New Fortuner inspired by the Prado, but is it a buy?

The Fortuner was the surprise bestseller in Toyota’s Indian portfolio. Priced at a hefty premium to the Innova – it’s shared IMV platform model – the Fortuner still managed to dominate the Rs 20 lakh plus sports utility vehicle segment. It still does, selling more than 1,000 units every month. Since launch in 2009, more than a lakh Fortuners have been sold.

The Fortuner’s appeal has always been its sheer, macho road-presence. Very few buyers choose the vehicle for its three rows of seats, though my guess is that there were enough amongst them who bought it for the sake of its SUV-ness. Of course, there are the politicians (wannabe and real) with bloated egos for whom the Fortuner seemed like a good fit. The Fortuner led the SUV trend and with a clearly defined target segment, it pretty much sold itself without the need for a brand ambassador. But, the competition is heating up and there is more choice for buyers today. The Hyundai Tucson is around the corner and the new Honda CR-V is not too far away. So, after Toyota launched the new generation Innova earlier this year, the new Fortuner joined the line-up earlier this week. Both these vehicles’ new generations attempt to nudge up their appeal with sharper design, plusher cabins and a more planted ride. The Fortuner has its task cut-out – to keep its domain intact and woo the rising number of value-conscious SUV buyers in the luxury space.

The new Fortuner’s design cleverly masks its shared roots with the Innova and the only view where you can get a whiff of the connection is the side profile. Even there, the raised stance, squared-off wheel arches and the floating roof concept at the rear manage to give it a strong crossover flavour. While a few customer clinics Toyota had done for the new Fortuner apparently threw up feedback where potential buyers felt that the vehicle looked less macho than the predecessor in some pictures, in the flesh this is still as burly as it can get. The front design of the Fortuner is particularly strong with the unique fender treatment and the prominent fog lamp housing giving it a beast with XL canines look.

Bi-beam LED headlamps, loads of chrome and a 51-degree approach angle combine to support the proposition that this a more modern, more luxurious SUV which can still tame the wild. The high shoulder line and the raised stance which leaves large gaps over the 18-inch rims and the 265/60 highway terrain tyres attempt to add to the rugged character of the new Fortuner. The body side panels are curvier than the predecessor making the new model seem a bit squatter. Also the side cladding is not as chunky as the outgoing model. The rear is a simpler concept, with the sleek LED combination tail-lamps being the most attractive feature. One nifty feature is the programmable height-adjustment for the power tailgate opening. Running floor boards and grab handles on the A-pillar trim are both helpful and meant to boost the Fortuner’s big SUV flavour.

The new Fortuner’s cabin is a big jump in quality in terms of the materials used and features offered. My test drive unit’s cabin wore a dark grey and chocolate colour scheme. The generously bolstered seats sported stitched chocolate brown synthetic leather upholstery. Textured dashboard top panels and soft-touch glove box covers further add to the premium feel of the cabin. The vertical centre stack features the auto aircon and the touchscreen display and is flanked by a tasteful combination of aluminium and leather trim.

The Fortuner has three rows of seats and while the third row can still only fit kids or small adults within relative comfort, the second row captain seats are much more comfortable with adjustments for legroom and backrest angle. All three rows get separate air conditioning.

Other than the squeaky leatherette, which can be a bit annoying if you are driving on long stretches of poor tarmac, the cabin can be good place to be in. The multi-function steering wheel and the new instrument cluster are good additions. The in-cabin noise and vibration levels have also been very well contained, with the powertrain being audible only at high rpm levels.

The new 2017 Fortuner will be available in six variants between two engines (petrol and diesel) and two (manual and automatic) transmissions. There are no trim based variations. The diesel engine is also offered with a four-wheel drive (4WD) option. The diesel engine is the 2.8-litre shared platform unit also found in the Innova. This 2,755cc turbocharged engine produces 177PS of peak power and 450Nm of peak torque. I only got to test drive the 6-speed automatic transmission version of the diesel powertrain. But, it is also paired with a 6-speed intelligent manual transmission (with a slightly lower torque of 420Nm).

The other engine is a new 2.7-litre petrol, paired with either the same 6-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission. This 2,694cc, 4-cylinder petrol engine generates 166PS of power and 245Nm of peak torque. The auto transmission is imported from Toyota's plant in the Philippines. The more drivable of the two powertrains is clearly the diesel. There is loads of low-end torque to exploit, perfect for the yoyo-ing speeds which is the average driving conditions on Indian roads. Gear ratios are also well spaced out and with very little turbo-lag from the variable nozzle unit, it was easy to get the Fortuner diesel AT to sprint. Steering mounted paddles is another useful addition, which came in handy on the narrow state highways near Kochi where I drove the vehicle. The petrol engine doesn't feel as peppy and feels a bit short of breathe past the mid-range, even though it doesn't exactly feel underpowered. While idling, it is the quieter engine of the two, but with a full load of passengers you will be happier being in the torquey diesel. The new model gets disc brakes on all four, compared to the predecessor's drum brakes at the two rear wheels. Braking performance sees a marked improvement. The suspension set up has also been completely changed and the diesel variants also get pitch and bounce control. But, while the ride quality is excellent on flat tarmac and lightly broken roads, there is still quite a bit of lateral movement on really bad roads. No dearth of pothole swallowing damping, but sideways shake is still quite high.

The handling of the new Fortuner is also better than the predecessor. It takes corners more confidently and feels more planted. If only its steering could have offered more feedback, it would have been perfect. The automatics are offered with two engine drive modes - Eco and Power. There is also the four-wheel drive version offered on the diesel powertrain, which packages a limited slip differential and electronic aids like active traction control, electronic drive control and downhill assist control.

The new Fortuner gets a lot of safety tech for the occupants, and also pedestrian protection support for the first time. Overall, the new model feels like a worthy upgrade. But, Toyota has done such a good job of raising the new Innova's perceived quality image, that, trim-to-trim, it has refrained from pricing the Fortuner at too much of a premium. Either that or the competition in the segment has ensured that the prices for the new Fortuner range from about ₹26 lakh to ₹31 lakh (ex-showroom).