Toyota Fortuner : Road Test

When you are the largest car maker in the whole world, you can get away with a few things – like building an SUV based on a people mover platform and selling it at double the money. And hey, no body is complaining – actually the waiting list for the Innova based Fortuner from Toyota is a whopping five months.

So we can safely assume that Toyota got some fundamental stuff right about the product. Without much ado, let us get behind the wheel of one and find out whether the Fortuner lives up to its price-tag which reads as Rs 23 lakh on road, Thane for the model we tested.[/img]

Exterior
This is an SUV meant for the developing market and Toyota has understood that size really matters in countries such as Thailand and India. Despite the 'chin-up' stance and sheer bulk, the Fortuner manages to look handsome. There are hints of other SUVs from the Toyota family - from Fourrunners to Land Cruisers to Lexus Harriers and we are not complaining whatsoever. There are certain 'bling' elements, especially in top end models, like the chrome surrounds over tail lamps and door handles that steals the thunder from an otherwise 'don't mess with me' looks. So there, for the additional money you spent, you do get serious SUV image and something about the lines says that it is a capable machine. Overall fit and finish is very good though it is a given when you are dealing with car makers such as Toyota.[/img]

Interior
The interior is not as spacious as suggested by the exterior. But it can hold two families (four adults and three children) very comfortably. With a bit of discomfort, you can pack seven adults too but it will be a good idea to keep the journey short in that case. The interior design, rather boringly, mirrors that of the Innova and this is one area that Toyota can work on as and when they are attempting a face-lift. The front seats are the most comfortable places to be in - the split second row seats can be slid back and forth - to improve leg room. The rear row is ideal for children of the non-complaining kind. Air-conditioning works very well and, like in the Innova, comes with separate controls for the passenger section. What is sorely missing is a trip computer (and a multi-information display) that is becoming oh-so-common in cars in this league.[/img]

Performance
Toyota has equipped the Fortuner with a robust common-rail diesel engine that displaces 2982cc to develop a very healthy 171 PS of power and 34.98 kgm of torque between 1400 and 3400 rpm. That translates to excellent traction at low engine speeds - something that the Fortuner needs since it is a genuinely capable 4X4 vehicle. The D-4D four-cylinder turbo-diesel is similar to that of the Innova but for the additional power and torque characteristics. All this power is send to the four corners of the car through a full-time 4WD system and a five speed manual box. This power plant can haul the Fortuner to 60 kph in under five seconds and 100 in 12.5 seconds flat. This is excellent figures for a car that weighs on the wrong side of two tones. Point its nose at a clean stretch of asphalt and the Fortuner will manage a clean 180 kph plus top speed run.[/img]

On road and off-road
The Fortuner has the genes of the legendary Land Cruiser and it takes to off-road or no-road situations effortlessly. The 4WD transfer case allows you to switch to lower ratios that can be handy in tricky situations (want to clear a hillock just after a down pour without sliding down?) But on-tarmac comfort will be critical for most Fortuner users and this is one area Toyota could have worked harder on. There is more than a hint of body-roll and the cars shudders through broken roads - not exactly comforting for the passengers. The ride improves with road conditions though. One got to remember that the Fortuner rides on all-weather tyres unlike the road rubber used by Innovas and this contributes to the lack of on road refinement.[/img]

Mileage and value
The Fortuner will return 10 kpl on highway driving and around 8 kpl in city traffic. Careful drivers will be able to extract 13 kpl during long-distance journeys though. At Rs 23 lakh on-road, the Fortuner is an expensive car indeed, but one that the market has been waiting for with bated breath. No wonder then that the waiting list is reaching 'half an year' mark. Honestly there are competing cars that offer better value - if you don't mind petrol power then the Mitsubishi Outlander is brilliant on and off-road. The Ford Endeavour offers Fortuner kind of thrills without making you wait. The Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 may look aged but it can teach the new Toyota a thing on two when it comes to off-roading. And for that kind of money we would have expected more goodies - like better entertainment connectivity, perhaps a reverse camera....
But to sum-up, an SUV with the famed interlocked ovoids of Toyota on its bonnet commands a premium. And why not? When you buy the Fortuner you get reliability, refinement, safety (the Fortuner comes with ABS -Anti-lock Braking System- and driver and passenger side airbags) assured quality of service and re-sale value as part of the package. And yes that Lexus Harrier on steroids looks is the bonus.[/img]

nice one

kaim aa yaar

very very nice hia gadi tan yar

i hate ths car