The Tank : Toyota Fortuner 2012

             The Toyota brand stands for loads of stuff like build quality, sturdiness, reliability, amazing powertrains, and lastly, the most important aspect for a car buyer - Customer satisfaction. This is the Toyota brand for you in a concise form.This and more is what Toyota offers in its body on frame off roader, The Fortuner. The Fortuner is one of the few cars in India which claims to be an offroader - AND actually lives up to that claim unlike other softroaders with 4x4 systems which give up at the slightest hint of off road terrain. Jungle trails, steep slopes, rocky terrain, river crossings.... You name it, and the Fortuner does it.... It tackles most off road conditions like a true blue 4x4 off roader !

The face lifted 2012 Toyota Fortuner... The big, brute Diesel SUV !

The Toyota Fortuner is based on Toyota's IMV (International Multipurpose Vehicle) platform. This is the same platform on which the Hilux pickup truck as well as the Innova are based. Judging from the Innova's reliability and ride quality, something similar should be expected from the Fortuner. 

The Toyota Fortuner's pricing EX SHOWROOM Mumbai.

Moving on to the nitty gritties:

The Advantages:

- Good ground clearance of 220 mm.

- Powerful 3 liter diesel engine far ahead of the competition.

- Comfortable and spacious interiors.

- Comes with an optional automatic transmission !

The Disadvantages:

- Disc brakes only on front wheels. Rear wheels still make do with drum brakes.

- Not many changes on the 2012 Toyota Fortuner.

- Cabin overly similar to that of the Toyota Innova.

- Equipment list could be better (hint: like the endless equipment list of the Mahindra XUV 500)

Moving on to the Interiors:

The current gen 2012 Fortuner's Dashboard

The Previous gen Fortuner's dashboard.

When comparing the dashboards of the two generations of Fortuners, I still prefer the previous generation's interiors with the wood inserts. The current generation's interiors with the black wood inserts and the silvery music system coupled with the new steering design (the steering design is the same as that of the Corolla Altis) doesn't really appeal to me. It seems as if Toyota picked up parts from various cars, plonked it in the new Fortuner and called it a day.

On an overall, there's not much of a difference between the interiors of the current and previous gen Fortuners.

Everything on the interior is the same, except for those brown wood inserts on the door handles which are now black.... This pic is of the 2nd row of seats of the Fortuner.

The Black Wood trim on the doors.

Cavernous boot space with the last row of seats folded. The 3rd row has a 50:50 split.

The Fortuner with all 3 rows of seating opened out... The seats are well padded, cushioned and comfy for those long journeys.

Moving on to the Exteriors:

The new front design looks inspired by that of the Landcruiser. The front looks angular, well chiselled and has an amazing look which the older model completely lacked. The new grille looks very Landcruiser esque.

The skid plate is well integrated into the front design. The front looks absolutely muscular with the bumper which integrates into the chunky wheel arch ! All of this at the front, coupled with the Hood scoop on the bonnet looks very macho.

The clear lens type tail lamps absolutely do not belong on the Fortuner ! Toyota seems to have messed up here. These belong on something like a Honda Civic, or a Corolla Altis. This cannot be called OFF ROAD MATERIAL at all ! The chrome door insert looks good. But, Toyota must change the tail lamp design.

The wing mirrors with inbuilt turn indicators are a good addition. This was a smart move on Toyota's part. These look better than the previous generation's chrome clad wing mirrors.

The all new alloy design looks smart on the 2012 Toyota Fortuner.

The 2012 Fortuner even gets headlamp washers ! Pretty nifty for those times when you're off road and your headlamps are covered with muck and need a cleaning.

The Powerplant:

I now introduce you to the beast under the hood in this monster, ready to break free the moment you floor the throttle - Here's the Toyota D-4D 3.0 liter 4 cylinder Diesel engine which produces 170 Bhp @ 3600 RPM and 34.98 kgm from 1400 - 3400 RPM. This is an amazing engine at its price and beats out most of the competition.

THE FORTUNER OFFROAD:

                Toyota recently showcased the 2012 Fortuner's off road prowess at the 2012 Toyota 4WD Bootcamp at Gurgaon. Here are some photos which speak about the Fortuner offroad :

*The above snap wasn't clicked at the Toyota Event, but is representational of the Fortuner's off road capabilities.

The Toyota Fortuner feels well planted on the ground even when off roading. It inspires confidence in its driver to push it to its limits. It feels solid and well built - typical of the Toyota brand.

The Final Verdict:

The Toyota Fortuner is an amazing product from Toyota India's stables. She's one of those cars which will be by your side for years, and every time you drive it, there will be a broad smile on your face. The Fortuner isn't a car which can give cars like the Honda Accord, the Hyundai Sonata or the BMW X1 a run for their money. But, if you're looking for a solid car, built like a tank, which will go through adverse conditions without breaking a sweat, the Fortuner is the car for you. 

If you need a large car for a large family, or for carrying loads of luggage and your job / adventures take you to places where cars like Civics, Corollas, Sonatas or Accords have no chance of return, the Fortuner is the car for you....

- Naayl Humza,

  14 year old car enthusiast.