Toyota Fortuner 2.5 Diesel with Automatic Gearbox and TRD Sportivo Kit launched

Toyota has launched a new variant of the Fortuner in India, replete with a smaller turbo diesel engine, a TRD Sportivo body kit and a 5 speed automatic gearbox. The smaller engined SUV is also available with a 5 speed manual gearbox, even as both variants are rear wheel driven.

The Fortuner 2.5 TRD 4X2 MT variant is priced at 24.44 lakh rupees while the AT variant commands a price tag of 25.44 lakh rupees. The 2.5 TRD variant seems aimed straight at the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV, which recently got an automatic gearbox option. However, the Toyota SUV loses out in the power and torque stakes.

Earlier today, Toyota introduced the 4X4 AT variant on the 3 liter diesel engined Fortuner. 

While the Pajero Sports 2.5 liter motor churns out 177 Bhp-400 Nm, the 2.5 liter D-4D engine of the Fortuner, essentially the Innova’s motor with a variable geometry turbocharger added, makes 142 Bhp-343 Nm. While the MT variant weighs 1850 Kgs, the AT variant is 30 kilograms heavier, at 1,880 Kgs.

Since the Fortuner 2.5 is sold with the TRD body kit in tow, the SUV gets a dual tone radiator grille, body decals, dual tone front and rear bumper inserts, and roof spoiler, TRD Sportivo badge and muffler cutter at the rear. The smaller engined SUV is sold with two body colours, white and silver.

On the inside, the Fortuner 2.5 is decently speced, with the dashboard design and features similar to what is offered on the 3 liter diesel engined models. However, the all-black dashboard on the 3.0 4X4 variant gets replaced by sand beige interiors. Cruise control and the touch screen infotainment interface with voice recognition are notable omissions.

In terms of safety equipment, twin airbags and ABS+EBD are standard fare on the SUV. On the back of excise duty cut rollback, prices of the Fortuner across the board, have risen. This makes the Fortuner quite a pricey proposition for buyers in value terms. However, the sheer street cred of the SUV is likely to continue propelling its sales.