– By Marc Sibbald –
Its one of those cards that life deals you. When you need something you normally can’t afford it, or it doesn’t exist. Then, when the moment has passed, voila!
This is how it felt with the Toyota Fortuner I had during the summer holidays. Its the car you can take off road for a camping trip, drive down the beach to find the perfect wave, or pack with seven people for a night out.
At first I had the Crusade which is the top of the range. It has a lot of cool features though I was looking for more technology in a car with price tag over $60,000.
For example, there’s a button to fold the mirrors in tight parking spots but it doesn’t automatically fold them when you lock the car. And I have gotten use to lane change warning systems which I expected in this model. It would have been handy because of the blind spots in this large wagon caused by the rear row of seats folding up when not being used.
There are plenty of cup holders and charge points including a 220v outlet in the back. The middle and rear seats recline which the kids had fun with. And the air conditioning in the rear was very powerful (we has several 40+ days to test it out).
Its fair to say the wife and I weren’t impressed with the Crusade and the 265/60R18 tyres made the ride feel soft which dampen our enthusiasm a little bit.
But then we swapped the Crusade for the GX and instantly fell in love with the car. Without the leather trim, climate control, and on the 265/65R17 tyres with steel rims, it felt more utilitarian, more like a rugged full chassis 4WD that rode like an SUV.
We took the GX on a short family vacation and it performed as well on the freeway as it did around town. There was little road or wind noise in the cabin which made the long journey very pleasant. I wish we had a boat or caravan to tow because I think that’s when the 2.8L Turbo diesel would shine.
Boot space is large enough for most requirements but the rear seats fold up, instead of flat, and cannot be removed to create more space. In seven seat mode teenagers would be comfortable though it doesn’t leave much room in the back for shopping or sports gear.
There’s a touch screen in the dash like the new HiLux though it feels more integrated (The HiLux looks like an aftermarket screen). And talking to a dealer the Toyota Link system becomes really handy when connected with your smartphone.
My only issue with the GX was the key. I know push-button start is reserved for Crusade. But the remote is so big! When you squeeze it and a man size key into your pocket, there isn’t much room for anything else. An integrated flip key in the remote would be ideal.
The Toyota Fortuner is definitely a lifestyle car. If you love going off-road or are towing regularly the Fortuner is a cheaper option than a Prado. Though if all you need is the occasional seven seats the Kluger would be a better fit.
