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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Although the basic shape is carried over from when it first launched, it has remained fairly modern. The conservative design helps it to age gracefully while imbuing it with remarkable road presence. For the most part, it passes for a North American market design, helping it build a good street cred among would-be owners. And although Toyota could have afforded not to change anything, they modernized it with not just one but three refreshes over the decade. The latest one builds up on the last major redesign in 2012 by darkening elements such as the alloy wheels and tail lamp cluster. The front fog lamp housing has also been revamped with a new chrome strip adding just the right touch of bright work to the car.
Inside is where the biggest change happens to the Fortuner. The two-tone beige/gray cabin was often criticized for its inconsistency in both color and finish. Toyota made the inspired move to swap it out for a monotone black interior that not only hides the simplistic surface treatments, but as a family-oriented vehicle, easier to clean as well. The faux wood trim also gains a much darker shade (similar to Bird’s Eye Maple) to go along with the other changes. As a new variant that sandwiches the top-line 3.0 V 4x4 and entry-level 2.5 G 4x2, the 2.5 V gains equipment that used to be exclusive to the 4x4: leather seats and GPS navigation. These additions may sound trivial, but for the SUV buyer, it allows the Fortuner to complete against equally-loaded mid-rangers from the competition.
Equally beefed up to battle the competition is the 2.5 V’s drivetrain. In 2006, it gained a variable geometry turbo that bumps up the power to 144 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque. These numbers may pale in comparison to newer SUVs out there, but in reality, the Fortuner is actually able to make full use of its wider, flatter power band. In fact, the 3.0-liter and 2.5-liter engines produce the exact same torque figures with the bigger engine only achieving it earlier and sustaining it much longer in the rev range: 1,400 to 3,200 rpm versus 1,600 to 2,800 rpm. In real life, this difference is negligible. Combined with a lower curb weight for the 4x2 (150 kilograms less), it makes the 2.5 V quick off the line and capable at overtaking. That said, it does lose steam at higher speeds because of the 4-speed box’s limited gearing and the pedestrian horsepower output. Still, it’s surprising how this nine-year old engine update can easily outgrunt newer and fancier competition (*cough* Isuzu mu-X *cough*).
As expected of a diesel, there’s some clatter heard from the cabin, but not enough to make it uncomfortable. At idle, there’s the typical “gravel-in-a-blender” sound; only to be replaced by the continuous whoosh of the turbocharger at even the slightest tap of the accelerator. There’s a certain rev range where the clattering is louder than most (between 2,500 to 3,000 rpm), but again, this isn’t a deal breaker. With a better power-to-weight ratio and no unnecessary weight from a transfer case (it must be remembered that the 3.0 V is full-time all-wheel drive), the 2.5 V manages 10.38 km/L—that’s 17 percent and 6 percent better than the 3.0 V and non-VNT 2.5 models respectively.
In terms of road manners, the Fortuner feels pretty much as you’d expect. At city speeds, it feels lumbering with its weighty steering and mushy brakes; but there’s not any worse than any other body-on-frame SUV out there. It has gained the unfortunate reputation for having a crashy ride, but that’s all been fixed with a new four-link coil spring set-up (introduced in 2006) that replaces the old three-link. This makes the Fortuner more adept in handling undulating obstacles (badly patched roads, road corrugations and the like), but tire pressure must be kept at the recommended 30 PSI. Any higher and the crashiness will still rear its ugly head. At highway speeds, the ride sorts itself out, but at the expense of front-end grip. As a rear-driver, the front-end will feel more and more disconnected as the speeds pick up. At past 130 km/h (or sudden acceleration maneuvers for that matter), the steering becomes nervous akin to traveling on a wet patch of road even in the dry. Still, no one’s expecting to drive it like a sportscar, so as long as you’re aware of its limited cornering ability, it’s all fine.
At P 1,525,000 (P 1,540,000 for the White Pearl), this new Fortuner variant represents a savings of close to P 300,000 over the 3.0 V. You do lose some horsepower and four-wheel drive in the process, but you gain a lot more in terms of value. In fact, with the 3.0 V now hovering past the P 1.8-million mark, the 2.5 V is the highest variant you should go for in the Fortuner line. Assuming you’re dead-set on getting a Toyota that is. And though it’s still commendable because of its timeless styling, excellent build quality, and spacious interior, there are other mid-sizers out there with the same level of kit and are more affordable.
