The Fortuner may only be the latest of many additions to the confusion of choice that is a booming SUV market segment, but Toyota has a steely-eyed confidence about it. “Fortuner definitely lives up to the promise of its road-less-travelled 4WD heritage “Fortuner is positioned perfectly between Kluger and Prado; diesel alternatives to Kluger are selling around 1400 vehicles a month, or almost 17,000 a year. Fortuner will give us a significant slice of that action.
“It’s a great choice for people who aspire to a luxury SUV … they want a stylish vehicle, they want seven seats and the safety of a high-seating position and great visibility; they also want genuine 4X4 ability.
The Fortuner, shorter and narrower than Kluger and Prado, is chunky and solid; it looks like a mad scientist fused a Land Cruiser, Prado and Kluger together, threw in a bit of RAV4 for a laugh and then pumped the resulting mix full of steroids. It looks good; not too city-smooth, as do plenty of modern-day 4WDs, but country tough with class.
Driving position is nice, high and secure; the seats are comfortable and offer plenty of support. Steering is rake- and reach-adjustable. The paddle shifts will seem like a nice touch for some, but we reckon they’re wasted here. Visibility from the driver’s seat is more than generous with open spaces all-round.
The Toyota Fortuner boasts impressive off-road credentials, along with the benefit of thousands of kilometers of local engineering and testing, with Toyota’s local engineering team involved in a great deal of design and testing for the Fortuner
While it may look big from the outside, the Fortuner is actually shorter and narrower than both the Prado and Kluger. Despite the exterior size deficit, the cargo capacity wins out on volume and versatility. With the third row in place, there is 200 liters of cargo volume on offer (to the roof). The rear door is manually operated on GX and GXL variants, while the top-spec Crusade gets a motorised rear door.
High quality materials and premium fit and finish sets the Fortuner apart from the HILux (except the bit of trim that popped out unexpectedly on the passenger side door). Leather-look highlights on the top-spec Crusade model make it feel more like a Prado than an SUV derived from a commercial vehicle.
Under the Fortuner’s shell is a dual-range transmission with switchable four-wheel drive. The driver can switch between a two- and four-wheel drive high-range mode and a four-wheel drive low-range mode
Normally, when a car maker launches an all-new product, it opens not just a chapter in that vehicle’s history, but an entirely new volume. That said, Toyota didn’t get the memo with the all-new Fortuner. Granted it looks sleeker and much more sophisticated than ever before, it adheres too closely to the concept of kaizen or continuous improvement. It ends up telling pretty much the same story, remixed and retold
Toyota has done with the Fortuner’s design. While the first-generation model looked sturdy, the new one is sleek. It’s all fluid and swoopy with a strong crossover-vibe.
Moving to the second and third row though, the experience feels largely unchanged. Yes, it’s still quite roomy, but there’s surprisingly not a lot of head room available (especially the middle occupant in the second row and the entire third row). Apart from that, it doesn’t learn any new tricks. The second row still folds, slides, and tumbles in a 60/40 split, but a one-touch tumble mechanism allows easier access to the third row. The third row meanwhile still flips to the side, but a spring loaded mechanism and rear-mounted latch point, attached to the rearmost seat belts, make it easier to store
If you've got a lot to haul, the GMC Yukon range is one of the best ways to do it. But if not, consider a crossover that will use much less fuel and be better to drive. Its spec sheet may read like an SUV from a different era, but the 2017 GMC Yukon range is a highly-refined passenger, cargo, and trailer-hauler that makes a compelling choice to those who need to carry around more than just the family.
Pros Refined demeanor Sauve interior Denali's Magnetic Ride Control Automatic emergency braking
Cons Expensive, especially with options Third row folds flat but takes up a lot of room A crossover may make more sense for many
For 2017, the GMC Yukon receives low-speed automatic braking paired with the existing forward collision warning system and a teen-driver management system. Cooled seats have now been replaced with ventilated seats, the rear entertainment system input has been updated, and a head-up display is standard on the Denali trim.
Pros Seating for up to nine passengers Standard V8 engine delivers ample passing power and a stout tow rating Clean cabin design is one of the best in the class Available two-speed transfer case gives the Yukon the ability to tackle difficult off-road terrain.
Cons High cargo floor height makes loading bulky items difficult Hard to maneuver in tight spaces Less cargo room than car-based SUVs of similar size Maximum passenger capacity is available only in the base model Engine doesn't respond to gas pedal inputs quickly enough.
The 2017 GMC Yukon ranks 3 out of 6 Large SUVs. The GMC Yukon gets high scores and a high ranking in the small – but fierce – large SUV class. Its strong performance and attractive interior keep it ranked above most other options.
Pros Decent power Stellar fuel economy for the class Premium interior materials Large cargo hold in XL trim
Cons Slow-to-shift six-speed transmission Limited cargo space in non-XL models
