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>> The
Fortuner has always been mean and muscular looking. But the 2012 Fortuner looks like
it visited a parlor, gelled its hair and trimmed its moustache. The front of the Fortuner is
just a wee bit more gentlemanly with refreshed headlamps, all chrome grille and a wider hood
scoop. From the side, the familiar Fortuner stance remains unchanged. But at the back,
the clear-lens taillamps look a little out of place on an otherwise clean and crisp design.
The Fortuner we are driving is the top-end four-wheel drive variant, priced at 20.99
lakh rupees ex-showroom Delhi. This burly SUV now boasts of a few more features, which
improves standing when it comes to value for money.
The Fortuner continues to be powered by the tried and tested 3-litre 169 bhp diesel engine
that puts out 343 newton meters of torque. This is mated to a five-speed manual transmission
that’s precise, but the gear shift is fairly long and some transmission vibrations can
be felt. On smooth roads the Fortuner can cruise at a relaxed pace, although on fast
turns some body roll is evident, but well controlled.
But take the Fortuner off-road, and the full-time four-wheel drive really shows you want this
vehicle is capable off. Normal sandy trails are disposed off with ease, without having
to shift out of the default 4H mode. For steep sandy climbs, the low-ratio mode makes light
work of the terrain. The huge 221 millimeters of ground clearance also ensures that the
Fortuner just crawls over most obstacles. Let’s take a look at the features that have
been added to the Fortuner. Standard features such as automatic climate control with rear
AC vents and separate rear AC control remain. The interiors get beige leather upholstery
and darker faux wood inserts. The music system is a touch-screen DVD based system with an
integrated reverse camera. It is also Bluetooth enabled with dedicated call answer and hang
up buttons on the steering wheel. Most importantly, the four-wheel drive Fortuner
now gets an electronic stability program, that can be enabled or disabled by a switch
on the dash. Power mirrors and power washer for the headlamps are also standard.
PTC: Roshun Povaiah The Fortuner’s multi-information display
showed we were getting a mileage of 10.5 kmpl overall despite about 35 kilometers of offroad
use in our 140 kilometer test drive. No turbo lag, a punchy diesel engine, menacing
looks, huge ground clearance and ample interior space – now that’s a combination that
can’t be argued with. It’s no wonder the Toyota Fortuner is the most popular SUV in
its segment. If you’re looking for a vehicle that can travel across the country on tarmac,
as well as tear through rough roads to reach a remote hamlet, all in plush comfort, the
Fortuner is a no-brainer, really.