The popular Toyota Fortuner SUV had received a facelift update about a couple of months back but it was debuted in Thailand only. Now, for the first time, it has been spied testing in India. It is expected to launch in the latter part of 2020 or early 2021.
Consistent with the Thailand-spec facelift, the Indian-spec Fortuner has also received some subtle design changes on the exterior. Thailand market also got a special Legender variant that gets a redesigned front face to make sure that it looks visually distinct on the outside. The Legender variant might also make it to the Indian market.
What does the facelift have?
Changes on the exterior
The face receives a few changes that can be prominently noticed straightaway. Changes like larger mesh pattern grille, reworked front bumper, redesigned headlights that houses the LED Daytime running LEDs come across as easily visible ones over the current Fortuner.
The slimmer looking LED taillamps at back is only the major noticeable change, as far as the rear profile is concerned. Also. Thai-version of new Toyota Fortuner has a 50mm longer wheelbase, while other dimensions have remained the identical.
Changes on the inside & features
In its Thai-spec, the updated cabin features a dark treatment on the inside, unlike the outgoing brighter dual-tone colour scheme. The dash layout remains largely the same and the only major noticeable change is a bigger 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Apart from that the instrumentation cluster is also refresh. The new Legender variant also gets convenient features like 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, power tailagte and practical 8-way adjustable driver and co-driver’s seat.
Engine Options
In the images, a emissions testing equipment can also be seen. In India, the car is expected to be offered with the same set of engine options that includes a 2.7L petrol & 2.8L diesel engine. Both engines come with the option of 5-speed manual gearbox as well as 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the petrol engine is offered only with 2-wheel drivetrain while the diesel variant is also available in a 4WD version.
The Thai-spec Fortuner offer the 2.8L diesel engine which delivers boosted performance figures as its power output has increased to 204 PS (from 177 PS) and torque output has now increased to 500 Nm (from 450 Nm).
It remains to be seen whether Indian spec variant receives the updated Fortuner in the same state of tuning producing higher power outputs. As far as transmission is concerned, this diesel engine comes with a choice of a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission, both of them are offered with 4WD versions as well.
The ‘Legender’ trim
The distinctly designed face sets the Legender trim apart. As mentioned earlier, it might just be offered in the Indian market as well.
On the face, Legender gets a reworked bumper, a split grille, dual LED projector headlights, bigger 20.0 inch alloy wheels, dual tone paint scheme and to distinguish it from all the other variants it gets glossy black inserts on the front and rear bumper and also boot lid.
Even on the inside, it is better equipped with a better feature list. In addition to the 9.0-inch touchscreen system offered with the other trims as well, Toyota has loaded Legender trim with premium safety features like collision prevention system, lane departure warning and radar-guided dynamic cruise control.
Pricing and Rivals
The current Toyota Fortuner retails at a price range of Rs 28.66 – 34.43 Lakhs. As a justification for all the updates, the facelifted Fortuner is most likely to be priced at a premium of over ₹ 1 lakh over the current Fortuner.
The Fortuner has always hustled it out against Ford Endeavour, it will continue to rival the gigantic Ford SUV. In addition to it, The Mahindra Alturas G4 is also a potent Fortuner rival and the competition is all set to spice up with the launch of upcoming MG Gloster.
Author's Take
Toyota Fortuner, though, is a priced offering and also faces stiff competition locking horns against the Ford Endeavour, it still manages to sell like hot pancakes, raking up decent sales figures consistently.
With the update that introduces a more powerful diesel engine, adds new features into mix and just gets enough design tweaks to fairly distinguish it from the outgoing Fortuner, the facelifted version of the popular Toyota SUV is surely worth waiting for.