Toyota has finally brought the mild-hybrid powertrain to the Fortuner SUV, following its introduction in the Hilux in Europe in November 2023. The hybrid version of the 2024 Toyota Fortuner was first unveiled in South Africa and uses a 2.8L turbo-diesel engine paired with mild-hybrid tech and a 48V battery pack and a compact electric motor.
The engine still produces 201 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, while the mild-hybrid system provides an additional 16 horsepower and 42 Nm, giving the Fortuner a boost in acceleration when needed.
The model for the South African market comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This hybrid version is also available with both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.
In addition to providing more power, Toyota claims that the new mild-hybrid tech also improves fuel efficiency by 5% compared to the standard diesel variant.
The Toyota Fortuner hybrid also gets a new engine start/stop function to improve fuel efficiency, throttle response, and smoother engine restarts.
Toyota has also upgraded the Fortuner hybrid’s safety suite, which now includes features like a 360-degree camera and the Toyota Safety Sense ADAS system, which includes features like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and more.
In terms of exterior design, there are almost no noticeable changes to the Toyota Fortuner hybrid, except for a wider range of color options and some minor cosmetic updates.
With the Toyota Fortuner hybrid now launched in South Africa, it is likely that the vehicle will soon be introduced in other markets around the globe, including Southeast Asia.
Trang Nguyen (Forum.autodaily.vn)