Toyota Fortuner: The Toyota Fortuner currently sits as one of the most popular premium SUVs in the Australian market, and one of the very few vehicles to maintain its iconic status across the flow of years.
This seven-platter offers more than just another burger, it’s a motoring institution that says success without a pinch of the worlds ear, that can do the job it was designed for, and it’s a logical kind of luxury that takes pleasure in thinking about the long term more than first impressions.
It is this long-lasting heritage of class-leading experience that results in an enviable loyalty of Toyota customers after they have used our products – something that Toyota’s Indian PR may want to look into this and learn how globally our customers love us, not just because of some high benchmark of durability but because truly our premium experiences extend well beyond the purchase phase of the life cycle of an asset from us.
Toyota Fortuner: Philosophy- The Presence of Purpose
Design and Style The exterior of the Fortuner focuses on exuding an extensive sense of road presence, not through gimmicky elements but well-balanced proportions and details.
Its dominating form is highlighted by a high beltline and strong fender flares that emphasize its rugged capability, but do not feel tacked on when placed beside vehicles also parked in suburbia.
Featuring a bold, chrome-accented grille and sleek, led headlamp assemblies, the front end to the terrain is as command presence, as it is approachable presence.
Body surfacing uses restrained character lines to introduce visual interest to the car without the use of silly forced creases that other manufacturers have abused with designs that age quickly.
The discreet fender flares are designed to house the much larger wheel arches, meeting the needs of off-road wheel travel and unyielding stance.
At the back, connected horizontally taillamp elements and a chrome garnish conveys a wide and stable presence – a visual expression of capability solidified by the car underneath.
Colour The range of hues is “safe” rather than flashy, with the staple Phantom Brown, Super White, and Attitude Black common options – a decision that reflects its status as a vehicle bought for its enduring popularity rather than its trend setting.
Premium versions receive two-tone roof treatments that add visual flair with-out turning the model into a beauty pageant contestant.
Cabin Features: Best Of Both Worlds
Interior Inside Fortuner provides an ambience that fuses luxury features with the pragmatic elements required in a vehicle expected to perform in various conditions.
The dashboard uses a horizontal layout and it gets neatly arranged controls, which can be operated easily while on the move both on the highways and during off-road moments.
Materials used inside the cabin reflect the same thoughtful consideration – soft touch surfaces at key touch points but hard wearing materials in the areas you’re likely to mistreat.
Seating places the greater premium on real utility in all three rows. The front seats provide good thigh support and plenty of side bolstering, without the overdone contours that could make them difficult to climb into or extricate yourself from.
Recline and plenty of legroom are included for second-row passengers, and the third row — typically an all-but-forgotten appliance in “5+2” seating arrangements — offers decent room for adults on short trips or kids on longer ones.
Special mention must be made of the climate control, as the Fortuner system works all but the harshest conditions.
Numerous, strategically-placed air vents help keep all occupants comfortable in all seasons, with passengers in all seating positions benefitting – an important design element considering the Rogue’s widespread popularity in markets with hot deserts and chilly mountains.
The interior uses favored interior colors of black and black brown that are both practical in their resistance to the inevitable soiling caused by adventure-oriented lives.
Accent stitching and soft wood- or metal-finish trim pieces add eye candy to the interior minus any irritating reflections or over-the-top pretentiousness.
Construction: Mechanically Engineered to Last
The mechanical underpinnings of the Fortuner consist of a combination of old school body-on-frame suv, and new age engineering resulting in operating capabilities suitable for different operating conditions.
The stepping-stone ladder frame chassis is firm enough to enable authentic off-road performance, yet does not take a toll on the driver’s body when on clearly neglected roads as often is the case in areas away from urban centers.
The engine lineup at the market level varies, but in each market it is possible to purchase both gasoline and diesel engines. The 2.8L turbo diesel is a favourite due to its strong torque (500 Nm for automatic) and good fuel consumption under load.
