Toyota’s Fortuner is by far the most popular SUV in South Africa, selling in excess of 1 000 units each month. The Fortuner range is offered with both petrol and diesel engines, but diesels easily outweigh the petrol-fueled options.
King of the Hill
The Fortuner is one of those happy success stories for Toyota that prove the company can do no wrong in the eyes of the motoring public. Even a reputation for poor handling with the previous-generation Fortuner seemed to hardly hurt sales for long, and the current generation, introduced in 2016, has become even more dominant in the South African SUV market.
New Fortuner sales regularly trump the 1000-per-month mark, and no other SUV comes close in sales.
Rugged construction
The Toyota Fortuner differs from the majority of SUVs in this market, in that it is still based on a rugged ladder frame chassis, with a separate body. While this sees the Fortuner lose out in ride refinement and handling, to some degree, many South Africans favour the Fortuner for this exact reason: they see the ruggedness of the bakkie-like construction and no-frills suspension specification as positives, especially when it comes to putting this family SUV through its paces over rough roads, and in rather more serious off-road conditions. For an article entitled “Everything you need to know about the Toyota Fortuner, click here.
The engine range
The engine range available in the Fortuner seems to follow this line of thinking. While diesel and petrol offerings are equal, with two petrol and two types of diesel available, the bulk of the model range offered utilises the diesel engines on offer.
Petrol engines are offered only in the entry-level Fortuner 2.7 model, and the top-of-the-range 4.0 V6 4X4. Three versions using the 2,4-litre GD-6 diesel engine are listed, while the larger-capacity 2,8-litre diesel, the 2.8GD-6, is used in four models. For the Top Five AutoTrader articles published on the Toyota Fortuner, click here.
The petrol engines
Toyota petrol engines have a reputation for immense reliability. Their use in countless Hilux pick-ups and in Minibuses for decades proves the point that if it is a long engine life you are after, then the Toyota four-cylinder petrol unit takes some beating. The petrol engine used in the entry-level Fortuner is a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder producing a useful 122 kW and 245 Nm of torque. The only downside to this engine is that it is quite thirsty in the large Fortuner, with consumption in the region of 12,0 to 13,0 litres/100 km.
The mighty 4,0-litre V6 in the top model is a glorious-sounding petrol engine that makes a great sound when revved high. It produces 175 kW and 376 Nm of torque at a fairly low 3 800 rpm. It would probably be our engine of choice if fuel consumption wasn’t a consideration. But push it hard, as you will be tempted to, and the vocal V6 will easily guzzle fuel at the rate of 15 to 16 litres per 100 km.
The diesel engines
In recent times we have been sometimes hesitant to recommend diesel engine choices in vehicle ranges. Many diesels come nowhere near approaching the level of reliability that diesels of the past achieved. Today’s modern diesel is often a highly-stressed unit in some respects. Turbochargers work very hard to produce the required boost levels at high altitudes (where most vehicles in South Africa reside). Modern injector systems run at inordinately high pressures, and if things go wrong, the parts are expensive to replace.
In regards to Toyota diesel, however, these engines continue to enjoy excellent reliability reputations. Both the 2,4GD-6 and 2,8GD-6 turbodiesels are excellent engines. If they are serviced properly, they give excellent long life.
And the winner is…..
The engine winner in the Toyota Fortuner range is the 2.8GD-6. This larger capacity four-cylinder engine offers a useful (but under-stressed ) 130 kW and 450 Nm of torque, useful for towing, which is what many Fortuners are used for. This engine is offered in the mid-range and upper-range models in the Fortuner line-up, and the least expensive 2,8GD-6 -engined model, in 4X2 form. The good news is that overall fuel consumption will be as low as 10,0 litres/100 km, and less on long trips. We also feel this low-revving diesel is best suited to the overall “vibe” of the no-nonsense Fortuner package. Our choice would be a rear-wheel-drive model with the 2.8GD-6 engine and the six-speed automatic gearbox, for the ultimate relaxed ride. For a choice of over 1 000 new and used Toyota Fortuners for sale, click here. While you’re at it, try out our Instant Offer tool to sell your current car quick and easy.
*Pricing stated is correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change without any prior notice.
Keyword: Which Previous Generation Toyota Fortuner is better: Diesel or petrol?