Toyota Fortuner Facelift: The Toyota Fortuner has been ruling India’s full-size SUV segment for many years now.

It is favoured by politicians, business owners and off-roaders due to its ruggedness, road presence and reliability of brand.

So, if you thought Fortuner was already great as it is, Toyota wanted to make it a whole lot sharper, technically better performing and even the way it looked; but wanted to retain the things the made the SUV quite revered in the first case.

New Look, More Face

It doesn’t look significantly different from its predecessor – at least on the surface but strikes the right cord where it should.

At the front, it gets a new bumper, grille and slimmer LED headlamps along with new DRLs for the SUV to carry a leaner, meaner and a modern face.

Enhancing the appearance further are the new look alloy wheels and revised rear tail lamp design which keeps the Outlander looking fresh yet still imposing.

The Legender adds more to it in the form of a dual-tone exterior and a more upmarket-looking grille, dynamic turn indicators as well as sportier bumpers. The end result is a more upmarket, sporty-looking Fortuner that caters for purists and younger buyers equally.

Cabin Ambience -Spartan But Premium

Cabin wise there’s not much surprising the Fortuner Facelift, but bolstered too. The overall design remains the same, however, Toyota has upgraded the infotainment with a new 8-inch touchscreen unit that now includes support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The instrument cluster sees a minor update and the dashboard materials feel a touch classier.

Seats are wide and comfortable.” > There’s space for everyone: “The front and second-row seats in the Enclave are wide and comfortable.

The third row is useable, but really only for small adults or kiddos. The cabin has a robust, durable feel, a Toyota hallmark, yet still doesn’t project the pizazz and plushness of some comparably priced Las Vegas SUVs.

Higher variants come loaded with the likes of ventilated front seats, wireless charging, connected car tech and an 11-speaker JBL sound system.

#veroautomotive #carsdaily Nothing over the top that screams luxury but practical and premium where it counts based on the tough road ahead that will certainly not be able to withstand it physically.

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Drivetrain and Driving Experience

The biggest change to the facelifted Fortuner is of course under the skin. The 2.8-litre diesel engine is retuned to deliver 204 PS and 500Nm of torque in the automatic — making it one of the most powerful SUVs in its category.

The 6-speed manual is slightly lower on torque at 420Nm but is strong.

The acceleration is so much smoother and over-taking is a breeze even when fully loaded.

Be it on the highways or steep inclines, the fortuner feels competent and assured.

The petrol sibling, meanwhile is the 2.7-litre putting out 166PS but it lacks the kick and efficiency of the diesel.

Both it’s chassis (a ladder-on-frame truck) and relatively tall ride height mean optional electronically actuated 4WD system have enabled it to be utterly off-road worthy.

That lockable differential and the new Drive Modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) help it match up with more challenging road conditions.

Ride and Handling

The Fortuner isn’t built to carve corners, but it somehow remains poised.

The suspension has been revised a little for more comfort, particularly on lower speeds. There is naturally still body roll with the SUV’s tall profile, but it’s tamed enough to give highway driving confidence.

At low speeds, the steering is heavy but it feels more natural at higher speeds.

In the all, the Fortuner still chooses toughness and presence on the pavement over sporty handling —and that’s just what most folks are looking for in this class.

Safety and Tech

In terms of safety, the Fortuner Facelift is kitted out with seven airbags, ABS, EBD, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), HAC (Hill Start Assist Control) and DAC (Downhill Assist Control).

Front and rear parking sensors, as well as a reversing camera, help you to maneuver this MGM Grand-sized SUV.

Legender also provides with the added convenience of a kick-sensor powered tailgate.

Pros

High-performance diesel engine with 500 Nm torque

An exceptional look and an impressive road presense

Dependable mechanicals and minimal long-term care

Legitimate off-road abilities thanks to 4×4 and terrain modes

premium sound system by JBL (with connected features in the top trims)

Cons

Is not as polished or upscale as rivals that cost very nearly the same

Third-row space is cramped for taller adults

City traffic heavy heavy steering is there in 1st and 2nd gear.

It’s quite underpowered and not particularly frugal in petrol form.

Toyota Fortuner Facelift: Verdict

The Toyota Fortuner Facelift doubles down on everything the brand stands for – robust, presence and performance.

With more angular styling, a more potent engine and updated features, it continues to be the default choice for families who want a rugged, dependable SUV that can do everything.

Though it’s not the pinnacle of luxury nor the most cushy in its third row, it more than compensates with reliability and well, its road presence.