Updated 2020 Toyota Fortuner boosts power, style and features

Toyota has unveiled a mid-life upgrade for its seven-seat Fortuner SUV, elevating its visual appeal while assembling multiple improvements to engine, driving and towing performance.

Due in Australia in late August, Fortuner’s bold exterior styling is refreshed with a more premium look, reflecting the vehicle’s dual role as a spacious urban transporter and a rugged off-road explorer.

But the most significant changes are under the skin where new and revised engine components result in noticeable gains to output with sizeable cuts to fuel consumption.

New and uprated components have resulted in a more powerful 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, boosting maximum power to 150kW and torque to 500Nm, an increase of 20kW and 50Nm over the previous model.

The upgraded engine also gains improved cooling which has enabled fuel consumption to be reduced across the board, particularly in city driving where the improvement is said to be more than 17 per cent.

Another significant customer benefit from the upgraded Fortuner is a 300kg increase in the maximum braked towing capacity to 3,100kg.

The updated Fortuner retains its GX, GXL and Crusade equipment grades, each displaying a unique surround for the larger black grille, restyled bumpers with a “skid-plate design” underrun, more prominent foglamp bezels, and slimmer headlamps upgraded to LEDs. Crusade is equipped with a new LED taillight cluster.

Inside, updates include the adoption of a larger 8-inch display screen (up from 7-inch) that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and enhanced voice activation.

Satellite navigation and digital (DAB) radio is available with the GX and standard on the GXL and Crusade.