Hello PakWheelers! Today we have brought to you the review of the all new second generation Toyota Fortuner. The first variant of Toyota Fortuner was launched back in 2012 by Toyota Indus Motors. The vehicle was received quite warmly across the country, because of being a product of Toyota. However, the vehicle failed to make a strong reputation in Pakistan’s used car market. According to auto consumers of Pakistan, the two primary reasons behind less popularity of the first generation of Toyota Fortuner in the local market included
- An underpowered vehicle
- Less comfortable as compared to its competition.
Also, Check out Toyota Fortuner 2018
In today’s test drive, we have analysed how much Toyota has addressed the above mentioned two issues behind the average performance of first generation Fortuner in Pakistan. Likewise, we take a look at the new features that have been introduced in the second generation of this vehicle.
The first generation of Toyota Fortuner was introduced in two variants, including
- Fortuner Base Grade
- Fortuner TRD
Comparatively, the recently introduced Toyota Fortuner has been launched in a single variant.
Exterior:
When it comes to the vehicle’s exterior, we can see quite a lot of chrome being used. From the front, this vehicle looks more like a Lexus than a Toyota. The headlights comprise xenon headlamps and DRLs (Daytime Running Lamps). The tail lights of second generation Fortuner have been crafted in a signature Lexus style and comprise LEDs, which run the length of back lights. The vehicle comes with 18 inches aluminium wheels, which are the same as in top-of-the-line model of the new Toyota Hilux Revo. The vehicle’s top comprises off sleek roof rails that add another point to the modern aesthetics of this vehicle. Likewise, the back of roof features a rear spoiler and a shark fin antenna. All these minor yet important accessories are perfectly coherent with the vehicle’s design philosophy.
Interior:
The first thing that anybody would notice as soon as they enter the new Fortuner is the absence of engine start-stop button, which further confirms the unavailability of smart-entry system in this vehicle. The second generation of Fortuner comes with an optitron instrument cluster, on-board computer and a 4.2 inches TFT screen. The interior of this vehicle is as attractive as its exterior. The dashboard has been constructed with two-tone leather. Moreover, the steering wheel is half leather and half wooden. Just like the all new Toyota Hilux Revo, the second generation Toyota Fortuner comprises two glove boxes, out of which, one is a cool box. This vehicle is equipped with 8 inches touchscreen infotainment system with rear view camera, voice commands and Bluetooth connectivity.
Performance:
The vehicle has dual AC with luxury climate control and digital display. In order to ensure maximum comfort of the passengers, the vehicle has AC vents even in the second and third row of vehicle, which can be operated separately via controls that are present on the roof. The vehicle comprises an electronic 4×4 system. The vehicle has been fitted with three 12V and one 220V charging sockets. There’s 6-speed Tiptronic Transmission as well as paddle shifters. As far as the efficiency of paddle shifters is concerned, they are quite responsive when down-shifting; however when up-shifting with high revs, there’s a slight lag in terms seamless up-shifting. Just besides the transmission lever, there are Eco Mode and Power Mode switches that let you drive the vehicle in different driving modes. The seats are upholstered with tan leather that further adds to the beauty of this vehicle. Furthermore, the seat cushioning adds quite much to the comfort level of passengers. The driving seat is 6-way power adjustable. The legroom and headroom in the rear seats is quite sufficient; which makes this vehicle perfect for traveling with a chauffeur. There’s also a tilt function in the rear seat. Moreover, the rear seat is sufficient for 3 adults when driving within the city however for a long route, we would recommend 2 adults and 1 child on the rear seat. If we talk about the extreme back seat, there isn’t enough legroom for an adult; however it’s perfect for 2 children, which is quite normal for any SUV. In short, it’s a complete 7-seater SUV, which is why it doesn’t have a lot of trunk capacity. In case you require carrying a lot of luggage, you may fold the third row seats and greatly increase the storage capacity.
Comfort & Handling
The comfort and handling of second generation Toyota Fortuner has greatly impressed us. The vehicle never fails to perform flawlessly on straight roads as well as during cornering. In our opinion, ninety percent of the people who are going to buy this vehicle are never going to do extreme 4×4 experience on it. However, we have tried it on three different terrains, which include urban roads, rocky and mud terrain. The vehicle never failed to perform on any of these three terrains. One of negative points for this vehicle is its road presence, which can be troublesome within the city and chances are, you are going to be stuck in a traffic jam, then it can be very difficult for you to change lane and manoeuvre this vehicle the way you want. According to the specifications listed on Fortuner’s brochure, the vehicle can achieve 0-100 KMPH in 12.7 seconds, but in our test we achieved this speed in 13 seconds, which is due to real-world factors like wind, terrain, temperature and fuel quality influencing the test environment. For driving on the highway, the second generation Fortuner is a very stable for its size and weight. The vehicle is equipped with ABS and ABD which give the driver an optimal braking experience.
Safety:
As far as the vehicle’s safety is concerned, it has three airbags, one of which is in the steering wheel, the second one in the dashboard for the safety of front passenger and the third airbag is placed under the dashboard –on driver side- to protect the driver’s knees in case of an accident.
Engine:
The second generation Fortuner features a 2.7L Dual VVT-I, 2TR-FE engine under the hood, which produces 164 horsepower; same as -the one in previous Toyota Fortuner- the Current Toyota Prado. Fuel economy has always been a negative point for the first generation of Fortuner. When we drove the second generation of Fortuner on three different terrains, it showed the fuel average of 6.9 KMPL.
Verdict:
With all the new options and new features in the second generation Toyota Fortuner, we think that it’s a good choice for anybody who’s in search of a family vehicle that has 7-seats and can also off-road quite impressively. Moreover, for people who were purchasing 4 to 5 years old imported vehicles in the price higher than that of this new Fortuner, we think Toyota has provided a really good alternative. Toyota has resolved almost all the issues that were reported by auto consumers regarding the first generation Toyota Fortuner. The comfort level has greatly increased. Although the engine of second generation Fortuner is same as its predecessor, Toyota has quite much resolved the issue of this vehicle being reported as underpowered, by changing the gear-ratio and gear-combination.
The second generation Toyota Fortuner has been launched with an ex-factory price tag of PKR 5,249,000.
