It was August 2009 when the Toyota Fortuner was first launched in India at a price of around 20 lakh rupees. However, in 2004, the Thailand International Motor Expo was the first time this car was shown to the world.
In today’s time, the starting price of the Toyota Fortuner is around 36 lakh rupees, and the top model, the Fortuner Legender, price goes to around 52 lakh rupees. Normal citizens, politicians, and celebrities prefer to use this large SUV.
During the time of its launch, the Mitsubishi Pajero and the Ford Endeavor were dominating the Indian market in terms of large SUVs. However, the after-sales service of these cars was not up to the expectations of their buyers, whereas Toyota had already launched its Innova in India back then. And they succeeded in providing great after-sales services.
Toyota wanted to make it a reliable car and suitable for the road conditions in developing countries. And Fortuner passed it well.
In terms of its success, the engine performance has played a vital role. In the first variant of this car, it had a 3-liter Turbo Diesel Engine which generates 171 BHP and the Torque of 232 nm. And as of now, the engine of this car is more upgraded and has taken its power and efficiency to the next level. Currently, it has a 2.8-litre diesel engine which generates 201.15 bhp and a torque of 500 nm.
It also has a very solid body and a great outer look. In terms of safety, this car got a 5-star rating by ASEAN NCAP. The highest safety rating for any car. However, it is not tested by Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, but it is still considered one of the safest cars. It is also considered one of the best cars for off-roading.
In India, there are mainly joint families. And for those families, they prefer to travel together. The leg room, Head room, and luggage space of this car are so sufficient that it makes this car perfect for a longer journey. It has a 7-seater capacity.
The on-road presence of this car is also solid. In terms of the market for large SUVs, the Toyota Fortuner has more than 82% of its share, and the second-positioned car does not even have 9% share in the market.
In terms of its sales, more than 35 thousand units were sold in the last financial year 2024-25. Which averages approximately 3000 units sold every month. The resale value of this car is also very strong. Which makes it better than other SUVs
For features, it has wireless charging, a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, 7 airbags, an 8-inch touchscreen display, and a boot capacity of 296L. The sporty outer look of the Fortuner Legender is considered as the best look of this car.