Unlike most new segments, modern-day SUVs weren’t born in one specific region. Asian companies, for instance, created Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner. North-Americans, in turn, came up with Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Cherokee (click on the first half of the names). Some of them were almost pick-ups with the bed closed, but that only made them more attractive for their target public. Some sooner, others later, they all sold very well in several countries, but that turned out to be precisely the reason why they began to change. Pick-ups needed to remain cheap because many people buy them for work. When it comes to SUVs, families didn’t take long to want them for both their naturally big cabins, and for their naturally imponent looks. The only choice was to embrace that.
From the late 1990s onwards, those SUVs became bigger, fancier, more powerful, and better-equipped (time for the second half). Prices, of course, skyrocketed as well. Their off-road capabilities were still there, but increasingly overlooked; they became people haulers with some luxury and without the stigma of minivans. Since they became so distant from the original purpose, they ended making room for new models positioned below them. Some of these are Pajero Sport, Xterra, Everest, and Fortuner – the others stayed where they were because that evolution was followed by Trailblazer and Grand Cherokee, instead. While the older brothers take care of the luxury market, specially against the German rivals, the latter group is free to please who prefers a sportier, more casual interpretation of SUVs.
Toyota met those expectations once again with the vehicle shown in these pictures. Fortuner is based on the all-new Hilux, once again, but took yet another step towards building its own image. The design added a very nice sporty touch. The front fascia uses sleeker headlights and chrome inserts to make the upper portion much more noticeable than the lower one, so as to look more imponent. At the sides, the windows no longer remind of Mercedes-Benz GLE: being all connected makes the SUV look longer, while those different heights aid to sportiness once again; that chrome line, in turn, only makes everything more charming. When it comes to the rear, you’ll find another pair of sleek lights, a rather discreet tailgate, and an overall resemblance with the smaller brother RAV4.
While the exterior does such a good job convincing you this is more than a variation of Hilux, the cabin may make you think you’ve entered a sedan. The dashboard offers solid lines, discreet chrome inserts and a tasteful two-tone coating. Besides, Toyota’s famous digital clock appears once again, lying between the air vents and above the infotainment central’s screen. The standard equipment list adds seven airbags, climate control with rear vents, front and rear disc brakes, emergency-stop signal, hill-start assist, phone-integration functions, reversing camera, side steps and an air-conditioned storage area. If you choose the upscale version, there are also 18” alloy wheels, downhill assist, fog lights, keyless entry and push-button start, parking sensors, power tailgate, roof rails, and LEDs for headlights and DRLs.
As far as handling is concerned, suspensions now use double wishbone at the front and five-link, coil-springs at the rear, in order to improve comfort and stability even on rougher surfaces. Body roll, in turn, was reduced thanks to the addition of stabilizer bars at both ends. Besides, stability and traction controls were retuned to promote a better behavior, specially on gravel. But they can also be turned off if the user wants, which is particularly useful for dealing with sand or slippery mud. Another interesting equipment, offered as standard, is trailer sway control: it’ll prevent a towed vehicle (which can weigh up to three tonnes) from suffering the effects of bumpy roads, crosswinds, and sharp turns. There are also rear differential lock and permanent all-wheel drive, the latter with high and low-range settings.
The all-new Fortuner was released in Australia and Thailand simultaneously. In those countries, it’ll come in the GX, GLX and Crusade trim levels, but all of them will use a diesel 2.8-liter engine which features four cylinders, direct injection and turbocharger. It’s capable of 175 hp of power and 332 lb-ft of torque, and is always combined to a six-speed transmission, whether manual or automatic – the latter reduces the towing capacity by 200 kg. As always, this automobile carries up to seven people, with the second row taking three of them. It’ll go on sale by the end of October, starting at those countries but going to many others during the following months. In Latin America, to give an example, it’s expected to be manufactured in Argentina and to use more engine options.