The Toyota Fortuner continues to be alive and kicking in Australia, regardless of being axed in different markets.
WATCH: Paul’s video evaluate of the 2021 Toyota Fortuner Campaign
This diesel-powered four-wheel drive SUV comes with seven seats as customary, is extra off-road-capable than lots of its opponents, and it has the famed Toyota badge – which is akin to investing in higher resale worth and reliability, in many shoppers’ minds.
However is it the only option you might make should you’re available in the market for a three-row all-terrain SUV in 2025? That’s going to rely upon a number of issues – learn on, and also you’ll discover out why.
How a lot does the Toyota Fortuner price?
There are three grades of Fortuner on sale in Australia, all that includes seven seats, an automated transmissionand part-time 4×4.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Toyota Fortuner GX | $53,775 |
| 2025 Toyota Fortuner GXL | $58,895 |
| 2025 Toyota Fortuner Campaign | $66,755 |
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s the Toyota Fortuner like on the within?
In comparison with among the rivals, hopping into the Fortuner is like winding again the clock a number of years.
That’s as a result of bugger-all has modified right here for a very long time, and that’s maybe probably the most evident distinction between this off-road SUV and its contemporaries.
You’ve received an 8.0-inch touchscreen media system, and that’s akin to another cheaper SUVs, however between the dials is only a 4.2-inch show (fortunately with a digital speedo).
The infotainment system consists of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto by way of USB cable, and fortunately the display is respectable in its responsiveness. There are buttons and dials to make issues even simpler and, in order for you it, GXL variants and above have built-in sat nav, although the graphics for it and the display extra typically are fairly historic.
And whilst you could be tempted to step as much as the Campaign grade for the heated seats, should you do you’ll should accept faux wooden trim ending. Not so within the GXL examined right here.
It’s a black-on-black-on-black affair inside, and none of those plastics or trim supplies are going to win prizes for plushness. However they’re rugged and sturdy of their intent, and that matches the necessity.
Even the steering wheel feels a bit tough within the hand, regardless of a cultured wood-look bit on the prime.
The controls are easy for the steering wheel, cruise, and local weather methods, with the latter that includes dual-zone adjustment dials and buttons for the essential controls.
Storage is sorted by the use of a pair of cupholders, a lined centre bin, bottle holders within the doorways and a twin glovebox setup.
The second-row feels slim, similar to the entrance seat house. There’s sufficient room for 2 adults in there, or two youngster seats.
There are ISOFIX anchor factors within the window seats and top-tethers for all three positions, however be conscious of the truth that the centre top-tether is a ceiling-mounted job, so should you plan to have anybody within the again row, it’ll be a less-than-ideal scenario for them. The centre seatbelt additionally flops down from the ceiling.
There are some good issues within the second row although, together with a local weather management system with fan controller, a pair of map pockets on the seatbacks, and a few intelligent bag hooks on every of the entrance seatbacks. Door storage is okay too, and even for somebody my peak (182cm/6’0”) it’s decently spacious.
And in contrast to some rival 4x4s within the section – together with the Isuzu MU-X and top-selling Ford Everest – the second-row slides ahead and aft in a 60:40 cut up, which means you’ll be able to tailor the house for extra third-row room should you want it. And also you in all probability will.
The second-row bench seat gives a drop-and-tumble mechanism to get into the again, but it surely doesn’t slide ahead whenever you do this.
I may barely match within the very again row with the second-row seat again in its customary place, and with all of it the way in which ahead there was nonetheless minimal room to suit my ft in, and my knees felt like they had been up round my earlobes.
Headroom is tremendous cramped too, so don’t go pondering that you simply’ll match adults again there until they’re very in need of stature… and also you received’t be becoming kiddos within the third row both, as there are not any ISOFIX or top-tether factors within the again.
In the event you plan to make use of this as a five-seater full-time, I’d extremely counsel you take away these seats altogether. They aren’t the kind that drop into the ground of the car – as a substitute, they fold up into the rear window house and should be latched in place.
Be sure they’re up there tight, as a result of prior to now I’ve had one crunch down on some baggage over a tough street because it wasn’t secured appropriately.
Toyota doesn’t checklist an official quantity for the boot house with all three rows in play, however unbiased figures state it has 200 litres of cargo room. There’s additionally a printed variety of 716L with the third row stowed, and 1080L with the second-row down.
Beneath the physique of the car is a metal spare wheel.
| Dimensions | Toyota Fortuner |
|---|---|
| Size | 4795mm |
| Width | 1855mm |
| Peak | 1835mm |
| Wheelbase | 2745mm |
| Cargo capability | 200-1080 litres |
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s below the bonnet?
You may have any engine you want within the Fortuner, so long as it’s Toyota’s 2.8-litre turbo-diesel. And on this occasion, there’s no 48-volt mild-hybrid know-how, as is now supplied within the donor HiLux ute and likewise the extra upmarket Prado 250 Sequence.
| Mannequin | Toyota Fortuner |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.8L 4cyl turbo-diesel |
| Energy | 150kW at 3000-3400rpm |
| Torque | 500Nm at 1600-1800rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed automated |
| Pushed wheels | Half-time 4WD – 2H, 4H, 4L |
| Weight | 2110kg – kerb |
| Gasoline financial system (declare) | 7.6L/100km |
| Gasoline financial system (as examined) | 8.3L/100km |
| Gasoline tank capability | 80 litres |
| Emissions | 201g/km |
| Kerb weight | 2190kg |
| Gross car mass | 2800kg |
| Braked towing capability | 3100kg |
The factor about this powertrain is that it’s a cracker. It’s highly effective and fairly environment friendly too; on take a look at I noticed a mean of 8.3L/100km over a mixture of city, freeway, freeway and boring driving.
