The Toyota Fortuner with its rugged features fits perfectly well into any urban setting. This SUV design is based on the Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle [IMV] platform which was used for the Innova. What always seems to be Toyota’s punch line, when it comes to serving the market, is its ability to meet the needs and expectations of the market. Years of experience has to count for something.

In some markets the Fortuner is known as the Toyota Hilux SW4.  Originally this car was  only  assembled in Thailand, but later was also assembled in Indonesia and other countries. It comes as part of Toyota's IMV project in Thailand, which also includes the Toyota Hilux and the Kijang in Indonesia. In South Africa it was unveiled in 2005 and entered the market in 2006, while another new model was released by Toyota in 2009.

As with any design that does well it receives real competition and what makes it surpass and shrug off the competition is not the arrogance or toughness but the politeness to stand alone and be unique. This is what the Fortuner does when it deals with competition from brands such as Honda CR-V and Chevrolet. What is so remarkable about the Fortuner is its daring ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with SUVs twice its fetching price.

This SUV comes with three rows of seats and is available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive among others. It is also offered in a choice of three trim levels, the G, G Luxury for rear-wheel drive, diesel and petrol and V for four-wheel drive diesel and petrol engines. There are several engine options, depending on the market. Options include a 2.7 liter and 4.0 liter V6 petrol with Variable Valve Timing and a 2.5L and 3.0L common rail variable geometry turbocharger for diesel models.  The Toyota Fortuner comes on a 4-cylinder engine which can generate 161 bhp at 3400 rpm and a maximum torque of 343 Nm at 1400rpm. It features a double wishbone suspension for the front and the rear comes with a 4-link together with lateral rod, providing greater stability and improved ride quality. It also did receive a minor redesign in August 2008 and this resulted in new features which included; new projector headlamps and grille, new rear lights, Bluetooth connectivity, new light sand interior, electronic adjustable driver seat in 4x4 V trim, rear cool air conditioning from ceiling for the second and third row  seats and Electronic Brake Force Distribution with Brake Assist. 

The vehicle has front disk and rear drum brakes and the brakes are quite strong, providing real safety and braking system that allows you to stop it with ease, even at high speeds. It comes on a 5 speed manual transmission engine and has power steering for comfort of driving. It is a sizeable car having a ground clearance of 221 mm, a kerb weight of 1955 kgs. On the highway the car offers fuel efficiency of 17km/litre with a tank capacity is 80 litres.

Its interior provides comfortable seating options. The front has two sport-like bucket seats and the second row can accommodate three adults. With a 60/40 split feature, passengers can easily access rear seats. Safety-wise the car comes with better disc brakes, traction control, airbags for drivers as well as passengers, antilock brake system, vehicle stability control, EBD and engine immobilizer. The car is available in five different shades and the colors include silver mica metallic, black mica, grey mica metallic, light blue metallic and super white.

Its beauty and functionality makes it a worthy consideration when it comes to owning a car with real value, combining both vigor and luxury.