Is It Possible To Drive Fortuners Slowly?

[Bredbury Blue]

Someone said:

The only reason I would be jealous of a Fortuner owner was if I was female and needed to pick the kids up from school in one.

Let's face it, it's a soccer moms speedwagon but an affordable option for those not wishing to pay the ridiculous prices Thailand charges for other automobiles.

My wife drives the fortuner and i guess would come in to the soccer moms speedwagon category. I drive a Ford Ranger but as the Fortuner can double as a pickup (it is a fancy pickup after all) i don't think i've used the covered back of the ford since we bought the pickup. The fortuner is very useful and adaptable but doubles as a great family car, is so comfortable than i can't imagine now spending more to buy a comfortable but less practicable saloon like a Camry, Teana, etc. As i said before, the fortuner is the best value for money vehicle around!

[Bredbury Blue]

Ive got a Ford Escape, and a Ranger.

I really dont like the Fortuner coz its such a big lump. The Escape to me is the perfect family car with lots of get up and go.

I think the answer to the OP may well be that the Fortuner offers those (thais mainly?) people who are not rolling in money the option to buy a car that lets them think that they are. Image is everything as we all know here, and driving a big shiny assed bus with some poke lets them become the big man they always wanted to be. Im not judging them! I fit in that category too!

Somebody said above that their Ranger wanted to die at 120. Mine is happy cruising along at 150 all day long.

I must admit, i do drive like a clown and always have. I once got stopped by the police back home in my MR2 turbo and he told me i was driving it like it was stolen. The Escape kurbs this kind of thing in me.

Sorry but having been an Escape several times and driving a Fortuner i can't agree. The Fortuner would match the Escape in terms of driving capabilities but offers far more practicility and a far lower price. I also don't think it has anything at all to do with image, people have got wise to its a great car and costs not much more than a pick-up but a lot less than a saloon of simialar size - it just makes sense to the shrewd buyer.

I said that about the Ford Ranger. I have a 2.9L Auto what do you have? It probably would go above 120 - i've never driven anything above 140 if i'm honest - but it doesn't feel like it wants to go above 110. The fortuner on the other hand doesn't want to stay at 120 and you have to keep your wits about you not to speed to much.

[Bredbury Blue]

The new Fortuner will be cheaper than the new CRV. I have a 2004 CRV 2.0 (I think) and a 2006 Fortuner 2.7 petrol. I have no numbers for you on kpg, but the Fortuner does eat gas (maybe 15% more than the CRV) Doesnt' bother me, the money's got to go somewhere.

I think I'm going with the Fortuner! What's your take for choosing the 2.7 Petrol over the 3.0 Diesel engine? Besides performance and access of service, is there a difference in fuel availability throughout LOS between the two engine types?

I haven't driven or been in a diesel fortuner but own the petrol version so i can't compare abilities. However, i doubt the Km / L are fantastically different (both around 10 km / l) and the difference in fuel cost is say diesel is 1 baht per litre cheaper. Based on what you would expect to be your typical mileage per year (say 20,000?), and the difference in purchase price between the cheaper petrol and the diesel (isn't it 100,000 baht?), you should be able to work out how many years if you have the petrol version before you've used up your 100,000 baht purchase saving by using the more expensive fuel costs. Think you'll find 100k baht saving equates to a long life of the petrol version before the diesel version becomes a better buy. Any 'O' level maths teachers agree with that?

Have a read of the comparison review - from the Bangkok Post i think - i saved two years back when i was buying.

Fortuner spreads its wings

As you would have already read in the main story, the Toyota Fortuner is a very competitive sport-utility vehicle in the Thai market, principally because it enjoys the PPV (pickup passenger vehicle) excise rate of 20%.

This explains its attractive prices of 1.119 million baht for the benzene version and an additional 100,000 baht for the diesel variant. With that in mind, the Fortuner aims to put three SUV classes under siege.

Pickup-based SUVs

PPVs like Isuzu MU-7 have roomy cabins, but are cumbersome to drive.

PPVs that are derived from mass-selling pickups like the Fortuner include the Isuzu MU-7, Mitsubishi G-Wagon, Ford Everest and those modified by Thai Rung Union Car such as the Isuzu Adventure and Nissan X-Citer.

