Given the Toyota HiLux has lengthy been Australia’s favorite new automobile (till the Ranger supplanted it final 12 months), you’d assume an SUV model can be a sure-fire hit – nicely, you’d be unsuitable.

Whereas well-liked in different elements of the world, the Toyota Fortuner has by no means had the identical love from Australians as its ute-bodied sibling, regardless of providing just about equivalent mechanicals in addition to carrying the coveted Toyota brand on the nostril.

For context, Toyota registered 3619 models of the Fortuner in 2023, equating to 2.9 per cent market share of the massive SUV section underneath $70,000 – the Ford Everest, in the meantime, returned 15,071 registrations and 11.9 per cent share.

Maybe a part of the issue is the actual fact Toyota additionally provides the LandCruiser Prado in the identical section, which for a bit extra money brings a extra refined cabin and a bespoke design, along with a much bigger and plusher cabin. With an all-new Prado on the best way nonetheless, the hole between the 2 nameplates is prone to widen.

So with that in thoughts, why must you purchase a Fortuner?

Effectively, the 2024 Toyota Fortuner Campaign on check is the cream of the crop, being absolutely the flagship and arguably essentially the most luxurious tackle the Fortuner/HiLux formulation.

Should you’re not in want of a tray, may this upmarket Fortuner be a greater wager than a HiLux SR5 or Rogue? And does it deserve a bit extra love from the Australian shopping for public? Learn on to search out out.

How does the Toyota Fortuner examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Toyota Fortuner in opposition to equally sized autos.

Toyota

Fortuner

How a lot does the Toyota Fortuner value?

Whereas the vary opens at slightly below $54,000 earlier than on-roads, the flagship Campaign on check lists for $66,755 plus on-road prices.

Toyota Fortuner pricing:

• 2024 Toyota Fortuner GX 4×4: $53,775
• 2024 Toyota Fortuner GXL 4×4: $58,895
• 2024 Toyota Fortuner Campaign 4×4: $66,755

Costs exclude on-road prices

To see how the Fortuner traces up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s the Toyota Fortuner like on the within?

In contrast to most ute-based SUVs which successfully carry over their industrial car cabins, the Fortuner will get distinctive bits in comparison with a HiLux.

Every little thing from the steering wheel to the buttons and controls are usually the identical, however the Fortuner sports activities a extra car-like cockpit with a greater built-in touchscreen and an upright centre stack that blends the HiLux and Prado’s designs collectively.

You additionally get extra upmarket, padded supplies like some stitched parts on the dashboard, on both facet of the centre console the place your knee involves relaxation, in addition to the trimming atop the instrument cluster.

Carryover parts from the HiLux embrace the telescopically-adjustable multifunction steering wheel, the gear shifter, 4×4 dial, local weather management cluster, entrance tweeters close to all sides mirror, and A-pillar seize handles.

All of it feels strong, if just a little old-school and dated in areas. The clunky gated automated shifter and thick handbook handbrakes are examples of the platform’s advancing age, as is the pretend woodgrain trim – which I don’t thoughts…

The Fortuner is nowhere close to as digitised because the model’s newest merchandise, just like the incoming next-gen Prado.

The blue-coloured analogue dials are a pleasant flash of color in comparison with the associated HiLux, and the multifunction show within the center provides key info but additionally harks again to Toyotas and Lexuses of previous.

In the meantime, the central infotainment system continues to be working older software program, which means it has wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and slower {hardware} that leaves just a little to be desired subsequent to one thing like an Everest. It does retain bodily buttons and dials for varied shortcuts and controls, which makes it straightforward to make use of.

Embedded navigation does characteristic, which is useful if you happen to frequent areas with out mobile service, and there’s commonplace DAB digital radio for the GXL and Campaign. You additionally get a subscription to a number of the Toyota Related Companies – together with entry to the myToyota app, Stolen Automobile Monitoring, Computerized Collision Notification, and SOS Emergency Name.

Second row area is ok with out being standout. Legroom is nice, although head room and toe room are on the tighter facet for the section.

There are roof-mounted air vents, cup holders, a coat hook, foldable seize handles, in addition to 12V and 220V shops.

Different facilities embrace map pockets, a fold-out centre armrest, in addition to ISOFIX anchors on the outboard seats.

