Toyota Fortuner used car review
What to look for when buying a second-hand seven-seat SUV
On paper, the Toyota Fortuner launched here in 2015 had it all going on.
Just for starters, it certainly had the right badge. It also got a seven-seat layout to rival its stablemate the Kluger, but added real off-road ability thanks to a low-range transfer-case and proper, part-time four-wheel-drive.
And compared with its brother on the other side of the stable, the Prado, the Fortuner served up almost the same off-road smarts and a similar level of ruggedness but did so at a much lower price. How could it miss?
Indeed, but it seems that the Australia car buying public has never warmed to the Toyota Fortuner in the way it should have, as, while the vehicle seems like an ideal compromise, it lags way behind either the Kluger and Prado in overall sales terms.
And that means the Fortuner is one to watch as it stands to become a genuine used-car bargain as some examples are already trickling into a marketplace that doesn't understand the model.
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So, aside from being a bit of either, what is a Toyota Fortuner and why would you want a second-hand one?
The Fortuner is one of a growing number of vehicles that have been spun off a commercial-vehicle (usually a utility) platform.
In the Fortuner's case, the donor vehicle is the HiLux ute which has been reengineered with the station-wagon body as well as ditching the HiLux's crude leaf-sprung rear-end for a coil-sprung set-up, but it's worth mentioning that the rear axle is still a solid unit, not an independent system.
That affects ride quality to an extent, and so does the fact that, drawing on the HiLux platform, the Fortuner uses an old-fashioned body-on-chassis construction which makes it feel a bit clunkier than a more modern, monocoque arrangement.
That said, however, the vast majority of the Fortuner's competition use exactly the same construction technique, so it's hardly a throwback in its class.
And even though there's a fair bit of traffic in its market segment with the likes of the Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Nissan Pathfinder, we still reckon the Toyota deserves better cut-through.
Just for starters, given the amount of HiLux technology involved in the Fortuner, it's fair to suggest that they should have a similar level or reliability.
In the old days, that would have been code for total reliability, but complexity has taken its toll on even Toyotas of late (although not to the same extent as some its competitors) so any Fortuner needs a close going over before you hand over the money.
Possibly the biggest hassle with any late-model turbo-diesel right now is the spectre of ongoing maintenance of the fuel-injection system. Yes, it's nice to have relatively small engines making lots and lots of performance, but there's a pay-off, and that is that the engines themselves are stretched pretty tight.
To attain the three-tonne towing capacity of these vehicles, for instance, requires plenty of fuel being injected into the engine at full load and full boost and this can accelerate engine wear, particularly in the area of the fuel-injectors themselves.
Again, this is by no means a Toyota-specific problem (quite the opposite, in fact) but it remains that second-hand vehicles like this that have been used for towing can often be ready for a new set of injectors before 100,000km has come around. The injectors are not cheap, either, and by the time you've replaced four of them, replaced filters and other consumables and paid for the labour involved, the invoice can easily be in the thousands.
Even if the injectors themselves don't fail, the modern turbo-diesel needs preventative maintenance in the form of filters at regular intervals, so forget what you think you know about low-maintenance, last-forever old-fashioned diesels.
Fuel quality is also critical and dirty or contaminated diesel can cause huge problems in these engines. Welcome to the world of modern, common-rail turbo-diesels.
The other common trait with a modern diesel, a clogged diesel particulate filter (DPF), is also something to watch with the Fortuner.
The design of the Fortuner's engine means that the filter needs to get hot from time to time in order for it to regenerate (clean) itself. For this to happen, the vehicle needs a decent run at freeway speeds and if this doesn't happen periodically, the filter can become clogged at which point it generally needs to be replaced.
Toyota actually issued a service bulletin to attempt to address this in which it announced revised software aimed at giving the engine a better chance of regenerating its filter. A Toyota dealer will be able to determine whether a particular vehicle has had this upgrade.
The Fortuner has also been recalled to change part of the computer which could deteriorate over time and allow a failure of the circuit that would operate the air-bags in a crash. An air-bag warning light on the dashboard is the first sign that this failure has occurred.
The other big check with a Fortuner – and it applies to any off-roader – is that it hasn't been abused off-road.
The overall competence of the vehicle means it's quite tempting to tackle a little day out in the bush, but an owner who lacks experience can easily get in over their head and do some spectacular damage to vehicle in the process.
So check underneath for dents and scars and, if you're really keen, test the oil in the front and rear differentials for milkiness; a sure sign that the vehicle has been standing or operating in deep water for a period of time.
Toyota Fortuner Nuts and bolts
Engine/s: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Transmissions: 6-speed auto/6-speed manual, 4WD
Fuel economy (combined): 8.6 litres per 100km
Safety rating (courtesy of www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au): 5 stars
Our rating: 3.5 stars
Promise of good reliability.
Serious off-road ability.
Wagon versatility.
Seven-seat layout.
Modern turbo-diesels are not maintenance-free.
Overlooked by the market to an extent.
Beware abused examples.
Don't accidentally buy an ex-mine vehicle.
Competitors:
Ford Everest – Based on the all-conquering Ranger ute, the Everest has a more softly sprung rear end and that practical wagon body. So it's precisely the same concept as the Fortuner and sells to the same people. Arguably, another under-rated contender. 4 stars
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – Triton-based and uses the same turbo-diesel driveline for decent dynamics. Only catch is that the Pajero Sport is quite narrow across the cabin making the rear seat, in particular, a bit squeezy. 3.5 stars
Nissan Pathfinder – The once rough-and-ready Pathfinder has gone soft these days. Soft-roader, that is. Hybrid or V6 petrol powerplants underline the point (no diesel) and the monocoque construction seals the deal. 3.5 stars
What to pay (courtesy of Glass's Guide):
Model Year New Now
GX 2015 $49,990 $27,500
GXL 2015 $54,990 $30,600
Crusade 2015 $61,990 $34,800
seven-seat SUV
Morley is a long-time senior contributor to Drive, and our regular used-car expert. As an avid car collector and tinkerer, he knows what to look for - and look out for - when buying a new car.
automobile image editing — 02 Nov 2018 19:40
Nice share! It is the most imaginative conception that is better for business.
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