2019 Toyota Fortuner Suv: All-New Toyota Fortuner Experience

2019 Toyota Fortuner Suv: All-New Toyota Fortuner Experience

The Toyota Fortuner, then, is a bit of a perplexing case study. It wasn’t even in Toyota’s top-10 best sellers for 2018, and was easily outsold by main rivals like the Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. And with new, lesser-known arrivals like the SsangYong Rexton and LDV D90 arguing very strong cases on cost, the Fortuner is at risk of falling even further behind.

So, let’s figure out where the Fortuner stacks up, what it does well, and how it could be improved.
Sadly, Toyota decided that all Fortuner models should come with alloy wheels, so the 17s fitted to this model (and the GXL above it) have a little bit of bling about them, but not as much ‘go anywhere’ cred as earlier base models, which were fitted with black steel wheels.
With seven seats as standard, the Fortuner offers a more affordable alternative to the Prado above it, and a more hardcore option if you’d prefer to get dirtier than is possible in a Kluger.

It isn’t as roomy as either of those models, though, because the cabin space is compromised by the ladder-frame chassis and a poorly designed seven-seat layout. The rearmost seats never allow you to make full use of the entire width of the boot because they fold up into the D-pillars - and in the process, you can bank on any over-shoulder vision being cancelled out completely.
During my time in the Fortuner I put all seven seats to use, so these criticisms come with a solid foundation. My eight-year old nephew and 12-year old niece fit in the back row just fine, and my mum, dad and sister could fit across the second row, but I wouldn’t use the word ‘comfortably’ to describe the experience. In fact, it was quite the opposite, as all five rear occupants complained about space, storage or comfort levels at some point. The ceiling-mounted centre belt was annoying, too - many other seven-seaters have the middle lap-sash belt built into the seat.
The Fortuner GX is the opening gambit in the line-up, starting at $44,590 plus on-road costs. As a seven-seat AWD diesel auto, and as something of a hardcore SUV, that makes this grade a bit of a bargain, as it undercuts like-minded competitors by at least three grand. And it’s about five grand less than when it launched.

This version lacks a bit of the bling that you get in the higher-spec versions (and what the competitors have, too), and likewise is pretty sparsely equipped inside.

Standard are 17-inch alloy wheels with a full-size spare, cruise control, auto headlights, retractable side mirrors, side steps, mudflaps, fabric trim (in a ghastly brown hue), the aforementioned media screen with one USB and auxiliary jack. The sound system has six speakers, the steering wheel is plastic (not leather-wrapped) and there’s no digital speedometer. Also, the key has a separate fob for locking and unlocking, which is something I haven’t seen since the 1990s.