Toyota Fortuner 2.8 Diesel 4x2 AT

Autocar India

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You want to build a serious off-road machine and still live with it day to day. In that case, the Fortuner 4x4 AT is the stronger fit for you. It addresses your concerns about rear seats and comfort much better than the Hilux. The Fortuner’s back seat is more relaxed, the ride is softer for passengers, and the cabin works better for friends and family on long drives. Off the road, its shorter length makes it a touch easier on tight, broken paths and over sharp crests.The Hilux does look cooler and the discounts are real, and we get why that tempts you. But its rear seat is upright and space is tighter, and with the empty cargo bed the ride can feel bouncy in the city. The long body can also touch down on sharp humps or ridges. Stock vs stock, neither is clearly 'better' off road. Both Toyota cars share the same strong diesel, four-wheel drive with low range (an extra-low gear for rough ground), and a locking rear axle. Tyres, ground-clearance add-ons, and driver skill will make the bigger difference.If you want a build-first truck and you rarely carry people in the back, the Hilux High 4x4 (MT or AT) then makes sense. The flat load bed is perfect for a winch, spare wheels, jerry cans, and a canopy, and the discount can fund tyres and protection parts. But for mixed daily use plus trail days, the Fortuner 4x4 AT lines up best with what you described.

Toyota Fortuner

Toyota Hilux

Autocar India

•3w

Go for the Toyota Innova Hycross ZX(O) strong-hybrid automatic - it gives you Toyota-level reliability without feeling old, and it fits your 50 lakh budget well. Compared to the Fortuner, the Hycross feels much more up to date inside, rides far more comfortably over broken roads, and is easier to drive in traffic thanks to the smooth hybrid automatic (it blends an electric motor with the petrol engine, so starts and low-speed moves are very quiet and smooth). Toyota’s service reach and consistency across India are still the safest bet, and resale will be strong. If you mostly drive with family, you’ll also like the roomy second row, the high seating, and the safety tech that helps on highways.One thing to be aware of: this isn't a tough off-road SUV like the Fortuner, so if you truly need 4x4 or plan to tackle rough trails, it won’t suit you. Also, the boot with all three rows up is limited, so check if that works for your trips.If you want a more premium feel and sharper drive and are okay with petrol-only, look at the Skoda Kodiaq L&K - it feels very modern and is great on highways, but service quality depends on your city. If you want a big, plush SUV with 4x4 and lots of features, the MG Gloster Savvy is worth a look, though it is huge to park, and resale won’t match Toyota.Given your past Mahindra/Tata service worries, the Hycross is the stress-free choice.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Fortuner

Skoda Kodiaq

MG Gloster

Autocar India

•3w

You are right, the Toyota Fortuner Legender isn’t as well settled as the Tata Harrier. The Fortuner is built on a body-on-frame chassis, which is very tough but compromises ride and handling. You could consider the Jeep Meridian, which is built on a tough monocoque chassis and has a multi-link suspension to keep planted at 100-120 km/h, feeling even more “chipak ke” stable than your Harrier.Since your top priority is high-speed stability, the Meridian feels rock-solid during quick lane changes and in crosswinds, requiring fewer steering corrections at 90-120 km/h. Body roll is well controlled, so it inspires confidence in sweeping curves taken at 70-90 km/h. Compared to the Fortuner Legender you tried, the Compass’s monocoque chassis and lower centre of gravity make it feel tighter and more car-like in response, while still riding firmly and flat.

Jeep Meridian

Toyota Fortuner

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

•6w

The Skoda Kodiaq would be the ideal choice among the listed options. The Kodiaq has an excellent long-legged nature that makes road trips effortless. The TSI engine is refined, and cabin insulation is excellent. The quality of the interior is high-end, and the build is strong, too.If you maintain it well with timely service and drive it with care, even maintenance isn't a problem. The Kodiaq is a three-row SUV with lots of space and practicality, and a long list of features as well. What is also worth noting is the ride comfort, which is a lot better than that of body-on-frame SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner. Resale value with a Kodiaq is good too, and it is a premium, high-quality SUV on the whole.

Skoda Kodiaq

Toyota Fortuner

Autocar India

•7w

Given that your usage is primarily within Bangalore city, the Skoda Kodiaq is easily the better choice for you. It's got the lighter steering, tighter turning radius and is generally easier to drive and park. The Skoda also delivers far better ride comfort and refinement, and a more polished experience on the whole. A well-finished and feature-loaded cabin also makes the Kodiaq the better choice.The Toyota Fortuner does have greater road presence, reliability is excellent, and it's also the one with the better (still not great) third row seating. However, the Fortuner's key highlight is its off-road ability and durability that comes through over rugged use. For a city vehicle, though, it comes across as crude and unwieldy.

