Best Toyota Fortuner Alternatives

The Fortuner has been one of the best-selling car models in its segment since its launch. The 7-seater SUV offers luxury and performance in a way few competitors can match. However, over the years, Toyota’s popular SUV has been increasing in price. The latest facelift not only introduced an update to the exterior style but also introduced a price hike that has pushed the on-road price of the top-spec variant above Rs. 60 lahks in many cities in India. With this in mind, here are the best Toyota Fortuner alternatives you can consider that offer a similar or better package at different price points. 

Toyota Fortuner Alternatives

MG Gloster

This is one of the biggest SUVs on this list, being a 7-seater full-size SUV, jam-packed with segment-first features. It is considered one of the strongest Fortuner competitors in today’s market, offering a more luxurious interior with a similarly powerful driving experience.

Why you should consider the MG Gloster

As said previously, this car is feature loaded to the point of being futuristic. The extensive feature list and driving aids include the likes of a massive 12-inch touch unit, ventilated seats, and ADAS. Another way it eases the stress for the driver is by having a massage seat just on the driver’s seat, best for bumper-to-bumper traffic. Bigger, luxurious, comfortable, futuristic; these are the words normally used to describe the Gloster when comparing it to the Fortuner. It provides the best comfort for all its passengers as well as tons of features for the driver to help him while driving. 

What more does the Gloster offer?

While the Gloster certainly does offer a lot in terms of features when compared to the Fortuner, it also wins in many more areas. When compared to the Fortuner, the Gloster is more opulent, more comfortable, and offers more space, especially in the second and third rows. Thus, it is an apt choice for those who want their car to be chauffeur driven. The Gloster is also a much better choice for city drives thanks to its lighter steering and softer suspension, and at the same time weighs up well at higher speeds, thus bringing the best of both worlds.

If you want features for highway travel, size, comfort, and ease of use, the Gloster is the one to buy. It infuses a large three-row SUV with the idea of luxury better than the Fortuner does.

MG Gloster Specifications

• Engine: 2.0-litre diesel engine
• Transmission: Torque Converter
• Mileage: 13.9 km/l
• Airbags: 6 airbags
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 7
• Body Type: Full-Size SUV

Jeep Meridian

With amazing off-road capability and the Jeep pedigree, the Meridian has a lot going its way.

Backed with a strong brand image and unparalleled road presence, it makes it one of the obvious competitors of Fortuner. It’s a modern value-for-money alternative to the rather conventional and pricey Fortuner.

Why you should consider the Jeep Meridian

Jeep is known for producing rugged off-road vehicles which are also practical for daily driving, and the Jeep Meridian provides the same. The car offers a well-equipped safety suite including a 360-degree parking camera, Hydraulic brake assist, adaptive electronic parking brake, and 6 airbags as standard. It is further backed by many comprehensive off-roading driver aids, including frequency selective damping, hydraulic rebound stoppers, and a 4×4 terrain management system. It also has precise and effortless steering, meaning potholes can be avoided with ease.

What more does the Meridian offer?

The Meridian has a slew of reasons in its favour in its battle against the Fortuner. It gets more tech onboard, with some notable extra goodies like a panoramic sunroof, a better and larger infotainment screen, better interiors, and a multi-zone climate system. Moreover, the iconic Jeep heritage of rugged off-road capability with premium comfort comes baked into the DNA of the Meridian. Talking about its off-roading capabilities, Jeep’s finely tuned 4×4 systems give it much greater off-road ability than the Fortuner. Finally, needless to say, the car is more efficient and modern in terms of design language, powertrain, interior, and everything in between because of its recent launch. 

In all, it’s a much more value-for-money car, as it offers a better off-roading experience, better features, identical comfort, and all packaged at a much more affordable price. 

Jeep Meridian Specifications

• Engine: 1956 cc
• Transmission: Manual
• Mileage: 16.2 kmpl
• Airbags: Driver and Passenger
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 7
• Body Type: Full-Size SUV

Toyota Hilux

Part of the same stable as the Fortuner, the Toyota Hilux is the world’s best-selling premium pickup truck also considered to be one of the unique competitors of the Fortuner. Toyota has sold 18 million of these incredible machines, which find use in almost every industry, ranging from agriculture to the military.

Why you should consider the Hilux

Toyota is a trademark for reliability and the same goes for the Hilux, maybe even more. It is incredibly rugged in nature, has amazing off-road capabilities, and has a commanding road presence, all the ingredients in a Fortuner as well. Moreover, it’s one of the very few pickup trucks one can actually consider in India, and you can’t go wrong with this. Hence, it is an all-round performer and a great option to consider if you often would require the pickup body style for camping.

