Toyota Fortuner Crusade 2015 Review

Toyota Fortuner Crusade

Local Launch
Flinders Ranges, SA

The SUV market continues to boom as more and more soft-roaders and crossovers are launched. But Toyota has gone the other way, launching the hard-core, diesel-only Fortuner. The seven-seater shares most of its running gear with the HiLux utility and is pitched by Toyota as a 4x4 for those who actually wants to go and do some real off-roading. Pricing is competitive, the drive is convincing, cabin refinement a step up from most the opposition. Another top-selling Toyota SUV? It’s looking that way.
So the last thing the world needs is another Toyota SUV. Right? Well, maybe not. The new Fortuner launched this week and on-sale from next Thursday (October 29) isn’t typical of the modern day SUV breed that is often a passenger car on stilts, and sometimes not even an all-wheel drive.

Instead, the Fortuner derives its base from the rugged HiLux utility, which has recently been launched in its latest generation. That means the seven-seat wagon sits on a heavy-duty ladder frame, is powered only by a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine and has true off-road ability courtesy of a part-time four-wheel drive system that includes high and low range and a locking rear differential.

Priced from $47,990 for the base model GX, $52,990 for the mid-spec GXL and $59,990 for flagship Crusade (add $2000 to each for the swap from six-speed manual to six-speed auto), the Fortuner slots into the Large SUV segment targeting the likes of close cousins the Holden Colorado7 and Isuzu MU-X , the Mitsubishi Challenger and Ford’s Everest. Ford’s presence here is an interesting case in point -- the blue oval has contentiously priced the Ranger-based wagon against the Toyota Prado, something Toyota definitely doesn’t have a problem with!

We’ve published a full run-down on Fortuner equipment and pricing. Highlights include seven airbags, a reversing camera, stability and traction control, trailer sway control, hill start assist control, Bluetooth and cruise control. The Crusade specification we are testing here also includes 18-inch alloys, sat-nav, digital radio and a powered driver’s seat and leather-accented seats (among other things). Toyota predicts the Fortuner should gain the full five stars from the ANCAP crash test process.

Toyota is pitching the Fortuner as an alternative to its own petrol V6 Kluger for those buyers looking for something with more off-road ability, diesel tractability and extra towing capacity. Indeed, with up to 3000kg braked towing capacity, the Fortuner not only outdoes Kluger (2000kg) but the Prado also (2500kg).

So Fortuner shapes as a grey nomad special, just right for that jaunt around Australia with caravan in-tow. The good news is that it seems to be refined enough to be liveable for everyday use in less adventurous circumstances.

Not that you will find too many traffic jams or school drop-off zones around Wilpena Pound in the beautiful Flinders Ranges, where this first drive took place. There was more emphasis on dirt driving and some quite challenging off-road work too – where the Fortuner showed its extensive local dynamic development had paid off.

But jump up on to the bitumen highways that Fortuners will spend plenty of time rolling along between more memorable driving experiences and it’s obvious the refinement improvements noted already in new HiLux have been carried over to Fortuner.

This is a very quiet vehicle. Cruising at around 110-115km/h (and higher) on South Australian highways and byways, there was hardly a peep from the engine, not much in the way of wind rush from the body or gravel splash under the guards. This is a significant advancement over the noisy experience some ladder-frame SUVs can supply.

There were some intrusions of course; notable vibration trembled up the gear lever and through the steering wheel courtesy of the diesel engine, which also got a bit more obvious as it neared its 4500rpm redline or tackled inclines.

Performance of the new generation engine is good rather than great. Having up to 450Nm available (420Nm in the manual) is the headline achievement, but the Fortuner never feels really strong in the way Ford’s five-cylinder 3.2-litre turbo-diesel does.

The six speed manual has a clean shift and is mated to a clutch with co-operative weighting. There is a rev-matching feature that blips the engine on downshift without the driver having to do anything. If you want to do it yourself, just switch it off.

