Toyota’s newest SUV, the seven-seat Fortuner, will offer a refined cabin with premium materials and a high level of standard features across all three grades when it arrives at Australian dealerships in late October.
Every Fortuner comes with upmarket features including touch-screen display audio systems with Toyota Link* connected mobility in addition to quality touches such as contrast upholstery stitching, stylish blue illumination and bright ornamentation.
Occupant comfort will be assured by air-conditioning with vents to all three rows of seats, one-touch slide-and-tumble second-row seats for easy access to the rear, and tilt-and-telescopic adjustment for the steering column.
Toyota’s executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the innovative and upmarket interior gives few clues to Fortuner’s tough underpinnings and its ability to handle the roughest off-road conditions.
“The premium convenience, quietness and comfort – amplified by luxurious features such as soft-touch surfaces – will make Fortuner a stand-out choice for families wanting to negotiate the urban jungle in style,” Mr Cramb said.
“At the same time, there’s nothing soft about Fortuner’s intrinsic strength and its genuine all-terrain capability,” he said.
In Australia, Fortuner will be powered exclusively by Toyota’s new 2.8-litre direct-injection four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that develops up to 450Nm of torque when paired with a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission.
In manual guise, a new six-speed gearbox delivers up to 420Nm and includes ‘intelligent’ technology on GXL and Crusade grades to ensure smoother shifting by matching engine speed to transmission speed.
Maximum braked towing capacity is three tonnes for the manual and 2.8 tonnes for the auto#.
Fortuner’s double-wishbone front suspension and five-link, coil-spring rear set-up have been tuned locally to meet Australian conditions and driver expectations for handling stability and ride comfort on all road surfaces.
Inside, the Fortuner cabin projects a bold yet elegant presence with a dominant, vertical centre console that contrasts with the dashboard’s flowing surfaces and shapes.
The instrument panel adds to the interior ambience with cool blue illumination and chrome-plated rings around the speedometer and odometer.
The dials are separated by a multi-information display (MID) with dot-matrix format for GX upgraded to full-colour thin-film-transistor technology in the higher GXL and Crusade grades.
Quality features include premium soft-touch surfaces above the instrument panel and on the door of the air-conditioned “cooler” compartment (which can also keep food or drinks warm). The outer frames of the centre console are also padded.
Fortuner’s sports front seats are flared at the shoulders to provide extra support. Contrast stitching is a feature of the hard-wearing dark-brown fabric for entry GX and mid-range GXL seats while top-of-the-line Crusade is offered with a leather-accented interior in dark brown or fawn.
The seats are arranged in 2-3-2 configuration, all fitted with three-point seatbelts. For maximum convenience and flexibility, the second-row seats are split 60/40 while the two halves of the third-row seat can each be easily stowed against the side walls. Reclining seatbacks and contours in the ceiling and floor enable the third row to accommodate adults.
For the convenience of families, the second-row seats have top tether child-restraint anchors and two ISOFIX attachment points in the outboard positions.
Ventilation controls in the mid-cabin ceiling are used to direct air flow through vents in the second and third rows. Other refined touches include the “Fortuner” brand etched into the opening button for the cooler compartment and on the rear door trim.
A comprehensive list of safety features includes a reversing camera with the image displayed on the audio system’s 7-inch touch-screen display. Fortuner is also equipped with seven airbags including curtain bags that protect all three rows, stability and traction control, anti-skid brakes, trailer sway control and an emergency brake signal.
Fortuner’s steering wheel is fitted with switches for the audio, telephone, voice recognition and MID. The audio system is equipped with Bluetooth®^, USB** and AUX jacks and six speakers.
Other standard features include a transfer-case dial, 3 x 12-Volt accessory sockets, a full-size spare wheel, floor carpet and auto on/off headlamps.
Additional features in GXL include keyless smart entry and smart start, a premium steering wheel and shift knob, paddle shifters on automatic variants, privacy glass and the colour MID.
Crusade gains leather-accented trim, satellite navigation##, digital (DAB+)^^ radio, automatic air-conditioning, eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, power-operated tailgate, a 220-Volt accessory connector, woodgrain-look highlights and a soft-touch material for the console box lid.