The fold-out third row can be on the smaller facet, finest left for youths. However, the truth that these stay models that fold into the edges of the boot space means you’re restricted for boot area in addition to visibility out of the rear quarter home windows.

Toyota doesn’t truly quote a boot capability determine for the Fortuner, however unbiased figures quote 200L with the third row in use, 716L with the third row folded, and 1080L with the second row folded. As you’ll be able to see from the photographs, it’s fairly hindered by these rear seats after they’re not in use.

You additionally get a full-size spare wheel, which is an 18-inch alloy unit within the Campaign and 17-inch metal unit in decrease grades.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The Fortuner is powered by the identical 2.8-litre turbo-diesel because the HiLux and LandCruiser Prado.

Our noticed gasoline determine from the Fortuner’s journey laptop happened from combined driving together with peak-hour commuting, which isn’t actually this factor’s favorite set of circumstances. Nonetheless, it got here in underneath the 10L/100km mark.

To see how the Fortuner compares with the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

How does the Toyota Fortuner drive?

Sort of like a HiLux, naturally…

The Fortuner fires up with a diesel grumble and feels suitably old-school from the get-go in comparison with one thing like a Ford Everest. It undoubtedly provides off extra of a workhorse vibe.

Clatter is sufficiently subdued however it by no means actually goes away, and the heavy and clunky controls are a reminder of the Fortuner’s age and its agricultural roots. However, for a lot of that can be a superb factor.

With the extra highly effective 500Nm tune launched in 2020, the Fortuner continues to be aggressive with four-cylinder benchmarks together with the Ford Everest Bi-Turbo, and provides extra pep on paper than the Isuzu MU-X.

The two.8-litre four-cylinder oiler is tried and examined. It’s in lots of a HiLux and LandCruiser Prado, in addition to the Fortuner and HiAce. It’s been round ceaselessly, however mixed with the usual six-speed auto it provides robust and comparatively clean progress.

Round city it’s bought that kind of relaxed, virtually lazy vibe that a whole lot of these ladder-frame 4WD wagons have in each day driving.

It’ll get a bit shouty if you happen to work it laborious, however it additionally has a little bit of grunt to get you as much as freeway speeds or carry out overtakes. In our latest 4WD SUV Mega Take a look at, the Fortuner proved itself one of many higher performing four-cylinder diesel choices within the section – it beat all its direct rivals in efficiency testing bar the Everest Bi-Turbo.

The heavy hydraulic steering isn’t tremendous city or carpark pleasant, although it not less than feels correct and provides first rate suggestions. Patrons of the Campaign trim additionally get a 360-degree digital camera which makes inserting this 4795mm lengthy and 1855mm household truck just a little simpler in tighter areas.

Can’t actually complain about basic visibility both. The mirrors are massive, as are the home windows, and it’s all fairly upright so you might have a superb view out.

Like most ladder-frame 4x4s the Fortuner feels extra at house on the open street, the place it may lean on its torque-rich drivetrain and gentle tuning to eat up freeway miles.

The diesel engine settles properly into the background with the auto transmission in sixth, and there’s usually good insulation from street noise. Wind noise could be a little noticeable off these chunky facet mirrors, although.

Gasoline use on the freeway will drop dramatically, given the Fortuner nonetheless lacks idle stop-start tech so predominantly metropolis and concrete use will see the indicated readout strategy 10L/100km and past.

The steering can really feel a contact imprecise at velocity, significantly about-centre, which means you’re usually making very small corrections to maintain it on the straight-ahead. It’s a contact boaty, and that is one thing we’ve skilled in different heavy-duty Toyota fashions.

Whereas Toyota has carried out nicely to repeatedly replace the Fortuner with energetic security programs through the years, the tech suite nonetheless isn’t a patch on the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X.

As we’ve talked about in different ladder-frame Toyotas with hydraulic steering nonetheless but emigrate to the newer TNGA-F structure, the Fortuner’s lane hold help through braking is usually overzealous and could be unsettling when the car all of a sudden jabs one of many inside wheels and veers from the lane marking it thinks you’re about to float over.

That is exacerbated by the Lane Hint Help perform meant to actively hold the Fortuner centred in its lane. If something it’s simply consistently twitching and making corrections which simply doesn’t encourage confidence within the tech.

