It does not often happen, but there are occasions when testing a new vehicle that circumstances allow you to enjoy a road trip to a magnificent destination, to join your family and with them experience even more of the vehicle’s capability.
I realised just this recently with the new Toyota Fortuner 2.4GD-6 4×4 Automatic.
My route took me through the Overstrand to Riviersonderend in the Overberg and then to Stormsvlei en route to the Cape Winelands town of Bonnievale then towards Swellendam to the final destination.
A good mixture of road surfaces from freeway to secondary roads and gravel, perfect to ascertain the Fortuner’s prowess as a good allrounder.
With all the equipment and refreshments required for a couple of days away packed into the load area, it held more than I had expected so no need to fold the rear seats – an important factor if this is to be the family transport – and then my journey began.
The interior is well appointed and the finish quality high, all the necessary controls well positioned and intuitive.
The leather covered seats provided good support with real comfort.
All seating adjustments are manual rather than electric as used in the 2.8 derivative.
The cabin is one of the most significant upgrades on the Fortuner.
The somewhat utilitarian interior of previous models is replaced with more of a luxury sedan appearance and feel. Acoustic design contributes to the upmarket sensation; noise levels, both wind and road, have been dramatically reduced, making the Fortuner’s accommodation a really comfortable environment.
The other major change to SA’s best selling SUV is the suspension.
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Gone is the feel of an SUV based on a bakkie. This one drives and feels like an SUV. The use of a four-link, coil spring rear suspension certainly plays a huge role in this improvement.
The setting for our sojourn was a farm nestled in the foothills of the Langeberg and offered a number of gravel tracks climbing into the mountains with varying degrees of surface and gradient.
Four of us on board and 4H selected, the Fortuner was to explore the beauty of this area from points that the average visitor never sees and it did so with aplomb.
No matter how the tracks challenged us, the Fortuner effortlessly climbed ever higher where the scenery became more spectacular.
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If you should run into traction problems, there is 4L and a rear differential lock. Stopping and starting on steep gradients to grab photo opportunities presented no problems, the standard hill-start assist and hill holder made life very easy.
With 110kW @ 3 400 r/min and 400Nm of torque between 1 600 and 2 000 r/min, the 2.4 litre four cylinder, turbo diesel coped with every aspect of the trip.
Coupled to a six speed automatic transmission with ratios well matched to the power output, the 2.4 was a joy to drive.
I wrote earlier the Fortuner ran in 4H while off road but there were a few occasions when 4L was engaged, not to climb the hills but to descend.
The 2.4 version does not offer a hill descent system as fitted to its larger sibling, but that really is not a problem, engage 4L shift into third gear and take your foot off the brake and the Fortuner does the rest, just keep it pointed
in the right direction.
Another feature to give any prospective off roader peace of mind is a ground clearance of 279mm.
Driving on normal tarred roads, the Fortuner showed its merits as an excellent form of everyday family transport.
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There’s plenty of space for the school run and a chassis with very respectable dynamics for a vehicle of this type.
It handles well considering the overall size Fuel consumption is claimed at 8.2 litres/100km, but as usual I could not obtain that and floated closer to the 10 litres/100km. ‘
Still very acceptable when you consider the varied conditions that I drove over.
One feature I did not fall in love with was the stowage of the two rear seats, those that make this a seven seater.
Unlike most SUVs of this type where these rear seats fold into the floor, the Fortuner folds them up against the load space walls, reducing load capability to some degree.
Model Pricing
Price includes a 3 year/100,000km warranty and a 5 year/90000km service plan.
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