2015 Toyota Fortuner 2.5 V
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| Ownership | 2015 Toyota Fortuner 2.5 V |
| Year Introduced | 2005 (Refreshed: 2014) |
| Vehicle Classification | Mid-sized SUV |
| The Basics | |
| Body Type | 5-door SUV |
| Seating | 7 |
| Engine / Drive | F/R |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 2.5 |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged, Common Rail Direct Injection |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | Inline-4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 144 @ 3,400 |
| Nm @ rpm | 343 @ 1,600-2,800 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Diesel |
| Transmission | 4AT |
| Cruise Control | No |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,705 |
| Width (mm) | 1,840 |
| Height (mm) | 1,850 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,750 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,835 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, Double Wishbone |
| Rear Suspension | 4-Link with Coil Springs and Lateral Rod |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Drum |
| Tires | Bridgestone Dueler H/T II 265/65R17 S |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 2 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes |
| Traction / Stability Control | No |
| Parking Sensors | Yes |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | HID |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Front |
| Auto Lights | No |
| Auto Wipers | No |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjustment | Tilt |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment | Electronic (driver) |
| Seating Surface | Leather |
| Folding Rear Seat | Yes, 60/40 (2nd row); 50/50 (3rd row) |
| On-Board Computer | Yes |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes, with Fold |
| Climate Control | Yes |
| Audio System | Stereo CD MP3 Aux USB Bluetooth GPS |
| No. of Speakers | 6 |
| Steering Wheel Controls | Yes |
I'd still trade the added 8 horses and 23NM of torque for ESC/Traction control, rear disc brakes, passive entry system, bigger cabin, better suspension, etc.
ReplyDeleteAll those features for less than almost 170K.
timeless - means old style... mala crosswind, l300 atbp :-)
ReplyDeleteAdventure, Innova and L300 must also be in the timeless list.
DeleteWala din pinagkaiba ang business ethics ng Toyota sa Isuzu pag dating sa fortuner. Pinagloloko lang tayo ng mga companies na ito. Wag na kayong bumilo nito, sobrang luma na.
ReplyDeleteIsa pa, lahat ng mga may ari ng fortuner ay mga abusado sa daan. As in, wala pa akong nakasabay na magalang. Lahat bastos mag maneho, akala mo kung mga sino. Iipitin ka, babarahan ka bigla o sisingitan ka na kang basta. Ang bibilis pa magpatakbo sa highway, para bang naghahamon makipag karera.
Grabe ang galit ko sa mga drivers nito, kaya tuloy pati sa fortuner na din mismo, naiinis na din ako.
^ what's up bro? why the hate? bka natitiming lng, you need to know dn naman na may minimum speed sa expressway.. baka below kayo sa recommended minimum speed? also please note that do not remain on the left lane, it is for over taking only.. baka nandun po ksi kayo?
DeleteHindi sa expressway. Sa provinicial highway nagpapabilis ang mga abusadong fortuner. Kasali na rin pala ang mga balasubas na hilux at hiace van. Pati din mga montero at strada, sobrang bastos mag maneho. Akala mo mga race car ang dala. Magoovertake tapos pag nabitin, bigla isisngit sa harap mo. Kung di ba naman mga gago...
DeleteAnonymousMarch 25, 2015 at 10:53 AM this forum is for matured and professional audiences only.
DeleteIf you are not up to this level please shut up !!!
dude, matanong lang, anong kotse nyo?
DeleteLancer EX kotse ko. Dahil siguro mas malaki sasakyan ng mga naka fortuner at montero, akala nila pwede na sila mangabuso ng mas maliliit na sasakyan. Ang babastos talaga.. Pero pag pinatulan ko naman tignan natin kung makahabol yang mga yan.
Deleteganyan talaga yang mga big cars bro.. nangbrabraso sila sa daan. Kung baga may mga attitude problems yang mga yan sa daan hehe. Let them be :)
DeleteEasy lang. Puro yabang lang naman yan mga sqatter na naka Fortuner. Trashy SUV for the tasteless. Poor man's LC kung baga. Puro porma lang. Kung makaharurot yan mga Fortuner pati Montero na yan akala nila mabilis sila. Pagdala ko Forester XT o Santa Fe di makahabol yan mga lintik na yan sa expressway. Tawa lang ako.
DeleteSige pa mga mangmang, bili pa ng Fortuner at Montero kahit bulok na bulok na yan. Matutuwa lang mga Hapon at Thai sa ginagawa niyo.
ang may attitude problem yun nagsabi nito "Grabe ang galit ko sa mga drivers nito, kaya tuloy pati sa fortuner na din mismo, naiinis na din ako"
Deletena bully sa daan, hahahaha
I'm sorry, but your logic is flawed. Saying you hate SUVs cause some drivers act like douchebags on the road is like saying I hate guns cause some of the wrong people have their hands on them. It's not the pana, it's the indian.
DeleteAnd I have a Fort, and I'm probably as law abiding as a driver can get in the Philippines. Not perfect, but not an a-hole either. And there are douchebags driving all sorts of vehicles.
Its on the person handling it bro'... try to buy your's do that you can feel what they had.. hehehe...
