In Russia, purchasing a Toyota SUV is considered a good buy. Firstly, they are low-maintenance and reliable. Secondly, their off-road capability is head and shoulders above most of their classmates, and thirdly, they don’t lose value quickly. The Toyota Fortuner, the latest newcomer to the Russian SUV market, arrived in our country two years later than the rest of the world, but it’s already sparking interest among fans of true off-road vehicles. “Yuzhny Avtomobil” took to the track of Russia’s only tractor race to test the Fortuner’s capabilities.
The Fortuner name is generally unfamiliar to Russian car enthusiasts, even though it arrived in our country in its second generation, and even then, two years later. The first generation of the Toyota Fortuner SUV was never supplied to our country. This year, Toyota decided to experiment and expand its off-road lineup in Russia with the Fortuner. The successful sales of the Hilux pickup truck likely inspired Toyota to bring the Fortuner, based on it, to Russia. Technically, both models share the IMV (Innovative/International Multi-purpose Vehicle) platform, developed for SUVs and pickups. Its design incorporates a robust, thick frame with robust crossmembers. This platform ensures high torsional rigidity and is capable of withstanding the harshest off-road conditions. Furthermore, the Hilux pickup and Fortuner SUV share engines, axles, and transmissions. The only difference is the rear suspension. The Hilux has a leaf spring suspension, while the Fortuner has a coil-over suspension with an anti-roll bar.
However, in Russia, the Hilux wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea because it had a body, while we prefer a full-size interior, like the Fortuner’s, complete with extra seats in the trunk. It’s big, capable, and roomy—it’s got it all. It’s a vehicle for the wealthy Russian farmer who needs to drive through the fields and still be able to comfortably venture into the city. Although, of course, successful Russian farmers spend more time where only tractors roam—in the fields. For us, the Bison Track Show tractor racing track has replaced those fields.
True all-wheel drive
The all-wheel drive on the new Toyota Fortuner is implemented using the Part-Time principle. By default, the car is rear-wheel drive, and the front axle is engaged immediately and firmly. No locking mechanisms need to be engaged, and it can be engaged at speeds up to 100 km/h. We went to test the Fortuner’s off-road capability near the Rostov-on-Don – Taganrog highway. The Don-25 off-road track is built for various rally raids and is also the site of the annual Bison Track Show tractor race. From the Rostov-Taganrog highway exit, you need to drive a couple more kilometers on uneven asphalt. The car effortlessly devours small potholes, larger holes, and cracks in the asphalt.
We tested the diesel version of the Toyota Fortuner. Under the hood, it has a turbocharged 2.8-liter engine producing 177 horsepower. The engine isn’t new, but it’s proven itself quite well. The same engine is installed in the related Hilux and the Land Cruiser Prado. Our car is equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, which is the only option available for the diesel.
Along the tractor track
So, we drive up to the off-road area, where the competitors are trudging through the mud. We’re driving in rear-wheel drive. The car moves confidently, but on a slight incline, mud starts to stick to the winter tires, and the Fortuner starts slipping. It’s time to engage all-wheel drive. I move the dial on the console to the 4H position, and the car moves briskly up the hill. In general, with all-wheel drive, the car allows you to drive over rough terrain at speeds of about 80-100 kilometers per hour. True, at such speeds, driving through gullies requires some serious vibrations in the cabin, but thanks to its high ground clearance and short overhangs, the Fortuner moves like a tank.
The Toyota Fortuner is a pure masculine SUV. It has a robust Heavy Duty frame, a solid rear axle, a part-time all-wheel drive transmission, a low-range gearbox, a locking rear differential, decent geometry, and minimal electronics. It doesn’t have any intelligent electronic systems to assist the driver off-road, nor is it able to select a driving mode depending on the type of road surface. And they’re not needed; the car is simply designed to handle virtually any off-road terrain. The key is to choose the right tires, and then you can conquer even the most impenetrable wilderness. The only driver assistance system available is the Descent Control (DAC). Otherwise, you’re in complete control of the Toyota Fortuner’s off-road capabilities. If you want, you can drive in any direction you want, over hills, grass, and mud—if it’s really tough, you can downshift. The car plows along, and huge chunks of mud fly in all directions, periodically landing on the roof.
Depending on the trim, the Toyota Fortuner can be equipped with either 17-inch wheels with All-Terrain tires or 18-inch Highway-Terrain tires for driving on asphalt and dirt. The latter are available on the most expensive Fortuner versions. They’re more than enough for fishing trips, but if you intend to push the car off-road to its limits, it’s best to upgrade to specialized tires. Near a slight rise in thick black soil, we downshift, and the Fortuner crawls up, throwing up clumps of mud. The Fortuner boasts excellent cross-country ability: ground clearance is 225 mm, approach angle is 29 degrees, and departure angle is 25 degrees. The recommended fording depth is limited to 700 mm.
It’s worth noting not only the Fortuner’s excellent cross-country ability, but also its fuel efficiency. During off-road driving, diesel fuel consumption was around 16 liters, including all-wheel drive. The diesel engine is considered to have more torque, but for those who, for various reasons, don’t like diesel fuel, a gasoline version of the Toyota Fortuner has been available at dealerships since the beginning of this year. It is available not only with an automatic but also with a manual transmission, and the gasoline version is cheaper than the diesel. So, the price of the petrol Fortuner starts from 1,999,000 rubles, for the diesel version you will have to pay at least 2,599,000 rubles.
Toyota Center Rostov-on-Don Vostok
Rostov region, Aksai,
Aksaysky Avenue, 13
(M4-Don highway),
tel.: +7 (863) 210-70-70