Skoda Kodiaq

Toyota Fortuner

Autocar India

•7w

The Toyota Fortuner and Innova HyCross are two different SUVs. The Fortuner features a hardy body-on-frame construction, since it is based on the Hilux pickup truck, while the HyCross gets a modern, sophisticated monocoque chassis that is more comfort-oriented. Space, comfort, features and refinement are all areas in which the HyCross is better, whereas the Fortuner excels in off-roading, toughness and resale value.If you live in an area that is against diesel engines (Delhi NCR), the Fortuner does not make much sense. If you want a diesel engine and durability, the Fortuner will be the better bet. But apart from that, in every single area, the Toyota Innova HyCross is a better choice.The hybrid powertrain is more efficient, the ride comfort is better, the third row is excellent, and being a Toyota car, it holds its value. Our recommendation would be the HyCross since it excels in many more areas than the Fortuner.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Fortuner

Autocar India

•8w

The MG Majestor will sit in a completely different league compared to the Mahindra XUV 7XO, and yes, it is expected to be almost twice as expensive. Early indications suggest an on-road price of around Rs 50 lakh, with a formal price announcement expected next month. It would make sense to wait for that, because pricing will ultimately determine how compelling it really is.From our brief drive, the MG Majestor feels like a significant step forward over the MG Gloster it effectively replaces. It’s more polished, the cabin feels properly premium, and there’s a real sense of space and road presence. In fact, the interior ambience and equipment levels feel a notch above both the Ford Endeavour and the Toyota Fortuner. If what you loved about the Endeavour was that big, imposing, body-on-frame SUV feel with a commanding driving position, the Majestor should tick many of those boxes.The Mahindra XUV 7XO, on the other hand, plays in a very different space. It’s not as large or as imposing, but in its segment, it is genuinely impressive. For its price, it offers strong performance, good driving dynamics, generous space for its footprint and a surprisingly plush, well-finished interior. It feels modern, easy to live with and far more manageable in everyday urban use.So the real question is what you want from your upgrade. If you’re chasing that full-size SUV presence and are willing to pay for it, the Majestor is worth waiting for, at least until the price is revealed. If the pricing stretches beyond what feels reasonable, the XUV 7XO remains a brilliant, well-rounded option that delivers a lot of car for the money, even if it doesn’t have the same size or road presence.

MG Majestor

MG Gloster

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Fortuner

Autocar India

•6w

You should check out a luxury SUV such as the Mercedes-Benz GLC or BMW X3, which will feel like a good upgrade to your Toyota Fortuner. They might not be as large, but given that your driving is in the city, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. They have sophisticated and refined petrol and diesel engine options, high-quality cabins and lots of features. Plus, they will be considerably more comfortable and easier to drive than the Fortuner. If you simply must have more space and size than the Fortuner, then consider the MG Majestor, which will be launching very soon. It's unclear how much you will get in exchange for your Fortuner, but assuming it is not too old, big Toyotas tend to hold their value well, so these SUVs should fit in your budget.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

BMW X3

Toyota Fortuner

MG Majestor

Autocar India

•8w

A 100km daily city run is quite substantial, and the big, heavy Toyota Fortuner 4x2 AT isn’t really the most convenient or efficient car for that kind of usage. However, since you are used to the toughness and reliability of the Fortuner, a logical upgrade would be to stay within the Toyota family.The Toyota Innova HyCross in its strong-hybrid guise is a very sensible option. It offers excellent fuel efficiency, which will really help, given your high daily running. At the same time, it retains typical Toyota traits, like a tough build and strong long-term reliability. Compared to the Fortuner, the HyCross has a more practical and spacious cabin, and the top-spec version, which comfortably fits within your Rs 50 lakh net budget, even gets Ottoman recliners in the middle row, adding a real touch of comfort.If you’d like to explore an SUV outside Toyota, the Skoda Kodiaq is worth considering. It’s a full-size seven-seater with a stronger focus on comfort and luxury, offering a more urbane and premium feel compared to the hardy Toyotas. The Volkswagen Tayron is essentially the same car underneath, with a slightly different interior treatment and character. Both the Kodiaq and Tayron are better suited to urban driving in terms of refinement and comfort, but the Toyota would still edge ahead in terms of efficiency and long-term peace of mind.You could also consider the Toyota Camry, which would actually be our pick. Sedans inherently offer better ride comfort and handling balance for city use, and the Camry is spacious, extremely comfortable and easy to get in and out of. For your kind of daily driving, it would feel far more relaxed and effortless while still giving you the Toyota reliability you’re accustomed to.

Toyota Camry

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Fortuner

Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Tayron

Autocar India

•9w

The new Fortuner will not be launched until the end of the year and may even spill over into 2027. Hence, you may want to go ahead with the current Toyota Fortuner. Alternatively, if you want something similar, the recently launched MG Majestor, which is also a tough 4x4 with a strong diesel engine, is a good option.If you want something a bit more refined and not as hardcore, the Skoda Kodiaq is worth looking at too.

Skoda Kodiaq

Toyota Fortuner

MG Majestor