DeleteIts on the person handling it bro'... try to buy your's do that you can feel what they had.. hehehe...
DeleteForester xt?sante fe?wow yaman...fuck hyundai ....ganda ng design pero quality wala...aanhn m ang sante fe powerful kung aftr 2 years nman cra na junkshop na...forester?kelan na nanalo ang subaru vehicle sa evo? wala pa kht isa....manggaya ng design..
DeleteThe question is, Lancer EX ang sasakyan mo, dapat mas mabilis ka sa kanila. Maybe you drive like shit kaya ka na babraso. I have a Fortuner, at naiinis ako sa mga taong alanganin ang speeds sa daanan at yung nasa fast lane pero mabagal. Baka yan ang type of driving mo. Nambabraso din ako sa daanan basta ba nasa lugar ako, specially yung mga tricycle na wala sa lugar at yung mga kotseng supposedly mabilis pero improper speeds, ang sarap banggain.
Deleteactually fortuner is much better than the isuzu crosswind. pinakabulok ang crosswind. If you drive longer, ang ingay na talaga. try ko nag pa change oil at PMS sa casa. Double pa yung charges sa crosswind
ReplyDeleteHowever masmura casa maintenance ng toyota vs. Isuzu
DeleteLOL.. Wala pa din pala sinabi ang underpowered na mu-x dito. Mas malakas pa rin ito kahit older sha vs mu-x. Isuzok sucks.
ReplyDeleteI have tried both.2015 Mu x base model is better in overtaking than 2007 fortuner top of the line.
DeleteI dont know if fortuner improves its 2016 models.
DeleteRoll out na all new Fort, March 2016.
DeleteWell, the way you type talks about how much you about cars, let alone PPVs. Anyway, spec for spec the mu-X beats this overrated SUV.
ReplyDeleteValue for money and real world performance over brand stigma and paper specs please.
Anu naman connection ng pag type ko sa sasakyan? LOL...
DeleteReal word performance hah.. Subukan mo kaya ang dalawa.. Underpowered talaga ang mu-x. Basahin mo din itong review, kahit ang reviewer na nagsabi na mas malakas hila ng fortuner.
So what if mas malakas ang hatak? That doesn't make the mu-X underpowered. E dati nga 102HP lang yan. Ikaw ba? Na drive mo na ba parehas?
DeleteAnd please, enough with the name calling. Nakakita ka na ng mausok na mu-X? May proof ka? You can't even type properly. -_-
Tanga.. Bago pa lang ang mga mu-x dito.. Shempre wala pa usok yan.. Intayin mo mga 2 years, maglalabasan mga mauusok na mu-x.. Segurado.. LOL!
DeleteAnonymousMarch 26, 2015 at 9:33 PM this forum is for matured and professional audiences only.
DeleteIf you are not up to this level please shut up !!!
@Kenneth, wag na natin patulan. Sino kaya mas mukhang tanga. Anyway, let's just stop feeding the troll.
DeleteMarch 25, 2015 5:04 PM meron kami parehas MU-X 4x2 AT at yang Fortuner V 4x2. Ako nagmaneho sa MU-X tapos pinsan ko nagmaneho sa Fortuner. Mas mabilis mag maneho kaysa sa akin pinsan ko pero nung nag palitan kami mas gusto nya ipang overtake yng MU-X kasi kinukulang sya sa bilis ng Fortuner. Thats explain the lesser gear of the Fortuner kaya parang hirap sya minsan pag overtake. Fortuner has 4 gears while MU-X has 5 gears.
Delete10.38 km/l on what conditions please. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteCity driving conditions. Average speed about 17 km/h for 7 days (including the weekend).
DeleteHow about highway consumption
DeleteAkala ko po mag new look na ang fortuner? Baka sa 2016 pa un?
ReplyDeleteIntayin mo maganda itsura
DeleteWatch out manila international auto show on April 9-12 2015 all new Ford everest and new coming up dated ford ranger face-lift. show down.
ReplyDeletePag binili mo yun, Mga ilang araw puro sira na ford
DeleteFIX OR REPAIR DAILY....pili kalang
Deletekung talaga magaling ang toyota bakit masmalakas pa humatak ang 2.5 engine ng ibang brand kesa sa 3.0 nila.... simple ang sagot di na makasabay ang toyota sa competition ng turbo diesel.. kaya walang alam ipagmalaki kundi durable ang toyota
ReplyDeletePeak power output is just one of the many design goals in engine design. Maraming ibang considerations sa pagdevelop ng makina. If you're just comparing by specific output, magaral ka muna ng engineering.
DeleteG4g0ng t4nga na nga lang bibili nitong 10-year old model na ito, binihisan lang parang yung ginagawa every year sa 20-year old Isuzu Crosswind.
