Initially arriving with a choice between two petrol engines and two diesels, the petrol engines have since disappeared from the current-generation Toyota Fortuner range. However, the large-displacement diesel received a very healthy output boost with this model’s last update, so we decided to compare the efficiency of the two remaining engine options.
Efficiency is king!
While the 2.4-litre GD-6 engine (and its drivetrain permutations encompassing rear- and four-wheel drive, the latter only available with an auto box) remained unchanged during the facelift, the 2.8-litre can now only be had with the automatic gearbox. To keep the playing field level, we decided to concentrate on the automatic 4×4 versions of both – the only drivetrain that is available with both engines.
For this article, we evaluated efficiency based on two parameters: claimed (official) average fuel consumption, and specific power output. The former is self-explanatory, while the latter refers to the power output, relative to the engine’s displacement, and is expressed in kW/litre.
Toyota Fortuner 2.4GD-6 4×4 (R 673 100)
Outputs: 110 kW and 400 Nm
Claimed Average Consumption: 7.6 ℓ/100 km
Specific Power Output: 45.8 kW/litre
This is the least-expensive Fortuner 4×4, and combines the lower trim level with the smaller available engine. It’s quite a potent engine, delivering plenty of torque for its size, but its specific power output shows that peak power is still on the conservative side, making for a relatively under-stressed engine. It is pretty fuel-efficient, though, with an official average consumption of only 7.6 ℓ/100 km.
Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 4×4 (From R 899 700)
Outputs: 150 kW and 500 Nm
Claimed Average Consumption: 7.9 ℓ/100 km
Specific Power Output: 53.5 kW/litre
Featuring an intensively redeveloped evolution of the 2.8-litre GD-6 engine, the latest Fortuner 2.8GD-6 is among the torquiest sub-3.0-litre diesels on the market. Its peak output of 150 kW is a little off from that on offer from the Ford Ranger 2.0 Bi-Turbo’s 157 kW, however, but its specific output of 53.5 kW/litre is still a big improvement on its 2.4-litre sibling’s engine.
Verdict
While there’s something to be said for a lightly-stressed engine, the 2.4-litre GD-6 isn’t really a match for its larger stablemate. It is significantly down on both power and torque, and, while its lower specific output may indicate a potentially longer service life, it’s clearly more of a slogger than a runner.
In comparison, the new 2.8GD-6 engine does quite a lot more with the hardware at its disposal. Starting out with a larger displacement makes a big difference, of course, but the revised engine’s new injection system, reinforced crankcase and uprated turbo clearly does it a world of good, helping it to produce plenty of torque and a respectable peak power output as well.
The 2.8’s fuel consumption penalty is also smaller than you’d think, with only 0.3 ℓ/100 km separating it from its smaller companion in their official consumption claims. On balance, the 2.8GD-6 is clearly the superior engine, and is the one you’d really want, budget permitting: it’s smoother (thanks to the new balance shaft) and a lot more powerful, and without too much of a penalty at the pumps.
* Prices include all taxes and were accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.
Keyword: We compared Toyota Fortuner engines, and the efficiency crown goes to…