If there is one thing the writer enjoys the most is testing vehicles that allow him to enjoy a road trip to a magnificent destination.
So when Toyota South Africa handed me the keys to their Fortuner SUV in 4×4 guise, my family joined in.
Just in time for my aunt’s doctorate graduation function, I had to drive down to Bushbuckridge to fetch the family then drive back for the graduation ceremony in the East of Johannesburg.
My hometown sits some 400 km plus away from my house in Centurion where the trip began. The route took me through Witbank to Nelspruit, en route to Hazyview then towards Agincourt.
A good mixture of road surfaces from the freeway to secondary roads and gravel, perfect to ascertain the Fortuner’s prowess as a good allrounder.
The Fortuner is an SUV designed primarily to be tough when driven off-road and although it does not deliver sportscar-like driving prowess, it is capable. It sits high and that has a somehow negative effect when cornering.
Nevertheless, the Fortuner drives respectably for a bakkie-based SUV. All of the controls are well-weighted, the handling is predictable, and the 2.8-litre diesel engine is quiet at speed, which makes the Fortuner a relaxing car.
Another plus for the Fortuner is its ability to effortlessly munch miles. And a car must have three main attributes to do that – comfortable seating, good visibility and torque. The Fortuner has them all in decent measure.
It is big and it accommodated the seven of us with so much ease, thanks to the second row of seats that slides forward and back to boost interior flexibility. The third row of seats felt a bit too tight for my taller sister and that leaves the impression that the rear seats are best left for kids.
The roof-mounted air conditioning vents were very much appreciated as they boosted passenger comfort.
Space with the third row of seats up remains a challenge yet it was able to accommodate few bags and a cooler box. So if you decide to travel with bigger luggage, it is advisable to tow a trailer.
Raising the third-row seats enables 200 litres, 716 litres with the third-row seats in place, and 1080 litres if you fold the second-row seats forward.
Power is rated at 130 kW and 450 Nm all accessed via a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission. These outputs are decent for the class, but it’s not the best engine out there.
For my conclusion, the Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4×4 6AT carries R692 700 of starting price and it is a great choice if you need a hardcore off-roader with strong reliability prospects.
The sad thing is competition in this segment is infested with better options but only if you can afford to spend more. However, the Fortuner gets my vote as a family SUV.