I not often have to do that today, however I usually discovered myself taking on and doing the majority of the work myself on something apart from completely straight marked freeways.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are useful inclusions, although they shouldn’t be restricted to the Campaign and their audible warning is an annoying high-pitched beep which can simply make you wince every time it sounds.

The Toyota claws again floor off-road, the place its succesful DNA shone by means of ultimately 12 months’s 4WD SUV Mega Take a look at. Right here’s a rehash of what we discovered:

“The Fortuner slipped again barely on the rollers in 2H, earlier than the traction management figured issues out. It barely moved again in any respect in 4H, driving off with a minimal of fuss.

“Physique rigidity was spectacular in our flex check, with no catching from the door.

“After a touch of wheelspin from the hanging wheels, the traction management did a superb job permitting the Fortuner to clamber out of the offset moguls. Just like the HiLux, the Fortuner went about its enterprise with a minimal of fuss.

“It effortlessly scaled Mogul Mountain in 4L with the rear differential unlocked, even on freeway tyres.”

What do you get?

Three grades can be found – we’ve got the flagship Campaign on check.

Fortuner GX highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Metal spare wheel
• Aspect steps
• Variable Circulation Management steering
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• Air-conditioned cool field
• 6-way driver seat handbook alter
• 4-way passenger seat handbook alter
• 8.0-inch color touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 6-speaker audio
• Parking sensors entrance, rear
• Reversing digital camera
• Sensible entry, begin (keyless)
• Toyota Related Companies (3yr)
  • myToyota Join app
  • Stolen Automobile Monitoring
  • Computerized Collision Notification
  • SOS Emergency Name

Fortuner GXL provides:

• Downhill Help Management
• LED fog lights
• Premium steering wheel
• Paddle shifters
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Digital radio
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Rear privateness glass
• Roof rails
• Chrome rear door garnish
• Chrome exterior door handles

Fortuner Campaign provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Full-size alloy spare
• Premium grille end
• Bi-LED headlights
• Door courtesy lights
• Energy tailgate
• Leather-based-accented upholstery
• 8-way energy entrance seats
• Woodgrain-look instrument panel
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• 11-speaker JBL premium audio
• 220V accent connector
• Panoramic View Monitor (360 digital camera)

Choices

The mid-range GXL is out there with an non-obligatory bundle.

Premium Inside Choice Pack: $2500

• Black leather-accented upholster
• 8-way energy alter entrance seats

Is the Toyota Fortuner protected?

The Fortuner wears a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on 2019 testing of the associated HiLux ute.

It lists scores of 95 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 84 per cent for little one occupant safety, 88 per cent for susceptible street consumer safety, and 78 per cent for security help.

Customary security programs embrace:

• Adaptive cruise management (excessive velocity)
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection (day, evening)
  • Bicycle owner detection (day)
• Lane departure warning
• Reversing digital camera
• Highway Signal Help (velocity indicators solely)

Fortuner Campaign provides:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert

How a lot does the Toyota Fortuner value to run?

Like the broader Toyota lineup, the Fortuner is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

The Fortuner nonetheless has six-month/10,000km intervals, which is kind of a bit shorter than most rivals.

Toyota provides 5 years-worth of capped worth servicing, with every go to costing $290 a pop – or $2900 for 5 years.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Fortuner

The highest-spec Fortuner has its deserves, however doesn’t really feel like the most effective choose of the vary nor the section.

It rides on confirmed underpinnings, and include the peace of thoughts that comes with shopping for a Toyota. It’s additionally not as cumbersome because the Prado if you happen to’re aware of getting extra city-friendly dimensions.

However actually, that’s the place its good fortunes begin to finish. It’s not as highly effective or sensible as section benchmarks, and it’s actually beginning to fall behind on the tech entrance.

It’s additionally not all that refined, and the driving expertise is heavy and old-hat. If something, this simply proves why so many Australian’s simply leapfrog the Fortuner and head straight to the Prado. The all-new Prado due imminently will solely make that extra obvious.

Actually although, the Fortuner is just one main replace away from being a strong contender. We’ve seen loads of glorious developments in Toyota’s portfolio that the inevitable migration of the Fortuner to the TNGA-F couldn’t come quickly sufficient and deal with its key shortcomings – or, simply deliver the brand new 4Runner already!

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