Toyota Fortuner Reviews

The Toyota Fortuner has been available in Australia for a decade but has never got anywhere near hitting the sales heights of the HiLux on which it's based.With a new Fortuner possibly due in the not-too-distant future, it's worth revisiting the seven-seat Fortuner to see how this ageing 4WD wagon stands up against in a realm dominated by fresher, more sophisticated rivals.

The Toyota Fortuner Crusade sits awkwardly in Toyota's SUV line-up - it's not as family-oriented as the Kluger and not as refined as the Prado. It's like that cousin you only see once a year and don't know well - you're not quite sure what to do with them. Based on the HiLux ute, does it offer the market more than just two extra seats?

The new Fortuner has a lot more going for it than the previous model, and is now a serious contender in the large 4WD category. Has it got enough to beat out the competition?

The Toyota Fortuner is a ute-based 4WD seven-seater SUV that is seriously capable off-road. It's a cheaper alternative to a Toyota Prado, but a compromised one compared with a Kluger. So why buy the Fortuner? We've answered your FAQs to help you decide if it's the right 4x4 SUV for you.

The GX is the entry-point into the Fortuner range with its list price of $49,080.The GX comes standard 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth seats, air conditioning, an 8.0-inch display with a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, plus front and rear parking sensors.All grades in the Fortuner range come with the same engine – it’s a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel which now makes 20kW more power and 50Nm more torque than before with its outputs of 150kW and 500Nm.Shifting gears is a six-speed automatic transmission.All Fortuners are four-wheel drive. You can select from two-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive in high and low ranges.The braked towing capacity is 3100kg.The Toyota Fortuner scored the maximum five-star ANCAP rating when it was tested in 2019. All three grades have AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert with steering assistance, adaptive cruise control and road sign recognition.

The GXL sits in the middle of the Fortuner range with its list price of $54,350.The GXL comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth seats, an 8.0-inch display with a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, 'Downhill Assist Control', climate control, sat nav, digital radio, privacy glass, power driver’s seat, roof rails, LED fog lights, a proximity key, plus front and rear parking sensors.All grades in the Fortuner range come with the same engine – it’s a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel which now makes 20kW more power and 50Nm more torque than before with its outputs of 150kW and 500Nm.Shifting gears is a six-speed automatic transmission.All Fortuners are four-wheel drive. You can select from two-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive in high and low ranges.The braked towing capacity is 3100kg.The Toyota Fortuner scored the maximum five-star ANCAP rating when it was tested in 2019. All three grades have AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert with steering assistance, adaptive cruise control and road sign recognition. 

The Crusade is the top grade in the Fortuner range with its list price of $61,410.The Crusade comes standard 18-inch alloy wheels, Bi-LED headlights, leather seats (heated up front), an 8.0-inch display with a reversing camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 11-speaker JBL stereo, 'Downhill Assist Control', climate control, sat nav, digital radio, privacy glass, roof rails, LED fog lights, a proximity key, power tailgate, plus front and rear parking sensors.All grades in the Fortuner range come with the same engine – it’s a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel which now makes 20kW more power and 50Nm more torque than before with its outputs of 150kW and 500Nm.Shifting gears is a six-speed automatic transmission.All Fortuners are four-wheel drive. You can select from two-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive in high and low ranges.The braked towing capacity is 3100kg.The Toyota Fortuner scored the maximum five-star ANCAP rating when it was tested in 2019. All three grades have AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert with steering assistance, adaptive cruise control and road sign recognition. 

The new Toyota HiLux SUV is here. Now, that got your attention, didn't it? Well, that's what the Toyota Fortuner really is, in a way, and it could be just what an adventurous family needs for the price, practicality and go-anywhere ability.

Toyota's Fortuner has never reached the sales heights of its stablemates the LandCruiser, Prado or HiLux, but while it may underperform in terms of sales, there is nothing especially bad about it. It's simply a solid seven-seat ute-based 4WD wagon. But now it's had a styling refresh, and it also has more power and torque, increased towing capacity, improved fuel consumption, and more safety tech.

The Toyota Fortuner 2020 model offers decent safety, serious off road ability and a practical seven seat cabin. But there's a new version coming. Do you jump now? Or hold off?