ReplyDeleteakal mo naman kung ano ang kotse mo kung makapag salita
Deleteyou can't deny Toyota is unbeatable sa reliability. May reason bakit ganun.. matagal bago magkaron all-new. kasi gusto nila long-lasting ang units
DeleteBugatti Veyron sasakyan ko kaya may K ako mang-pintas ng walang kwenta dito, hahaha.
ReplyDeletemukha mo bugatti
DeleteNo one has a Bugatti here...
DeleteBugatti?baka bulati?o utak bulati? Which 1?
DeleteAs i was reading the data and technical specs of toyota fortuner and innova..base on the data, why is the 2.5 Fortuner has a higher torque and horsepower compare to 2.5 Innova..Is there anyone who can educate me on this
ReplyDeleteu-oh, the VNT for 2.5 models were introduced last 2012 and not in 2006 also, the upgraded rear suspension came out sometime in 2009 which coincides with the 1st facelift
ReplyDeleteGravel in a blender sound permeating the cabin? I love my blender but no dice, I'm not going to test drive or buy this car. I was thinking of visiting a Toyota dealership for this but now I changed my mind. I'll consider other cars instead.
ReplyDeletehow about trailblazer 2.8L any suggestions???
ReplyDeleteWala cruise control patay sa mga may rayuma pag daan nyo tplex at nlex,....
ReplyDeleteYung mga isip batang mag-comment, "Paano kung nakakapag-drive na talaga kayo?!" Lalo sigurong dadami aksidente sa kalsada due to your lack of sensibility.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahaha...
ReplyDeletesana pag-usapan kung alin ba ang maayos na sasakyan at ng ma-educate ang mga gustong bumili ng sasakyan,
ReplyDeleteMga paps question lang po. Antagal-tagal ko na kasi pinag-iisipan to. Paano po ba mag-saing ng kanin gamit uling? Saka bakit po ba malansa ang isda? Thanks and more power!!!
ReplyDeletehey may bago ng fortuner 2016..iba n un....kinalaban n ung ford explorer...youll never notice n fortuner n pala un..nasa driver ang itsura ng kotse...para saan pa n ngprof ka sa licence mo kung ndi mo nmn ma prove sa driving palang
ReplyDeleteSana may bago sa engine. Interior exterior pms panalo fortuner
ReplyDeletemu x panalo sa engine sarap i.over.take
Fortuner is 2016 is now 6 speed both manual and automatic. Soon to launch here in philippines. wag nyo naman sobrang laitin ang fortuner. Luma nga pero demanded naman ng pinoy. Now come to think of it. Fortuner became a topseller for years. Even though its already 8 years in philippine market... Mas maganda na ang fortuner 2016 kesa previous unit. Kaso nga lang ang montero nag 8 speed na... Pero mind u toyota is the best!
ReplyDeletei have to adnit. we had fortuner and we dont get breakdowns on road 2.5 vnt is enough for fuel efficiency. the 2016 fortuner has now have a cooler box unlike competitors full of useless electronics. even everest and ranger are now top 1. the ford will cause vreakdown by 7 to 15 yeara. and youll see more toyota running on streets
DeleteI drive a first gen Fortuner 06 . Never failed me. it has almost 300k on its mileage but still rides as smooth as mother! Of course with proper TLC and on time maintenance to it. And I can say, crosswinds as I have driven my friend's one time grabe takaw maintenance and smoke maniac no difference from the super failed captiva and other chevy sold in this country. It was only once that I've seen a old Fortuner na smoke belcher and its a police car in tagaytay sobrang parang jeep na itchura at hindi naalagaan.But I can tell you when it comes to QUALITY, comfort: a/c, interior, suspension and engine as a former drag racer, car enthusiast and now an SUV driving family man; I wouldn't dare trade our Fortuner to another brand for a family car
ReplyDeleteIs it still a good choice to buy this last version of the fortuner?
ReplyDeleteI know the new version is about to come out by next year probably 2nd quarter.
well. i got recently fortuner v dsl 4x2. white pearl for a 45K downpayment. that is a great deal! thank you for your fair reviews.
ReplyDeletei believe that is one of the best deal i had for the last 5 years.
at least me idea na po ako! salamat
ReplyDeleteMas hahaha pa ang buhay ng sasakyan pag Toyota...
ReplyDeleteKahit sa abroad Toyota Fortuner din ang tinatangkilik nila ang Montero never.
ReplyDeleteMga tanga !!! Wala yan sa Brand ng sasakyan nasa driver yan ! Halos lahat ng driver sa pilipinas ay mga bastos ,mayayabang at higit sa lahat MGA WALANG DISIPLINA ,, saan ka nakakita na nasatawiran kana hindi kapa makatawid at hihintayin mo pa maubos ang sasakyan kung di ba naman mga bastos ang mga driver iilan lang ang hinde!!
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