Despite the origins as a commercial engine, this powerplant provides high levels of smooth performance, whether you are on the city streets or heading up a hill.
The choice of transmissions are a 6-speed automatic proving very effective in choice of gears making smooth intake of air when needed to get the power to the road.
Where power meets the pavement, the four-wheel drive gearing is good old-fashioned part-time with a proper transfer case that offers both high and low ranges (simpler but tougher than all-wheel-drive systems found in your average crossovers).
Softer springs and dampers make the suspension for a comfy ride on the road and capable under hard off-roading with double-wishbone front arms and a four-link coil spring rear configuration.
This approach gives adequate wheel articulation to help overcome obstacles, without the loose, disconnected feeling unavoidable with leaf-springs.
The steering has a progressive weighting build up as speed increases, it’s reassuring in a car which is going to be used a lot for long distance work.
technology integration:
Where the technology package on the Fortuner is focused on practical, rather than just gimmick value, is the key.
The 7- to 9-inch infotainment screen (depending on model) is compatible with both Apple Carplay and Android Auto, acknowledging that most people prefer to stick with the systems that work for them instead of proprietary alternatives that require learning a whole new system.
Safety equipment includes numerous airbags, electronic stability control, hill-descent control, active traction management, all of which add to the capability, but don’t take away from its core mechanical robustness that underpins the platform.
Thanks to the multi-terrain select system, you can modify your vehicle’s settings according to the rough tracks you’re tackling: rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock, and mud and sand, ensuring even less experienced drivers can experience all of Fortuner’s off-road power.
When it comes to convenience features, we are talking about things that increase usability on every-day duties, not gimmick items that waste space and cost extra without adding significant value.
The power tailgate with height memory, keyless entry and start, and power adjustable driver’s seat with memory function are all designed to satisfy real user needs rather than creating items on a marketing checklist.
Own Experience: Above and After the Sale
Probably the best bit about owning a Fortuner is not about the vehicle, but about the ownership experience that Toyota has carefully built.
The incredibly impressive service network means – you will find support in the regions that even other premium brands do not have a whole lot of presence in – something especially for owners who regularly tour out of the metro cities.
Serviceability procedures are designed to allow easy access to service points, recognising many Fortuners operate in areas of scant technical resources.
Parts that are likely to be vulnerable during off-road use are either protected or made easy to repair in the field should you need to – little touches that show Toyota knows what these vehicles are used for.
Toyota has parts available for their trucks that are way beyond the normal life of the competition, and Toyota’s dedication to long term support will mean that even 10 year old trucks can be kept serviced.
It makes for impressive owner retention – many owners trade up to other Fortuners, if they upgrade at all, which is maybe the most valuable endorsement in a market full of choices.
Toyota Fortuner: Cultural impact and market positioning
It has moved beyond being just another SUV to turn into a cultural stand-in in a range of places where it is sold. It is success and status combined with serviceability and mechanical integrity and that combination strikes a special chord with entrepreneurs and business owners that put substance before fluff.
The competition is varied, comprising cars like the Ford Endeavour/Everest and Isuzu MU-X and the slowly encroaching monocoque crossovers that choose to put on-road politeness ahead of off-road nous.
The counterweight to these alternatives keeping the Fortuner in the mix is its good, if not outstanding, capability in every type of environment it’s likely to be used in, without any major sacrifice in any key area –
a more well-rounded platform to develop a car around that caters to what vehicle owners actually do, rather than what they could or might be told they might do in a marketing ideal or co-opted review scenario.
The Toyota Fortuner embodies the benefits of evolution rather than revolution – a classic case of a winning formula being fine-tuned as opposed to reinventing the wheel or blindly following fads or fashion.
This approach has produced an SUV that gives the people it’s aimed at exactly what they prize most highly: capability, comfort, status, and the assurance that comes from Toyota’s experience in constructing vehicles that flourish in the most extreme environments on the planet.