UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, has unveiled the facelifted 2021 Toyota Fortuner, boasting a new look, new performance and new features.

The Toyota Fortuner is only offered in two variants in Peninsular Malaysia, which are the petrol-powered Fortuner 2.7 SRZ AT 4x4 and the diesel-powered Fortuner 2.8 VRZ AT 4x4. Both locally assembled variants will be priced at RM 172,244.00 and RM 203,183.00, respectively.

The measurements are 4,795 mm length, 1,855 mm width, 1,835 mm height, with a wheelbase spanning 2,745 mm and weigh 2,160 kg for the VRZ trim and 2,020 kg for the SRZ trim.

The new Toyota Fortuner comes with a very robust and sporty design. The sharp edges and creases making up the front of the vehicle really make the body pop with style. 

On the 2.8 VRZ model, it is the only one that gets the sportier Legender face. Paired to a slimmer upper grille and an angry-looking lower intake that has a mesh-style insert. Located at the edges are LED fog lamp housings, and a grey painted diffuser at the bottom part of the bumper.

On the 2.7 SRZ, it gets a new wavy radiator grille with a strip of chrome that connects the headlights. It also gets LED fog lamps with a slightly bigger housing that has a mesh-style insert as well. Also, located at the bottom part of the bumper is a grey painted diffuser.

The back layout, the designs are pretty similar with both sporting a roof-edge spoiler with clean, smooth surfaces covering the boot. Although, the VRZ, it gets an exclusive bumper design with L-shaped design motifs positioned at the edges of the bumper, which blend into the fog lamp assembly.

Both get a pair of sporty, sharp and slim angular-shaped wraparound headlamps with the VRZ trim getting Bi-LED units and LED Daytime Running Lights and the SRZ trim with Quad-LED headlamps and LED Daytime Running Lights as well. The pointed and striking design gives the front a more focused and athletic look.

At the back, the tail lamps get LED combination units. The large but slim wraparound tail lamps have a design that compliments the edgy and minimalist design that the rear layout is portraying. The sharp and angularly shaped style has a very commanding presence at the back.

The side mirrors are power adjusted and power folded with LED sequential turn signals and puddle lamps.

Both the Toyota Fortuner is equipped with 18-inch silver and black shaded, multi-spoke design alloy rims with 265/60 R18 highway terrain tyres.

The cockpit-like dashboard gets a more driver-oriented layout with a more modern and sleek looking finish. The material quality is high, with a mixture of soft-touch and hard plastic that gives an overall premium feel.

Both the Toyota Fortuner trims get an Optitron with Illumination control, 4.2-inch TFT colour Multi-Information Display (MID) instrument cluster. 

The seats are finished in a black shade with red detailing of full leather upholstery. It gets 8-way power-adjustable for all seats.

Both Toyota Fortuner trims offer plenty of head, shoulder and legroom thus front and rear occupants get ample space. The space is very generous overall especially in the back, considering the robust body design that it has. 

It has generously equipped storage areas including large-sized door pockets, a side door armrest pocket, a couple of storage areas in the centre console including a cavern storage space in the centre console armrest and an upper and lower decent-sized glove box.

The Toyota Fortuner VRZ trim gets two 12-volt power sockets with one located in the front centre console and one in the 2nd-row seat. As for the SRZ trim, it gets three 12-volt power sockets one in each row. Also, for the VRZ trim, it gets three USB ports in each row of seats and the SRZ trim gets two with one in the 2nd row and third-row seats.

With 296-litres of boot space, it is able to fit up to 2 large suitcases and also 2 pet carriers at the same time with ease, more with the 3rd-row seats folded. 

The VRZ trim is the only one to get the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) suite of systems installed which include Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Pre-Collision System (PCS) and Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Yaw Assist Function (YAF). However, features that are standard on both trims include Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Active Traction Control (A-TRC), Downhill Assist Control (DAC), Hill-start Assist (HSA), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) and Vehicle Telematics System (VTS).

Passive safety includes 7 airbags which include front, side, curtain and driver’s knee, seat belt anchors, reminders and pre-tensioners, front and rear parking sensors, reverse parking camera, ISOFIX, front impact beams, side-impact beams, electronic parking brake with automatic brake hold, tyre pressure monitoring system and security alarm with immobilizer.''

Three drive modes available – Eco, Normal and Sport.

Both the Toyota Fortuner features a 9-inch Capacitive touchscreen infotainment system. It supports Wi-Fi, voice recognition, Hands-Free Telephone Function (HFT), Bluetooth and AUX connectivity and is paired with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The VRZ AT 4x4 trim is fitted with a new 1GD-FTV, In-line 4-cylinder 16 valve, DOHC Intercooler VNT diesel engine which can produce 201 hp of max power at 3,000 to 3,400 rpm and 500 Nm of max torque at 1,600 to 2,800 rpm.

The SRZ AT 4x4 trim is fitted with a 2TR-FE In-line, 4-cylinder 16 valve, DOHC Dual VVT-i petrol engine which produces 164 hp of max power at 5,200 rpm and 245 Nm of max torque at 4,000 rpm.

Both the variants get a 6-speed automatic with sequential shifters transmission

It has smart keyless entry with engine push-button start, remote powered boot operation, dual-zone automatic climate control, multi-function steering wheel, steering tilt and telescopic functions, powered seats for all, a rearview camera with front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto headlights and rain-sensing wipers function.

It is spacious and the ride quality is good. The Toyota Fortuner soaks bump effortlessly, gliding through the road in grace. The rear seats are comfortable and handling is more stable, agile and sturdy. Overall, it is comfortable and wonderfully smooth to drive.