It also recommends an additional sway control device if the trailer weighs more than the tow vehicle, which it did in this case. While this didn’t seem to upset the balance of the rig too much, or subsequent handling it’s not ideal and for safety reasons Toyota recommends the fitment of a factory option weight distribution hitch. The first thing we noticed was how far the rear suspension sagged not surprising really given the long travel, coil spring rear end and close to 280kg on the tow ball which was right on the limit. However, as advertised towing figures can be deceptive, we decided to hitch up a big caravan weighing 2550kg (not far off the Fortuner’s maximum) to see how it coped in the real world. That’s slightly less than auto-equipped rivals like the Everest, MU-X and Colorado 7 which have a 3000kg towing maximum, and Pajero Sport (3100kg).
However, one increasingly important role for these type of vehicles not covered in the SUV showdown, was towing – something that the Fortuner claims to be pretty good at.Īccording to Toyota, the Fortuner is rated to tow as much as 3000kg (braked) when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, or 2800kg (braked) with the six-speed auto, as tested here. And it does a pretty good job of all three, as we discovered during a recent six-vehicle comparison where the Fortuner pipped the more tech-laden Pajero Sport and Everest as king of the multi-taskers. Like its main rivals the Fortuner comes to the party with gutsy turbo-diesel power, decent off-road capability and (except for the Mitsubishi) handy seven-seat versatility. The five-door Fortuner also lobs into the growing and increasingly more car-like group of ute-based SUVs that includes the new Ford Everest and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, and older models like the Holden Colorado 7 and Isuzu MU-X.
With the petrol-only FJ Cruiser soon to depart, that slots it under the premium-priced LandCruiser trio comprising family-favourite Prado, Outback-friendly 200 Series and tough-as-nails 70 Series. The HiLux-based Fortuner arrived late in 2015 as the new entry-level model in Toyota’s off-road SUV range. It also boasts up to 3000kg (braked) towing capacity, which is an important selling point to the growing number of grey nomads and trailerboat owners. But it does have the all-important Toyota badge, and offer a more affordable alternative to the ever-popular LandCruiser Prado. Toyota’s new Fortuner doesn’t offer the most sophisticated technology package in the park, nor the cheapest entry point to the growing off-road SUV market.