The volume seller is the new auto which mates well with the engine. There is a Sport function to sharpen response and steering-wheel paddles which are pretty much superfluous.

With a claimed 8.6L/100km fuel consumption rate for the auto and an 80 litre tank, theoretical fuel range is beyond 900km. The manual, at 7.8L/100km could manage over 1000km.

With a five-link coil spring rear-end replacing the HiLux’s leaf springs (and discs replacing drum brakes too incidentally), the Fortuner delivers better ride control. But it is still sharp-edged and busy on rougher bitumen highways. Call it noticeable enough to be an irritant, but not so intrusive to be a deal breaker.

It was less obvious at slower speeds on gravel roads, where both ends of the car absorbed intrusions efficiently and the locally-tuned hydraulically-assisted steering responded confidently. There is some slack in the system that dulls on-road response a little, but that’s the compromise you have to make if you want true off-road ability.

In those conditions, the Fortuner’s 4x4 system works impressively well. It scrambled up some steep and rock strewn climbs without fuss. And just as importantly, inched its way back down the other side.

On a specific low-range course set out in a creek bed, it could keep pushing forward with two wheels dangling in the air and two scrabbling for grip, exploiting the added articulation a ladder frame provides. However, ladder frames also provide issues for passengers. The step-in height to the cabin is high and there is a tight knees-up seating position in the second and third row. The head of a middle passenger of even moderate height brushes the roof. Overall, the cabin feels tall and narrow.

Knee-room is good if the second row seat is pushed back, but cramped with it forward. Bringing the seat forward helps third row passengers get comfortable – but we wouldn’t be recommending those seats for anyone but the very short. Access to the third row is via tumbling second row seats or through the luggage area. The third row seats fold up on to the cabin sides.

The luggage area is accessed by a power tailgate in all grades, but is quite basic once you get there. The load height is high, while the minimum luggage area is 200 litres, progressing through 1080 to 1702 litres with only the front seats in use. The full-size spare tyre is mounted under the floor.

Fortuner does have some neat interior touches like the overhead air-con vents in row two and the grabs low in the B-pillar that help smaller people clamber up into their seat.

But there’s also some shortfalls, even the Crusade has only single climate control in the front (although it is also controllable in row two) and no digital speedo as part of its information display between the speedo and tacho in the instrument panel.

The driver benefits from reach and rake adjustment of the steering wheel, but only the auto gets a left footrest. The front seats are flat and short under-thigh, but offer supportive side bolstering.

Move to the centre stack and a seven-inch touch screen dominates. As is the fashion nowadays, many of the functions to be accessed via the screen rather than orthodox buttons. The only problem with that is the tendency to press the wrong label when bouncing along a rougher road. Storage around the cabin is decent without being a functional triumph.

Around the dash and front seats it’s a bit of a mish-mash of materials, intersecting lines and multiple design theme. Fortuner has a basic similarity with the HiLux, but especially in the Crusade it looks and feels significantly better with its leather padding joining blue backlit instruments.

All this adds up to a thoroughly competent Toyota SUV and that almost assuredly spells success in Australia considering our appetite for both never seems to be sated.

Yep, it’s probably more at home in the outback than the inner city, but it is certainly enough of an all-rounder to survive the latter while helping you enjoy the former.

2015 Toyota Fortuner Crusade pricing and specifications
Price: $59,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/420Nm (manual) 130kW/450Nm (auto)
Transmission: Six-speed manual/six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.8L/100km manual/8.6L/100km auto (ADR combined)
CO2: 205g/km manual/228g/km auto (ADR combined)
Safety Rating: N/A

What we liked:
>> Quietness and refinement
>> Serious off-road ability
>> Big towing capacity

Not so much:
>> Narrow cabin gets cramped in some areas
>> No left footrest in manual
>> Engine not the most potent

Also consider:
Holden Colorado7 (from $47,990 plus ORCs)
Isuzu MU-X (from $40,500 plus ORCs)
Ford Everest (from $54,990 plus ORCs)