2020 Toyota Fortuner facelift detailed for Australia – 204 PS 2.8L diesel, standard Toyota Safety Sense

2020 Toyota Fortuner facelift detailed for Australia – 204 PS 2.8L diesel, standard Toyota Safety Sense

Toyota’s Australian arm has announced details of the facelifted Fortuner, which will make its debut Down Under on August 27 – a couple of months after its global unveiling in Thailand. The Hilux-based 4×4 boasts improved performance and an increased level of equipment to go with the freshened design.

As was shown in the Land of Smiles, the Fortuner gains a revised front fascia, replete with a larger black grille and thicker chrome surrounds that now go over the redesigned bi-LED headlights. The rest of the bumper sports larger corner “air intakes” and a slimmer downturned centre inlet.

There’s also a bigger skid plate in a silver finish, while the range-topping Crusade model gains upgraded headlights, new three-dimensional LED tail lights and a new split-spoke design for the 18-inch alloy wheels. It looks like the sportier variant, called the Legender in Thailand, won’t be offered in Australia.

Inside, the changes are relatively minor and include a revamped instrument cluster, with new fonts, a satin finish and a multi-info display that now shows the steering angle and the status of the particulate filter. The seat upholstery has also changed to a dark grey fabric, while the Crusade has either black or beige leather.

2020 Toyota Fortuner facelift detailed for Australia – 204 PS 2.8L diesel, standard Toyota Safety Sense

Standard fit is an infotainment system that has a nine-inch touchscreen, which is an inch larger than before; it also has physical buttons rather than touch-sensitive controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as well as an improved voice control system also come as standard.

Australia gets just one engine option, the upgraded 2.8 litre 1GD-FTV four-cylinder turbodiesel that now makes 204 PS and 500 Nm of torque, up 27 PS and 50 Nm respectively. The increased outputs come courtesy of a larger water-cooled ball-bearing turbocharger and a new variable nozzle vane mechanism, along with improvements to engine rigidity, cooling and efficiency.

Not only is the engine more powerful, but Toyota also claims that it uses less fuel. Consumption has dropped by 11.6% to 7.6 litres per 100 km on the combined cycle, an advantage that extends to 17.3% on the urban cycle with a figure of 9.1 litres per 100 km. All models get a six-speed automatic gearbox and an increased braked towing capacity of 3,100 kg, up 300 kg from before.

2020 Toyota Fortuner facelift detailed for Australia – 204 PS 2.8L diesel, standard Toyota Safety Sense

Thai-market model shown

Safety-wise, the Fortuner now comes with front parking sensors to complement the rear sensors. Introduced to the lineup last year, the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assists, which include autonomous emergency braking with nighttime pedestrian detection and daytime cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist, continues to be fitted as standard in Australia.

Standard equipment on the base AU$49,080 (RM147,400) GX includes an interior cooler box, a multi-function steering wheel, a soft-touch dashboard, a 60:40 tumble-and-slide second-row bench, tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment and powered front seats with six-way adjustment for the driver and four-way adjustment for the passenger.

The AU$54,350 (RM163,200) GXL throws in LED fog lights, roof rails, keyless entry, push-button start, privacy glass tint, navigation, DAB digital radio, automatic climate control and hill descent control. As the range-topper, the AU$61,410 (RM192,200) Crusade adds eight-way front seat adjustment, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, darker faux wood trim, an 11-speaker JBL sound system and a powered tailgate.

GALLERY: 2020 Toyota Fortuner facelift for Thailand

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Chow Wei Zhen on Aug 13, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    When coming to Malaysia for Fortuner together with 2.8L 204PS engine

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
    • Yeah im waiting for this too. I want the legender 2.8.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Too expensive for what it is. I estimate will only sell a few dozens at best, similarly to CH-R.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
  • Jia Ren on Aug 13, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    Excitement and Amazing. Bring it on.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • Venza on Aug 13, 2020 at 6:08 pm

    Impressive

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • TopMark on Aug 13, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    Really practical for this SUV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Maxis on Aug 13, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Hopefully will bring here anytime. We were interested looking at this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • Jokey on Aug 13, 2020 at 7:04 pm

    When fortuner 2.8 coming Msia? Been waiting and waiting.

    Rm192k in Aus a good price.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • seancorr (Member) on Aug 13, 2020 at 10:19 pm

    Love the updated exterior but the interior looks kinda old now. If the next gen Fortuner has the new Harrier interior, it’s gonna sell well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Camel on Aug 14, 2020 at 12:40 am

    Beautiful Design

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Maria on Aug 14, 2020 at 11:33 am

    I thought Legender face like in thailand will make to international market but it’s not at least in aussie n russia. Hopefully for Malaysia legender face will be standard fitment for us with yummy 2.8 diesel. I’m waiting for it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Moose not mouse on Aug 14, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    Can this pass Moose Test? Like Rav4 which has been criticised in Europe for Moose Test deficiency, will this car fell too? Hilux almost flipped when taking Moose Test. Smaller Korean leagues passed easily.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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