All of the Fortuner's rivals come with prices anywhere between 1.1-1.3 million baht, but only with diesel engines. This means that none of these pickup-based SUVs have a clear advantage over each other in terms of price, give or take a few thousands of baht.

The Fortuner is differentiated from its competitors in three main areas. First, the Fortuner has full-time four-wheel-drive, while the rest have switchable rear/four-wheel-drive setups.

Second, the Fortuner has more compact dimensions for increased driving agility in town, as well as for more optimum off-roading. All of its rivals still have wheelbase lengths of at least 2,850mm as required by the old PPV rules. This makes for cumbersome driving, but trades in for spacious interior.

Third is seating versatility. The rear-most seats in the Fortuner can fold away in a split manner, while those offered in the opposition are the bench-type that are permanently bolted to the floor.

Objectively speaking, the Fortuner wins here with a more balanced package (between interior space and driving agility) and higher levels (if not great yet) of practicality. This is simply because the Fortuner is a generation ahead of all its rivals _ including the MU-7 despite being launched at the same time with the Fortuner.

Compact SUVs

On-road driving manners are strong points of compact SUVs like CR-V.

Models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are not direct competitors to the Fortuner, but are priced similarly between 1.1-1.3 million baht in spite of having to face a higher tax rate of 35%.

A major difference between the Fortuner and these compact SUVs is on the engineering side. The Fortuner is built on a chassis-on-frame body, while the other are developed from uni-body (monocoque) platforms normally used in small family cars.

All three compact SUVs are powered by only benzene motors and are smaller in displacement than the Fortuner's 2.7 unit. And neither of the trio have low-range gear for serious off-roading.

This means that the compact SUVs don't have the off-road capability of the Fortuner, but significantly excel with more polished on-road performance and handling.

The CR-V is the only compact SUV to have a third row of seats as an option; the Tribute and Escape are five-seaters.

Objectively, the Fortuner is better value as it comes with more seats, more metal and added mud-ploughing capability. But in the end, it really depends on the buyers _ is your life more on the sealed tarmac or in the jungle?

Mid-sized SUVs

Mid-sized SUVs like the SsangYong Rexton lose out to Fortuner in price.

Conceptually speaking, the Fortuner is a mid-sized SUV that competes with models like the Kia Sorento, SsangYong Rexton, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota's own Land Cruiser Prado.

All of the mid-sized SUVs come with a choice between benzene or diesel motor, 4wd systems and low-range gears for rock-climbing. But the Sorento and Cherokee only come with five seats.

All of the mid-sized SUVs must now face excise tax of either 40% or 50% depending on engine, meaning prices between 2.5 million baht to four million baht. That said, the Fortuner is the clear winner here, hands down.

[Kujah]

I haven't driven or been in a diesel fortuner but own the petrol version so i can't compare abilities. However, i doubt the Km / L are fantastically different (both around 10 km / l) and the difference in fuel cost is say diesel is 1 baht per litre cheaper. Based on what you would expect to be your typical mileage per year (say 20,000?), and the difference in purchase price between the cheaper petrol and the diesel (isn't it 100,000 baht?), you should be able to work out how many years if you have the petrol version before you've used up your 100,000 baht purchase saving by using the more expensive fuel costs. Think you'll find 100k baht saving equates to a long life of the petrol version before the diesel version becomes a better buy. Any 'O' level maths teachers agree with that?

Have a read of the comparison review - from the Bangkok Post i think - i saved two years back when i was buying.

Fortuner spreads its wings

As you would have already read in the main story, the Toyota Fortuner is a very competitive sport-utility vehicle in the Thai market, principally because it enjoys the PPV (pickup passenger vehicle) excise rate of 20%.

This explains its attractive prices of 1.119 million baht for the benzene version and an additional 100,000 baht for the diesel variant. With that in mind, the Fortuner aims to put three SUV classes under siege.

Pickup-based SUVs

PPVs like Isuzu MU-7 have roomy cabins, but are cumbersome to drive.

PPVs that are derived from mass-selling pickups like the Fortuner include the Isuzu MU-7, Mitsubishi G-Wagon, Ford Everest and those modified by Thai Rung Union Car such as the Isuzu Adventure and Nissan X-Citer.

