a 5-star hotel on the weekdays. That massive grille dunked in the chrome, the large wraparound taillamps, the signature daytime running lamps and the tall stance add to the Fortuner's imposing aura. Depending on the version you choose, you get a choice of 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels.

Getting inside the cabin of the new Fortuner requires some effort. You have to climb in, only to get a pleasant surprise. You don’t see a sea of dull grey and boring green-backlit everything. Approach to design here clearly has a luxury-focus. The dark tan upholstery, the smartly designed dashboard and the pleasant blue backlighting, all feel inviting. You get a plethora of features too, including a touchscreen infotainment system (no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto here, sorry!), automatic air-conditioning, powered driver seat and cruise control. The cabin is spacious enough for five adults and two kids. Travelling with seven adults is possible, but only over short distances. The lack of underthigh support, and the slightly upright seating position can get tiresome very quickly. Toyota has you covered as far as safety is concerned. The Fortuner gets seven Airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. There’s vehicle stability control, brake assist and hill assist control as well. 4WD variants additionally get downhill assist control.

Toyota is offering the Fortuner with two engine options. There’s a 2.7-litre petrol motor and 2.8-litre diesel. The petrol engine makes a healthy 166PS of power and 245Nm of torque. We have to say it’s smooth, refined and barely makes any noise. That said, it isn’t particularly efficient or fun in any manner. In our tests, the Fortuner petrol automatic returned 8.68kmpl in the city and 9.26kmpl on the highway. When we broke out the heavy foot, it needed a 13.22 seconds to get to 100kmph from standstill. The diesel automatic (4x4) we tested, on the other hand, was a little over a second quicker, taking 12.14 seconds to clock 100kmph. We aren’t surprised, considering it makes more power and torque with 177PS and 450Nm on tap. Notably, if you pick a diesel-manual you get 420Nm instead. Efficiency too was noticeably better compared to the petrol-auto at 12.38kmpl (city) and 15.04kmpl (highway).

In terms of equipment, all versions of the Fortuner are nearly identical. But, you do get a whole barrage of drivetrain options to choose from. Considering the engine, gearbox and optional 4WD - there’s a total of six versions.

No matter what you pick, you get a bucketload of features including leather upholstery, a touchscreen infotainment system, a TFT MID, powered driver’s seat and more. Yes, a sunroof is missing from the list. And no, Toyota isn’t going to add that in anytime soon.

Isuzu mu-X: It’s not the most feature-loaded SUV of the lot but is a good option for someone looking for a no-frills 7-seat SUV at a more affordable price than the Fortuner or Endeavour. It is plenty capable off-road too.

Skoda Kodiaq: The Skoda Kodiaq combines the opulence of a luxury sedan with SUV-like capabilities. It is an easy going, upmarket SUV for the whole family that also gets all-wheel drive for the occasional sticky or slushy situation.

Volkswagen Tiguan: The VW Tiguan is a well-loaded, premium crossover for five. While it may not be the first alternative on a Fortuner/Endeavour buyer’s radar, it’s more than ideal for the urban jungle.

Ford Endeavour: Ford’s Endeavour is a very capable machine and a large SUV with an imposing road presence. Anyone who ranks luxury and off-road capability above all else should definitely consider the Ford Endeavour.

There’s very little to dislike about the Fortuner other than the (now exorbitant) price tag. It does pretty much everything you’d want it to, without batting an eyelid. Want one? Buy it, eyes closed!