TOYOTA’S venerable IMV (Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle) lineup has served the premiere Japanese automotive company as well as the Philippine motoring public for a long time now, being No. 1 in the SUV, pickup or MPV/AUV segments many times over.
Recognizing Toyota’s impressive formula, the competition has challenged the Japanese carmaker’s dominance. Hard battles have been fought, and in the booming local automotive industry (over 320,000 cars sold in 2015, and an estimated 370,000 cars projected to be sold in 2016), one can never take it easy.
Toyota’s all-new IMV platform was launched last year, with the all-new Hilux leading the beachhead assault in the market.
The all-new Hilux featured a bigger (20 millimeters all around), stiffer and more rigid box-frame chassis, a new family of engines (the 1GD-FTV
2.8 L with 177 horsepower and 450 Newton-meters of torque, and the 2GD-FTV 2.4 L with 150 HP and 400 Nm of torque, both diesel) that are smaller and lighter in size, more powerful, more fuel-efficient and more environmentally friendly with cleaner, Euro 4-compliant emissions.
These are mated to better, more responsive six-speed automatics and slicker shifting six-speed manual transmissions.
But the all-new Fortuner is an equally important salvo from the IMV lineup that promises to continue Toyota’s overall dominance in the Philippine market.
The Fortuner sports as many as seven airbags depending on the variant, ABS-EBD brakes, traction/stability control, and in the 4WD models, Advanced Traction Control (A-trac) that automatically engages once the system is in 4-low mode.
The rear differential lock is not offered in local variants, however, contrary to previous reports, but it is available in other markets such as Thailand and Australia.
Fortunately, hill-start assist is available, allowing the Fortuner to crawl up steep inclines up to 5 kilometers per hour without any driver input save from steering.
A power-activated rear door is a new feature in the Fortuner, the only one available in this segment.
The 2.7-liter gasoline receives an upgrade in the form of dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) with cam phasing (the previous model had single VVT-i only) to broaden the power band further to net 166 HP and 245 Nm of torque.
As always, the diesels are the choice picks, particularly the powerful, smooth and quiet 2.8-L 1GD-FTVE engine.
Inside, the Fortuner receives a new dash, with paddle-shifters behind the handsome three-spoke steering wheel for the top-model automatics, plus a new multimedia infotainment system that is GPS/navigation-ready, and can be optioned with a rear-facing reverse camera, as well.
It has better, more supportive seats in a cabin far roomier and spacious than its predecessor.
Leather is available for top-model variants, giving the Fortuner a far more chic, up-market feel. Gone also were the boring beige interiors, replaced with soft touch black plastics and a dark red/maroon leather for the seats on the V variants.
It also received black leather wrappings on the top section of the dashboard and steering wheel, complemented by silver stitching.
Underneath, the Fortuner receives a heavily massaged double wishbone suspension up front and a multilink rear with stabilizers to provide a smoother, refined and more car-like driving performance on road without compromising offroad performance and towing capacity (2,800 lbs for the automatic, and 3,000 lbs for the manuals).
Design-wise, Toyota’s entire IMV lineup looks more aggressive, sophisticated and daring, unlike previous Toyotas.
The prominent radiator grille is finished in chrome, with a snout arrogantly prominently and fit for a king.
The Fortuner V variant rolls with 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/60R18 all-terrain tires, with the fenders accented by small plastic flares that serve to protect the bodywork from flying debris in extensive offroad driving situations and also to deflect wind away from the wheel wells, thus improving aerodynamics and reducing wind and tire noise.
The crucial two questions that everyone asks: How does it drive, and how is the ride?
Thankfully, the Fortuner confidently replies to the nagging issues that plagued the previous, older Fortuner.
To drive the Fortuner is to drive a totally new, totally different vehicle that bears little semblance to its predecessor.
The all-new Fortuner is fast, responsive, smooth and refined.
Onroad performance is vastly improved as we took it through the slalom, emergency lane-changing exercises, and high-speed sections of Clark International Speedway.
The brakes, in particular, working harmoniously with the suspension, was immensely powerful and capable.
At 100 kph, we slammed hard on the brakes. There was noticeable chassis pitch/lift but the Fortuner braked and tracked true through a very straight line.
On the go, the brake pedal is light, typical of Toyota vehicles, but offering improved feel, feedback and modulation.
The front brakes are ventilated discs while the rears retain drum brakes.
Steering effort is significantly lighter than before, offering decent feel and feedback par for the segment, with a natural-feeling self-centering effect.
The 1GD-FTV engine delivers amazing grunt off the line, and with a little brake-torquing to load up the transmission, can easily chirp the tires onto a perfect drag-racing start.
The new engine is quieter, more refined and has a far broader spread of power, aside from generating more output.
The six-speed automatic really helps keep the Fortuner in the thick of its power-band: In-gear acceleration is improved as a result, while the transmission downshifts far more readily, and smoothly when you need to overtake or accelerate aggressively when rounding out a corner.
Speaking of rounding out corners, Toyota engineers worked hard to reduce the all-new Fortuner’s turning radius to a praise-worthy 5.8 meters, allowing it to be far more maneuverable in tight spaces such as car parks in malls and office buildings.
The result is a more sophisticated, more refined, more fuel-efficient, more powerful, safer and more capable on and off the road.
The Fortuner is ready to raise the Toyota standard in the hotly contested SUV segment.
With 2016 being the year of the diesel wars, the Fortuner is poised to take total domination yet again, thanks to a technically superior product, backed with one the largest dealership networks in the country and the strength and legacy of the Toyota nameplate.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.