There are at least five upcoming Toyota Fortuner rivals on our radar, these include some highly awaited models like the Mahindra XUV700..
The Toyota Fortuner has been the undisputed leader of the premium SUV segment of our country. Thanks to its bold looks, powerful engines, comfortable cabin, and a high reliability, the Fortuner has established a really strong lead over all of its immediate rivals.
In spite of this, there are some really well-sorted upcoming SUVs that can turn out to be interesting alternatives to the popular Japanese model. Here’s a quick look at 5 Upcoming Toyota Fortuner rivals, which include some highly anticipated models like the Mahindra XUV700 and the Tata H7X (7-seater Harrier).
Mahindra XUV700:
The Mahindra XUV700 will soon become the new flagship offering from the Nashik-based Indian auto giant. The upcoming Toyota Fortuner rival is basically a rebadged G4 Ssangyong Rexton that will come to us via CKD route. The new model will launch here by the end of the current calendar year.
Powering the Mahindra XUV700 will be the company’s 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine that will output a maximum power of 187 bhp along with a peak torque of 420 Nm. It will come mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission that will be sourced from none other than Mercedes Benz. Prices of the Mahindra XUV700 are likely to start at Rs 24 lakh.
Ford Endeavour Facelift:
Currently, the Ford Endeavour has been the strongest rival to the Toyota Fortuner. In spite of being a great product, it has failed to garner half the sales that the Japanese SUV does. Hence, the company will soon launch a minor facelift to inject some more appeal into its large SUV.
The Ford Endeavour facelift sports a new grille, a new front bumper with plastic cladding and stylish new design alloy wheels. New features for the SUV passive keyless entry, push-button start, a foot-activated electric tailgate and autonomous emergency braking (AEB). The launch of the Ford Endeavour facelift should happen in early 2019. Prices are likely to remain largely unchanged.
Tata H7X
Tata Motors will soon launch a new flagship. Called the Harrier, the new Tata model will be a Jeep Compass-rival that will share its underpinnings with the Land Rover Freelander. It will be powered by a FCA-sourced Multijet II motor. Following the launch of the five-seater model, the company will also launch the H7X, the Harrier (codename H5X)-based seven-seater SUV.
The Tata H7X will also have the same Land Rover-based platform and a slightly more powerful version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine. It will launch by the end of next year. Expected to have a starting price of Rs 22 lakh, its main rival will be the Toyota Fortuner. The lower price and the Land Rover underpinnings should give the upcoming Tata SUV a fair chance against the very high selling Toyota Fortuner. It will be equipeed with 4×4 and Terrain Response management system, which should make it quite capable off the road.
2018 Honda CR-V
Honda will soon launch its fifth generation (fourth generation in India) CR-V on October 9. The new Honda CR-V will be available with a diesel engine and an optional seven-seat layout. The larger size, the diesel motor, and the seven seats should help the CR-V challenge the Toyota Fortuner.
Powering the diesel-sipping new Honda CR-V will be a 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine that outputs 120 Bhp and 300 Nm of maximum power and peak torque respectively. The petrol version will be powered by a 2.0-litre iVTEC engine that outputs 154 Bhp of maximum power and 189 Nm of peak torque. The petrol engine will come mated to a CVT while the diesel engine will be paired with a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic transmission. Only the diesel variant will offer an optional AWD.
Isuzu MU-X Facelift
While the Isuzu MU-X has failed to find many buyers, its facelift might finally become a stronger rival to the Toyota Fortuner. The Isuzu MU-X facelift gets new projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, new bumpers, new fog lamps, new alloy wheels, new taillights and a bigger rear spoiler.
The current 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine, which produces 174 bhp and 380 Nm will be replaced with a 1.9-litre unit that outputs 148 bhp and 350 Nm. This is being done as the bigger engine can’t be made BSVI-compliant. The Isuzu MU-X facelift should become a cheaper alternative to the Toyota Fortuner.