Toyota Fortuner 2.7

Toyota's new SUV mates true go-anywhere ability with space for seven, in a value-packed price

What's New
Not only is the Fortuner brand new from the ground up, it also sits WAY up from the ground. At 1.85m tall, it's lankier than most supermodels and it doesn't lack for style either, with a well-proportioned body, bulging wheel-arches and chunky tyres giving it a cool rugged appearance. It looks like something the Marlboro Man would be proud to drive.

The Fortuner is built high because it shares its platform with three Hilux pick-ups and the Innova MPV, which Toyota sells in Singapore's neighbouring markets. These vehicles were developed as part of Toyota's innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) project, and are meant to provide robust yet affordable transportation.

Like the Vios, Corolla Altis and Camry, the Fortuner is assembled in Toyota's high-tech factory in Thailand. Build quality is hard to fault, with the narrow panel gaps and high-grade interior plastics being particularly impressive. The smoothly curved dashboard, which carries Lexus-style Optitron dials are stylishly set in three individual cowls, also looks like it was nicked from a far more expensive car.

You climb up, instead of walk straight, into the cabin, which has plenty of space for five adults and two kids. Legroom in the third row is actually pretty decent, but the high floor forces an awkward seating posture on anyone with legs longer than a daschund's. If extra boot space is required, the rearmost seats fold away to the side, rather than into the boot floor as is the norm for seven-seaters.

How it Performs
Driving the car around town is an effortless affair despite its size - all-round visibility is excellent, the steering is light and all the controls work with well-oiled precision. The 2.7-litre four-cylinder VVT-i engine is also surprisingly smooth and responsive, given that it looks a rather agricultural lump under the bonnet.

Initial acceleration can feel rather leisurely as the powerplant must work hard to shift 1.8 tonnes' worth of SUV from a standstill. But once on the move, the abundance of mid-range torque ensures that it's no problem keeping pace with fast-moving traffic, and you don't have to apply in writing to get the four-speed automatic gearbox to shift down a gear for overtaking. The car cruises comfortably on the expressway too, with little noise intrusion from either the engine or the wind.

More challenging roads tend to show up the limitations of the simple suspension set-up, though. The Fortuner bounces over big undulations, while mid-corner bumps cause its body to pitch noticeably. Drive at a more relaxed pace and the car goes round corners neatly enough, although it always feels more at home on straight roads.

How it Stacks Up
At $98,888 with COE, the Fortuner costs marginally more than Japanese SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail but Toyota justifies the price difference by giving you two more seats, true off-road ability (the Toyota is the only one with a low-ratio gearbox and lockable centre differential) and a higher level of standard equipment thrown in.

True, you have to sacrifice some handling agility but overall, the Fortuner makes its owner feel smug that he's beaten the system by getting so much more than what he paid for.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Toyota Fortuner 2.7 ENGINE Engine: 2,694cc 16V in-line four Max Power: 160bhp @ 5,200rpm Max Torque: 241Nm @ 3,800rpm TRANSMISSION 4-speed automatic TOP SPEED 180 kmh 0-100km/h 12.2s