New Toyota Fortuner: An off-road maestro in need of some extra gear

New Toyota Fortuner: An off-road maestro in need of some extra gear 

A car which starts at ₹30 lakh and doesn’t have a sunroof and Indians are still buying it. 5,000 of these Fortuners (+Legender) are already booked. How is it possible? Yes, that is the beauty of Fortuner. Toyota Fortuner’s performance was always great but it didn’t have the value you would expect from a ₹20+ lakh vehicle (when it was launched in India). Cut to 2021, it still has the same issues. The car which looks fresh, sharper and comes with extra power, still leaves you wanting for so much more with regards to interior quality and new-age features. Features which even few of the ₹10 lakh segment cars are offering. Still, it sells and still it is selling. What makes it such an interesting car and a bestseller? Let’s find out.  

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Intro

We, motoring journalists, like most of the others in this fraternity do suffer from the Amitabh Bachhan Syndrome. This is also known as the last word syndrome. We feel that whatever we are saying about a product are golden and our viewers, readers will take them as the final verdict and make their decisions accordingly. However, the reality and sales charts suggest otherwise as if they are saying- OK Boomer. This could be disheartening for a few journalists, but not me. So, here I am still writing about the new Toyota Fortuner. The car which has ruled the charts sold more than what I thought it would. A few of them were my friends, who had asked me and still bought them. 

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Interiors and new features

The version I drove was the 4X4 one with a new Sport driving mode, taking the number of driving modes to three. This offroader comes with a lockable differential and limited-slip differential now (only in the 4WD diesel version). This gets a front clearance Sonar as well. There are few noticeable changes in the interiors too like the ventilated seats, Android Auto/Apple Car play in the update infotainment screen. The new Fortuner also features few connected features including Geo-fencing, last parked location etc.  

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Dimension

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Safety features

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Engine Specifications 

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Performance 

This is that part of the story where Fortuner tells us why it still rules the heart of Indian 7 seater SUV customers- it’s performance. Toyota Fortuner covers almost all the options we can think of

• Two-wheel drive 2.7 L petrol engine with manual or automatic transmission options
• Two or four-wheel drive options with 2.8 L diesel engine, again a choice between manual and transmission. As mentioned above, I drove the 4 wheel drive option. 

The performance of this car is one of the smoothest in this segment, the power delivery and transmission changes make the experience very comfortable and predictable. The acceleration is not ultra-exciting but straight-line power delivery is easy and predictable. Around the corners, you feel the mass and size of this vehicle, the body roll is pretty evident but this doesn’t throw you off. The ride quality of the Toyota Fortuner is the star of the show. It keeps you comfortable on the tarmac and composed on rough roads. Whatever uneven surface I tried taking to, it did it without drama. Which, at this age, I find it very appealing. Like house parties with your friends, unlike pubs or restaurants. Chill time without all the drama. No blaring Tiktok playlist, expensive dining and minding your elbows all the time. Toyota has that friendly vibe to it, why so many Indian customers go for this vehicle I guess. However, many North Indian experts believe that it has to do with Fortuner’s size and bahubali presence on the roads plus Toyota’s great after-sales and maintenance record. I guess I need to collect some more data on this. 

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Petrol Version Prices 

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Diesel Version Prices 

Toyota Fortuner 2021: Conclusion 

Many SUV enthusiasts would not like it if I include the sub-compact, two-wheel, bumped up-amplified hatchbacks in the SUV list but then the list is subjective. Indian consumers are buying more and more SUVs and 2-wheel-drives are ruling the charts. However, the point I was trying to make wasn’t about their offroading capabilities. 99 per cent of those vehicles hardly go to those rough terrains which we double tap on 4X4 Instagram pages. What these cars lack capability-wise compensate in the features list. You think of any trendy, cool or functional feature, these cars have it. That is what makes Fortuner’s job difficult. Toyota Fortuner, despite being an off-road maestro, needs lots of work still. It needs gadgets and gizmos which could make me as happy on the roads as I am while jumping or racing in mud or tiptoeing on the rocky terrain. 

So, now as I end this story here, you are free to go and buy another Fortuner.