All of the Fortuner's rivals come with prices anywhere between 1.1-1.3 million baht, but only with diesel engines. This means that none of these pickup-based SUVs have a clear advantage over each other in terms of price, give or take a few thousands of baht.

The Fortuner is differentiated from its competitors in three main areas. First, the Fortuner has full-time four-wheel-drive, while the rest have switchable rear/four-wheel-drive setups.

Second, the Fortuner has more compact dimensions for increased driving agility in town, as well as for more optimum off-roading. All of its rivals still have wheelbase lengths of at least 2,850mm as required by the old PPV rules. This makes for cumbersome driving, but trades in for spacious interior.

Third is seating versatility. The rear-most seats in the Fortuner can fold away in a split manner, while those offered in the opposition are the bench-type that are permanently bolted to the floor.

Objectively speaking, the Fortuner wins here with a more balanced package (between interior space and driving agility) and higher levels (if not great yet) of practicality. This is simply because the Fortuner is a generation ahead of all its rivals _ including the MU-7 despite being launched at the same time with the Fortuner.

Compact SUVs

On-road driving manners are strong points of compact SUVs like CR-V.

Models like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are not direct competitors to the Fortuner, but are priced similarly between 1.1-1.3 million baht in spite of having to face a higher tax rate of 35%.

A major difference between the Fortuner and these compact SUVs is on the engineering side. The Fortuner is built on a chassis-on-frame body, while the other are developed from uni-body (monocoque) platforms normally used in small family cars.

All three compact SUVs are powered by only benzene motors and are smaller in displacement than the Fortuner's 2.7 unit. And neither of the trio have low-range gear for serious off-roading.

This means that the compact SUVs don't have the off-road capability of the Fortuner, but significantly excel with more polished on-road performance and handling.

The CR-V is the only compact SUV to have a third row of seats as an option; the Tribute and Escape are five-seaters.

Objectively, the Fortuner is better value as it comes with more seats, more metal and added mud-ploughing capability. But in the end, it really depends on the buyers _ is your life more on the sealed tarmac or in the jungle?

Mid-sized SUVs

Mid-sized SUVs like the SsangYong Rexton lose out to Fortuner in price.

Conceptually speaking, the Fortuner is a mid-sized SUV that competes with models like the Kia Sorento, SsangYong Rexton, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota's own Land Cruiser Prado.

All of the mid-sized SUVs come with a choice between benzene or diesel motor, 4wd systems and low-range gears for rock-climbing. But the Sorento and Cherokee only come with five seats.

All of the mid-sized SUVs must now face excise tax of either 40% or 50% depending on engine, meaning prices between 2.5 million baht to four million baht. That said, the Fortuner is the clear winner here, hands down.

Thanx, Bredbury Blue, for posting that excellent, excellent article!! With this kind of overall critique review, all that is left is one's own 'subjectivity' because the Fortuner is otherwise a hands down winner!!

[Plus]

You'll be lucky if Fortuners or CRVs could outrun 5% of BMWs as I've already explained

We count percents differently. I count cars on the road, you count models in German showrooms.

Here, in Thaland, 99% of BMWs suck.

No self-respecting guy would pay 70,000 USD and tell everyone that cars with the same badge in Germany are really fast when any jerk in a pickup truck for a forth of the price can leave you in smoke.

Actually they sell more 5 series in Thailand. 320 is especially slow moving from showrooms. Girls like 318 better, and, lo and behold, they brought 318 back!!!

[Plus]

I think 318/320 would beat a pickup truck on a long stretch of road, and surely anywhere with twists and turns, but in every day traffic pickups have better in-gear acceleration thanks to the enourmous torque, nearly twice that of BMW and with about the same weight.

On paper new Isuzu claims better 0-100 time than 318, according to BMW website.

If pickups could beat 5 series that would be a disaster for BMW. Current 520d has 218 hp diesel comparing to 160 hp for trucks, or 150hp for 320.

Actually I restricted my comments from very beginning to 3 series sold in Thailand, and I stick to it - 318/320 are whimpy girls rides.