Toyota Fortuner GXL 2023 Review

How much does the Toyota Fortuner GXL cost?

As tested in mid-spec GXL form, the 2023 Toyota Fortuner is priced at $58,895 plus on-road costs, having copped an $1810 increase across the range on August 1.

Its closest competitors are 4x4 seven-seater mid-series versions of the Isuzu MU-X (LS-M, from $54,900), Ford Everest (Ambiente, from $58,290) and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (GLS, from $55,190).

The entry-level Toyota Fortuner GX starts from $53,775 while the top-spec Crusade is $66,755 – both, like the GXL, exclusively 4x4.

The competition offers cheaper 4x2 driveline choices. Mitsubishi’s lower-spec Pajero Sport models can be had in either 4x2 or 4x4 form, while Ford extends availability of 4x2 variants a bit further up the range (and has a V6 at the top end) and Isuzu offers the choice between 4x2 or 4x4 across all levels.

All Toyota Fortuner models are seven-seaters, and so are all Isuzu MU-X SUVs, but the Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport can be had in five-seater form as well.

What equipment comes with the Toyota Fortuner GXL?

The mid-spec 2023 Toyota Fortuner GXL is fitted standard with dual-zone climate control, smart entry and push-button start, ‘premium’ woodgrain multi-function steering wheel, satellite navigation, LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels with an underslung steel spare.

The front seats are manual-adjust with cloth trim, but part-leather upholstery with power front seats are optionally available on GXL.

The Fortuner is covered by Toyota’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and the engine and driveline will be covered for an extra two years providing servicing is carried out according to the annual schedule.

The Fortuner is at a bit of a servicing disadvantage against its competitors, though. The schedules require that the SUV visits the workshop at six-monthly or 10,000km intervals, where Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport are serviced at 12-month/15,000km intervals.

Capped-price servicing applies to the Toyota for three years or 60,000km after purchase and is fixed at $290 per service.

Roadside assist is a cost option priced at $99 a year for the base program, and $139 a year for extended Roadside Assist Plus that factors in such things as emergency hotel accommodation and alternative transportation.

How safe is the Toyota Fortuner GXL?

An upgrade in 2020 brought important safety updates to the HiLux-based ute, so the 2023 Toyota Fortuner today has a handy suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) fitted standard.

The ADAS on board Fortuner includes high-speed and low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist avoidance (daytime only), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and speed sign recognition.

There’s also parking sensors front and rear and a rear-view camera, but in GXL form the Fortuner does miss blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. It’s necessary to step up to the top-spec Crusade version to get those.

Stolen vehicle tracking, automatic notification if a collision has occurred and SOS emergency calling are all fitted as part of the Toyota Connected Services umbrella, which comes with three years of complimentary access.

With seven airbags – Including a driver’s knee airbag – the Toyota Fortuner scored five ANCAP safety stars in 2019, measured by older standards and prior to its gaining of extra safety gear in 2020.

What technology does the Toyota Fortuner GXL feature?

The 2023 Toyota Fortuner GXL is pretty basic here, with an 8.0-inch central touch-screen which includes wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone connectivity and Bluetooth.

Sound is piped through a six-speaker stereo and there’s just a lone USB-A point in the lower dash, supported by three 12-volt power outlets in the cabin – one in the dash, another in the centre console and one placed further arrears in the cargo area.

The centre display is a good size and well-integrated into the dash, and even though screen touching is required for numerous secondary functions there’s some tactility among the controls, including real push-buttons to select home, menu, map, phone and apps.

A rotating volume control knob is also appreciated.

What powers the Toyota Fortuner GXL?

The long-stroke 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel in the 2023 Toyota Fortuner produces 150kW and 500Nm, identical figures to the HiLux and enough to give the Fortuner a power-weight lead among its closest Isuzu, Ford and Mitsubishi rivals.

It’s more than adequate to drive the 2185kg GXL Fortuner at a relaxed gait on the open road, and even though it’s not the quietest diesel, the fact it doesn’t need to hunt around the auto gearbox for enough revs to keep pace with traffic minimises the audible intrusion.

In an era where auto transmissions are gaining more and more ratios – consider the 10-speed Ford Everest and eight-speed Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – six ratios seem perfectly adequate to the task.

And paddle shifters are provided for those who like to take things into hand on long descents with a

heavy trailer in tow.

At 3.1 tonnes, the Fortuner’s rated towing capacity is classed as “competitive”. Both the Ford Ranger and Isuzu MU-X are rated at 3.5 tonnes.