What more does the Hilux offer?

The Hilux is a lot more luxurious and is as well equipped as the Fortuner. As a competitor of a Fortuner, it has a new instrument cluster along with an 8-inch touchscreen. You also get climate control, a rearview camera, smartphone connectivity, and various modern-day features like a 9-speaker JBL audio system. Further, the Hilux also offers enough space for five passengers in the double cab configuration. However, its main selling point is the flatbed, which is rated to carry loads up to 470 kg. The deck provides unmatched flexibility to carry anything – from outdoor gear to a sports kit. Buyers can also configure it for camping, fishing, and going out on hikes. That is the kind of factor which makes the Hilux one of the more worthy Fortuner competitors as it offers something different from others. It ticks all the right boxes in terms of reliability and features and it is an out-of-the-box alternative to the Fortuner. 

Toyota Hilux Specifications

• Engine: 2.8-litre diesel engine
• Transmission: Manual/Automatic (Torque Converter)
• Mileage: 10 kmpl
• Airbags: 7
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Pickup Truck

Kia Carnival

Kia Carnival is essentially a house on wheels. It is massive in size and is, without doubt, the most spacious 3-row seating vehicle, where even the last-row occupants sit in supreme comfort. It is the most powerful MPV on sale currently in the Indian market and at an attractive price range, it ticks all the right boxes to make it an outright competitor of the Fortuner.

Why you should consider the Kia Carnival

The Carnival is big on size, space, and practicality as well. It provides a premium experience for every occupant in the car and it all comes at a competitive price range when compared to rivals. It is an amazing car to drive and be chauffeured around in and is very comfortable for long drives as well. Considering a car of its size, it is fairly nimble and easy to drive. All three rows are premium in space and the rear seats fold flat on the floor, providing luggage space enough to even move houses. So if you have a lot of travelling to do as a family, look no further than the Carnival.

What more does the Kia Carnival offers?

The Kia Carnival comes with a plethora of features, including a 10-way adjustable, powered driver seat, wireless charging, and three zones of climate control. Infotainment is through an 8-inch touchscreen up front and two 10.1-inch touch screens in the second row. There are also two sunroofs for an airy feeling as well, an area where the Fortuner falls short. Apart from features, the Carnival offers more luggage space with the ability to fold away seats to free up even more. Thus, it is quite a roomier and a much more luxurious option when compared to the Fortuner. This Fortuner competitor is an optimal option for a similar (if not lesser) price.

Kia Carnival

• Engine: 2.2-litre diesel engine
• Transmission: Automatic
• Mileage: 14.11 kmpl
• Airbags: 6 airbags
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 7
• Body Type: MUV

Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq, a popular model of the Czech automaker’s stable was recently introduced in a new avatar and is a frontrunner when looking at competitors of the Fortuner. The Kodiaq is an intriguing choice for luxury car buyers and is famous for its tremendous value proposition. It offers all the “premiumness” required with a little bit extra in terms of features and space.

Why you should consider the Skoda Kodiaq

The Kodiaq is a smart, premium-looking SUV that comes packed with top-notch features at an aggressive price. This Fortuner competition car is smooth and refined as well and is an attractive option given its impressive space, ride, equipment, and comfort.

The interior feels plush and well-rounded. The material and finish feel well put together and it has an interior that feels worthy of the price tag. Moreover, Skoda is known for its impressive performance and the Kodiaq is no different. Its TSI engine puts out 187 Ps and 320 Nm, which takes it from 0-100 in a claimed 7.9 seconds. All this makes Kodiaq an eye-catching option for entry-level luxury car buyers.

What more does Kodiaq offer?

The Kodiaq is all about providing luxury at the right price. It offers a virtual cockpit, touchscreen infotainment, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, connected roof features, a 360-degree camera, and memory seats with heating and ventilation. It’s much more refined and provides an exhilarating driving experience thanks to its punchy engine when compared to the Fortuner. Moreover, the car overall is much more contemporary in terms of styling and interior design. Go for this if you want a good all-rounder car as a cheaper alternative to the Fortuner.

Skoda Kodiaq

• Engine: 1984 cc
• Transmission: Automatic
• Mileage: 12.78 kmpl
• Airbags: Driver and Passenger
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 7
• Body Type: SUV

Summary

The list covers widely all the best Fortuner competitors out there in the Indian market. Nowadays, the entry-level luxury segment is filled with a plethora of interesting models and you have pretty much every option on the table to choose from, right from luxurious saloon MPVs, and even pickup trucks! Given the price of the iconic Toyota Fortuner is on the rise, its competitors in different segments ensure there are options worth considering instead of Toyota’s SUV.

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