Updated 2023 Toyota Fortuner driven!

As South Africa's best-selling seven-seat SUV, the Toyota Fortuner is a favourite among South African families, and now the Japanese brand has launched an updated version. We travelled to the Western Cape to sample it.

With many thousands of Toyota’s Fortuner still populating local roads, it is safe to say that the brand’s entry-level on/off-roader is a local favourite since its introduction back in 2006. Fast forward to 2023 and the second generation of the model has racked up tens of thousands of unit sales and is already 7 years old! We travelled down to the Western Cape recently to sample the newly updated Fortuner to see if it still has what it takes in this increasingly competitive segment.

A new face!

The first thing one will note when looking at the updated Fortuner is its new face, with a new front bumper, revised air intakes, new front skid plate, a new mech grille, LED fog lamps, sequential indicators and black A-pillar and exterior mirrors. In 2.8-litre models, there are also new Bi-LED headlamps, while all 2.4-litre derivatives get the LED units from the previous 2.8-litre models.

At the rear, the changes are more subtle, with a black licence plate garnish in place of the old chrome-plated item, a black roof spoiler and new additions to the sides of the rear bumper said to aid aerodynamics. There is also a new set of 18-inch alloy wheels available across the range. There are 9 exterior colours available, with 8 coming from the previous range and one new two-tone variant in the form of the Platinum Pearl White with an Attitude Black roof. Overall, the look is a solid improvement versus the previous model, particularly in the VX and 2.8-litre models, where the new headlights elevate the overall look of the package to something more premium.

Heading inside, the changes are minor, with the addition of red leather door pad covers along with red stitching throughout the interior. There are also gloss black interior accents, an update to the graphics in the small digitised central instrument cluster, a black headliner and interior ambience lighting.

Driving Fortuner

Upon arrival at the George International Airport, we were presented with a driving route that included some town, back-road, highway and gravel sections, with a tour through the famous Swartberg Pass on the cards. The models presented to the press were all flagship VX-spec derivatives with all of the proverbial bells and whistles on offer.

While this update is touted as a specification and aesthetics enhancement by the brand itself, this writer has spent many thousands of kilometres on board the current generation Fortuner and could immediately tell that there has been some serious work done on the suspension, with improved compliance, more supple ride quality and a far more confidence-inspiring level of comfort and refinement across gravel roads.

The suspension aside, the powertrain remains solids in terms of its power and torque offering, while the 6-speed torque converter automatic is paired well with the diesel mill. There was little chance, as ever, of achieving the claimed fuel consumption figure of 7.9 L/100km, with a figure of 10.6 L/100km registered by the end of the trip.

Verdict

There is no doubting the improvement of the Fortuner range as a whole over the past few updates, with enhanced in-car technologies, more modern styling, specification changes, the aforementioned ride quality improvements, a power bump and the addition of the flagship VX derivative all being noteworthy.

This should ensure that the product continues to sell well within a local context, but there is no escaping the fact that this is a 7-year-old product now, and with strong products such as the new Ford Everest, the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Isuzu mu-X and Kia’s Sorento offering seemingly more modern packages, an all-new Fortuner needs to make an appearance as soon as possible.