Drive is sent to all four wheels via a part-time 4x4 system.

How fuel efficient is the Toyota Fortuner GXL?

At a claimed 7.6L/100km on the combined fuel consumption cycle, the 2023 Toyota Fortuner might not quite beat the 2.0-litre Ford Everest Bi-Turbo’s 7.2L/100km, but it shows up as better than the official figures claimed for the Isuzu MU-X (8.3L/100km) and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (8.0L/100km).

On test, our Fortuner returned a steadily consistent 10.0L/100km which is acceptable for a spritely 2185kg seven-seat off-roader.

Stand by for an upgrade next year in which the Fortuner gets the same mild-hybrid powertrain that’s coming for HiLux, which should reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

What is the Toyota Fortuner GXL like to drive?

Even a coil-spring rear axle on the 2023 Toyota Fortuner can’t hide basic mechanicals that are essentially owed to the Toyota HiLux workhorse.

The Fortuner is firm but sure on the road, and even if you feel the big hits, you can be reasonably sure the big SUV can deal with them.

Likewise, for a commercially-based vehicle, the steering isn’t pin-sharp or quick to respond to the helm, but at a quarter-turn more than three turns from lock to lock it isn’t hopelessly low-geared and helps the Fortuner negotiate roundabouts and twisty roads with a general degree of aplomb.

Four-wheel ventilated disc brakes are a good thing to have in a weighty, vertical off-road-capable wagon too, as are the inbuilt trailer-sway electronics.

Unfortunately, Toyota’s invasive and unsettling brake-activated lane keeping system rears its ugly head in the Fortuner.

When approaching a curve, or moving close to a marked centre line, the resultant lurching and unexpectedly forceful braking is closer to making driving more hazardous than making it safer.

How good is the Toyota Fortuner GXL off-road?

Just as the HiLux ute is feted for its off-road capabilities, the 2023 Toyota Fortuner takes the ball and runs with it.

It’s advantaged by its shorter wheelbase, minimal front and rear overhangs and a breakover angle that is quoted at 23.5 degrees. The ground clearance of 216mm is not the best in class – the Isuzu MU-X has 235mm, for example – but competitive nonetheless.

Add a rear diff lock, off-road traction and hill descent control and the off-road possibilities open up.

With the right tyres, the Fortuner has the ability to go to a lot of places.

What is the Toyota Fortuner GXL like inside?

In the ute-based family SUV genre, the 2023 Toyota Fortuner cuts it – but only just.

In grey cloth-trim form, the GXL is pretty plain. There’s no power-assisted tailgate, no powered, heated or cooled front seats to welcome you, no wireless phone charging.

Providing some compensations are the two cup holders that slide out from either side of the dash, upper and lower glove boxes and the stitched-leather multi-function steering wheel which all help minimise the overall bleakness.

And there is an optionally available premium interior package that adds part-leather trim, plus eight-way power-adjustable front seats.

The Fortuner is generally comfortable. Although the third row is subject to the familiar seven-passenger grievances in terms of space, there are no complaints in the first and second rows.

Tumble-fold access via the 60/40-split folding centre-row seats is easy for youngsters but not so for average-size, and maybe not-too-flexible, adults. The third-row seats fold somewhat inconveniently to the sides, rather than flipping down to form the boot floor.

Toyota doesn’t make it easy to glean the actual luggage space figures but the nearest we can figure is that there’s a little bit less than 300 litres when set up in five-seat configuration, and more than 1000L with all seats folded.

That makes it less accommodating than the Isuzu MU-X (311-2138L) and Ford Everest (259-1823L litres), but better than the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (131-1488L) with all seats folded.

In all, the Toyota Fortuner is nevertheless an accommodating seven-seater that will draw few quibbles from buyers of off-road family wagons.

Should I buy a Toyota Fortuner GXL?

When the chips are down, there’s plenty to like about the 2023 Toyota Fortuner.

It raises the question of whether Toyota could sell more if it really wanted to. Presumably the answer is that the company prefers to focus its attention on the higher profit margins that come with the more expensive LandCruiser and Prado.

In reality, the Fortuner is a fair competitor. In price, capabilities, interior space and amenities, it’s a good fit with its stronger-selling ute-based contemporaries, if looking a little behind the times compared to excellent new-generation models like the Ford Everest.

2023 Toyota Fortuner GXL at a glance:
Price: $58,895 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 150kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 201g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

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