The 2016 Toyota Fortuner has been launched to the media this week in Outback South Australia with entry models to list from $47,990 (+ORC).

THE 2016 TOYOTA FORTUNER has been launched in Australia with prices starting from $47,990 (+ORC) for the Fortuner GX. Practical Motoring attended the local launch and will have first impressions of the new off-roader online soon. Stay tuned.

Toyota says Australian-based engineers had a big hand in the development of its new seven-seat Fortuner with local evaluation of the “body, wiring and key underpinnings”.

Toyota’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said Fortuner is the largest single development program ever undertaken by the company’s local engineers.

“If Fortuner could speak, it would have a strong Aussie accent as the most Australian car Toyota has ever imported to this country,” Mr Cramb said.

“Fortuner is the turbo-diesel alternative to the similar-size petrol-only Kluger and offers an affordable choice for those who aspire to own a LandCruiser,” he said.

“Fortuner is a chameleon, transforming seamlessly from a prestigious urban transporter to the most rugged of off-road explorers, ideal for any adventure. It’s a Tardis too – spacious on the inside yet easy to manoeuvre through city traffic.”

The Fortuner is available in Australia in three grades: GX, GXL and Crusade. All variants of Fortuner are powered by Toyota’s tweaked 2.8-litre four-cylinder common-rail direct-injection turbo-diesel engine with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Maximum power and torque is 130kW and 450Nm for the automatic and 420Nm for the manual. Braked towing capacity is listed as being 3000kg for the manual and 2800kg for the auto. Toyota claims a combined 7.8L/100km for the manual and 8.6L/100km for the auto – the auto is a $2000 premium.

Fortuner’s standard features include air-conditioning, rear differential lock, touch-screen audio display with Toyota Link connected mobility, cruise control, side steps and 17-inch steel wheels with “all-terrain tyres”. Toyota says it expects to achieve the maximum five-star safety rating as all variants are equipped with stability and active traction control, seven airbags, reversing camera, trailer sway control, hill-start assist control and rake-and-reach adjustments for the steering column. It includes three top-tether anchors and two ISOFIX child-seat mounts.

Fortuner’s seven seats are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. The 60/40 split-fold second-row seat has a one-touch slide and tumble feature while the 50/50 third-row seats are stowable. Cargo capacity ranges from 200 litres to 1,080 litres when packed to the top of the seat backs.

Standard equipment also includes durable fabric seat-coverings with contrast stitching, projector-style headlamps, LED tail-lamps, an air-conditioned cool box, Bluetooth connectivity, six speakers, three 12V accessory sockets, audio and phone controls mounted on the steering wheel, eco and power drive modes and a multi-information display (MID) in the instrument cluster.

Mid-range GXL gains alloy wheels, keyless smart entry and start, roof rails, reverse parking sensors, fog lamps, colour MID, privacy glass and downhill assist control. Manual versions have Toyota’s innovative “intelligent” system that matches engine revolutions to transmission speed for smooth shifting. Auto variants have paddle shifters. Prices start at $52,990 (+ORC).

Top-of-the range Crusade expands the luxury with a leather-accented interior (available in fawn or dark brown), satellite navigation, power tailgate, climate-control air-conditioning, bi-LED headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels (including the spare), 220V socket and a power-operated driver’s seat. It is priced from $59,990 (+ORC).

A comprehensive range of Toyota Genuine accessories is available including airbag-compatible bull bars and newly developed towbar and load distribution hitch.

KEY DIMENSIONS

Length

4795mm

Width

1855mm

Height

1790 (GX); 1835mm (GXL, Crusade – roof rails)

Wheelbase

2750mm

Front track

1540mm 

Rear track

1555mm

Kerb weight

2110-2135kg

GVM

2750kg

GCM

5745kg (man); 5545kg (auto)

Approach angle

30 degrees

Departure angle

25 degrees

Ramp-over angle

23.5 degrees

Ground clearance 

225mm

Wading depth

700mm

Towing unbraked#

750kg

Towing braked#

3000kg (manual); 2800kg (auto)

Fuel tank

80 litres

 

CHASSIS

Brakes (front)

338mm ventilated disc with opposed-piston callipers

Brakes (rear)

312mm ventilated disc with floating callipers

Front suspension

Double wishbone with stabiliser bar 

Rear suspension

Five-link with two shock absorbers, stabiliser bar

Steering gear

Rack and pinion

Power steering

Hydraulic

– Turns, lock to lock

3.3

Minimum turning circle

11.6 metres (tyre)

Wheels and tyres

265/65R17 steel (GX)

 

265/65R17 alloy (GXL)

 

265/60R18 alloy (Crusade)

 

TRANSMISSIONS

Gear ratios

6MT (RC61)

6AT (AC60)

1st

4.784

3.600

2nd

2.423

2.090

3rd

1.443

1.488

4th

1.000

1.000

5th

0.826

0.687

6th

0.643

0.580

Reverse

4.066

3.732

Final Drive

3.583

3.909

 

ENGINE: 1GD-FTV turbo-diesel

Cylinders

4-cyl, in-line

Valve mechanism

16V DOHC chain drive

Charging system

Variable nozzle turbocharger with intercooler 

Bore x stroke

92.0mm x 103.6mm

Displacement

2755cm3

Compression ratio

15.6:1

Fuel system

Common-rail high-pressure direct injection

Maximum power

130kW @ 3400rpm

Maximum torque

450Nm @ 1600-2400rpm (6AT)
420Nm @ 1400-2600rpm (6MT)

 

FUEL ECONOMY* (litres/100km)
 

Manual

Auto

Combined

7.8

8.6

Urban

9.3

11.0

Extra urban

6.9

7.3

Emissions: grams/km

205

228

Emission rating

Euro 5

 

OTHER INFORMATION

Hip point (from ground)

858mm

Seat slide (front)

240mm

Seat height adjust (fr)

65mm

Steering tilt adjustment

20mm

Shoulder room width

1433mm (front), 1414mm (2nd row)

Height (floor-headliner)

1155mm

Couple distance

899mm (1st-2nd rows)

Effective headroom

964mm (front), 933mm (2nd row)

Effective legroom

950mm (2nd row), 854mm (3rd row)

Knee room

651mm (2nd row), 512mm (3rd row)

 

 

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2 comments

  1. Ignoring its unbelievable ugliness for a moment – given the marginal price difference to a Prado GX (less than 10% when considering that the Fortuner GX has steel wheels) – why should you prefer the Fortuner ? Is it really that much better off-road?

    Brand loyalty set aside – when taking the specs into account, I don’t even see why some people are calling the Ford Everest “expensive”.

    It would be cool to see a comparison of the Fortuner vs Everest vs Grand Cherokee at some stage.

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