No off-roading on this take a look at, however in my expertise you’ll nonetheless solely use round 10-12L/100km should you head off the crushed path.
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
How does the Toyota Fortuner drive?
It had been some time since I final drove a Fortunert, and perhaps it was simply because this take a look at automotive had virtually 12,000km on it, but it surely didn’t really feel fairly as terse and uncomfortable as I remembered.
Look, it’s no magic carpet, however the sharpness and unpleasantness of earlier Fortuners appears to have eased, and whereas it’s nonetheless abrupt over tough patches of street, it is best to have the ability to make do with it in most conditions with out it being too twitchy. In the event you’re questioning, it has a double-wishbone front-end and a five-link coil-spring rear.
The steering, too, has an honest responsiveness to it, however it’s fairly heavy, so it could possibly really feel considerably hefty whenever you’re attempting to park or change instructions. But it surely does supply some really feel to the driving force’s fingers, and in off-roading that makes an enormous distinction between this (with its hydraulic rack-and-pinion) and another SUVs (with digital energy steering).
The engine is a robust level in some methods, with heaps of urge as soon as issues are transferring, and it’s definitely going to have the ability to handle overtaking strikes and concrete hustle and not using a downside.
It’s a bloody loud engine although, to not point out a vibey one. And that makes it considerably tedious, since you by no means actually get a break from it.
The six-speed automated is decisive with its shifts, and it’s principally predictable in its behaviour. It’ll goal to make use of the engine’s torque and preserve issues within the candy spot, and whereas there are a number of drive modes to decide on (Eco, Regular and Energy) it’s principally straightforward to get used to… when you get previous the starting-point turbo-lag.
However annoyingly, when you’ve got the adaptive cruise management set and encounter a downhill part, it received’t preserve tempo for you – as a substitute, it’ll simply beep to inform you that it could possibly’t gradual you down, even when it has engine braking working to take action.
What can be price noting right here is the visibility from the driving force’s seat. It’s a tall and slim car, and your over-shoulder imaginative and prescient is hamstrung by the third-row seats and thick rear pillar.
And the very fact you’ve received to spend an entire heap extra to get into the Campaign simply to get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround-view digicam could be a deal-breaker for some, contemplating the spec wars are heating up.
| Off-road dimensions | Toyota Fortuner |
|---|---|
| Floor clearance | 216mm |
| Method angle | 29 levels |
| Departure angle | 25 levels |
| Ramp breakover angle | 23.5 levels |
| Wading depth | 700mm |
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What do you get?
The GXL on take a look at right here sits on the center rung of the three-variant Fortuner vary.
2025 Toyota Fortuner GX gear highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size metal spare
- Locking rear differential
- Automated LED headlights
- Facet steps
- 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 6-speaker sound system
- 60/40 tip and tumble second row
- Cut up facet stowable third row seats
- Air-con
- Air-conditioned cool field
- Keyless entry and begin
- Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
Fortuner GXL provides:
- Downhill help management
- Chrome exterior door handles
- Rear privateness glass
- LED fog lights
- Roof rails
- ‘Premium’ steering wheel
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB digital radio
- Paddle shifters
- Twin-zone local weather management
Fortuner Campaign provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Door courtesy lights
- Leather-based upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Energy tailgate
- 11-speaker JBL sound system
- 8-way power-adjustable entrance seats
- Woodgrain inside trim
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
Choices
The GXL is offered with an optionally available inside package deal which was fitted to the car on take a look at right here.
Premium Inside Possibility Pack: $2500
- Black leather-accented upholster
- 8-way energy modify entrance seats
Is the Toyota Fortuner secure?
The Fortuner has a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on 2019 testing of the associated HiLux ute.
| Class | Toyota Fortuner |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 95 per cent |
| Little one occupant safety | 84 per cent |
| Weak street person safety | 88 per cent |
| Security help | 78 per cent |
Commonplace security methods embody:
- Adaptive cruise management (excessive velocity)
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection (day, evening)
- Bike owner detection (day)
- Lane departure warning
- Reversing digicam
- Street Signal Help (velocity indicators solely)
Fortuner Campaign provides:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Encompass-view cameras
Most rivals now supply not less than blind-spot and rear-cross site visitors customary on all variants.
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
How a lot does the Toyota Fortuner price to run?
Toyota gives a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee for its autos.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Toyota Fortuner |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres – car 7 years – prolonged engine, driveline |
| Roadside help | From $99 per 12 months |
| Service intervals | 6 months or 10,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | As much as 3 years or 60,000 kilometres |
| Complete capped-price service price | $1830 |
The model gives an extended powertrain guarantee, out to seven years, should you preserve it on time. You don’t must service it with Toyota – simply be sure that it’s performed by the e-book by a licensed mechanic.
And you can be seeing that mechanic (or the Toyota workshop) pretty often, with service intervals of six months or 10,000km (whichever happens first).
The service price for the primary six providers or 60,000km is $305 a pop, however past that it will get dearer.
You don’t get roadside help included both – it’s a pay-as-you-go choice. However you do get entry to the most important community of dealerships and workshops within the nation.
To see how the Toyota Fortuner strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
CarExpert’s Tackle the Toyota Fortuner
In the event you want a 4×4 wagon that’s able to go off-road straight from the showroom ground, with a reliable diesel engine and higher entry to servicing than any competitor within the section, the Fortuner may very well be a goer.
However you’ll should put up with an historic feeling inside, poor packaging and a higher-than-it-should-be price ticket.
What would you do? Have your say within the feedback.
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