Toyota Fortuner Legender: In the land of big, burly SUVs, there are few names that hold as much street cred in India as the Toyota Fortuner.
It has long been the go-to for buyers who want something tough and spacious and reliable enough to outlive a cockroach.
But with the arrival of the fresher-faced, more fashionable competition, Toyota decided it was high time to inject a little flair into its bulky bruiser — and so the Fortuner Legender was brought to life.
You see, the Legender has been positioned as a swankier, more-tech advanced and visually appealing iteration of the standard Fortuner and is targeted at those who don’t just crave power, but presence. And trust me, this SUV has both in spades.
Styling That Commands Respect
At first glance, the Legender seems like a Bollywood action movie prop. New styling up front is edgy and futuristic featuring a low grille split by a bumper featuring deeply set quad-LED headlamps.
Throw in the dual-tone roof, gloss black highlights, and machine-cut alloys and you have an SUV that looks like it goes to the gym twice a day–and gets spa treatments on weekends.
In a driving drag race of SUVs, the Legender not only stands out but towers over the competition.
Cabin Ambience: Strength and Elegance
Step inside and there’s a cabin that’s a lot more polished than you’d expect from a body-on-frame SUV.
The two tone black and maroon combination, soft touch panels, ambient lighting and electrical system such as powered front seats lends a premium feel to the car which ensures a stress-free long drive.
The 8-inch infotainment system (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), connected car services, wireless charger and 9-speaker JBL audio system (pictured here in 4×4 guise) ensure the experience is more tech-forward than ever.
It’s not exactly luxury SUV turf, but it comes dangerously close — especially at the price.
Performance: Diesel Torque, Done Well
Under the bonnet, the Legender is powered by the ever-reliable 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel mill that generates 204 horsepower and a mountain of torque at 500 Nm when mated to the 6-speed auto.
It’s got torque regardless of if you’re passing on the highway or climbing steep mountain roads with a full load.
There’s a smooth power delivery and for its size the engine is most impressively refined.
There’s no manual here — the Legender is automatic only, which actually fits its premium feel nicely.
Whereas the 4×2 variant copes with most road-going antics and light off-roading without raising a sweat, the 4×4 Legender adds hill descent control and electronic drive modes, ensuring it’s a genuine off-roader when the going gets tough.
Ride and Handling: Big But Not Lunkish
Don’t expect sedan-worthy dynamics, but for a full-size SUV, the Legender acquits itself nicely.
It remains composed at high speed, doesn’t get tossed around on broken roads and provides a surprisingly plush ride.
Yes, it still rides on a ladder-frame underbody, but Toyota’s tuned it just right so that it treads the line perfectly between toughness and comfort.
There’s light steering in the city but it does weight up nicely as you get the speed climbing. And for something this size, that’ll do just fine.
Safety and Convenience
Toyota has chucked a nice bouquet of safety features as well—7 airbags, vehicle stability control, traction control, front and rear parking sensors and hill assist are all standard.
But there are no ADAS features, and that’s a little disappointing for a car with this premium positioning.
Pros
Eye-catching design that looks the part on the road
Strong yet smooth diesel engine
Plush, feature-rich interior
Awesome off-road performance (4×4 version)
Cons Reliable but the best sporty car By wasian343 on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 4.0 I owned a 2010 and 2011 G 37.
Cons
No ADAS, advanced safety tech or assistive features
No petrol or hybrid option
Cabin refinement still lags behind that of German rivals
I want to sell my Toyota Fortuner used car Petrol Premium cost over standard Fortuner
Automatic transmission only.
Final Verdict
The Toyota Fortuner Legender -not merely a facelift, but a composed mix of style and substance with a hint of unbeatable performance!
If you’re the consumer who craves a vehicle that looks executive, feels imposing and can get the crap kicked out of it without batting an eyelid, the Legender won’t let you down. Don’t think of it as simply A to B, thing is, this is A to Z.
Certainly people will be stunned while at the same time you’ll get some love respect from the road.