Fortuner, Everest or ...?

Rocket-Boy said:
So my wife has decided that due to Covid and international travel being out for a while, that we should really explore SA instead.
I like the idea and there are tons of little towns and random places we would like to see.
My 3 series isnt really going to cut it for cruising 100km+ dirt roads which are fairly common to some areas.

So I have been looking, Im not really interested in the smaller SUV's like the X-trail, CR-V, Kuga etc. Those all just seem like hatchbacks with a bit more ground clearance.

Enter the Fortuner and Everest, which are a lot more solid and have a lot more space.
So if you had a R400k budget and could choose between the two, what would you go for?
Is there anything else obvious that Im missing that I should consider?

Not really interested in a double cab, those things are horrible to live with on a daily basis.
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Fortuner would be my choice but the Everest is a good option too.
Great technical support country wide. Almost every dorpie has access to a Toyota dealer.
Great resale if you ever decide to move on.
Lots of aftermarket accessories.
Great support on 4x4 forums.
Amazing reliability when the vehicle is maintained correctly.
The Fortuner and Everest have rougher rides because they have body on frame chassis instead of the one piece monocoque setups that the other SUV's have.

Negatives are that the Everest or other cars look better both inside and outside.
I think the 3.2L Diesels perform slightly better than Toyota Diesels but I personally dont think they are as reliable as the Toyota Diesels.
Fortuner has dated infotainment setups.

400K is a great budget to get a great quality low mileage 2015 for less than that(+-R350K).
Or about the 2016/2017 version with higher mileage but they have really efficient and powerful 2.8L GD6 diesel.

If you want the very best reliability of all Fortuner and Everest models, I would look at the Fortuner 4L V6. The fuel economy is very heavy but the engine is near bullet proof and powers Land Cruisers and Prados to 100's of thousands of km's.
The diesel models are also very reliable and provide better fuel economy for a big vehicle but they have a lot more expensive parts that need to be maintained later down the line like injectors, turbos, diesel pumps, timing belts, etc. But this is 250k km into its life usually.

If you are just travelling run of the mill sand/dirt roads then you can look at most other brands SUV options.
But if there are deepish ruts and mud, I would probably stick with Fortuner or Everest.

If I was spending the money, I would get a diesel Fortuner 4x4 version. You might not ever need 4x4 if its just sand roads, but if the "overlanding" bug bites, then you will have everything you need to experience it as far as possible.
 
I’d go with a 4x4 Hilux double cab and a nice canopy plus roof tent just in case you decide on camping
 
SauRoNZA said:
I consider less than a 100k to he basically brand new.

You can get plenty at 400k-ish with 80,000km odd on the clock and still in warranty.
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I can't consider it low mileage at that price. Perhaps if it was 100k less. Maybe it's been too long since I last bought a car and can't come to terms with the current prices.

I'm in the market myself for an SUV between 400-500k that's less than 3 years old with <50,000km.

It basically comes down to the Mazda CX-5 2.0i Individual or Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES. Both come with every bell and whistle as standard, great luggage space, decent ground clearance, premium sound systems (personal requirement - Bose in the Mazda and Harmon Kardon in the Subaru) and legendary Japanese reliability. The Scooby has 4WD with x-mode though which is a big swinger.

Can't bring myself to buy a Fortuner or Everest. They're basically just bakkies that are dressed like SUVs, but still drive and feel like bakkies. There are far more capable and premium products out there...
 
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Straight up; I drive a Fortuner. Basic model 2.4 ... No 4x4 or auto.

I cannot speak for an Everest. You will probably need to test drive both to decide. Think about cost of services and service intervals.

I love my car. The only regret is that I did not get the rear guard accessory that protects the bumper. I should have been a mandatory. Perhaps a luxury, but if you are going to do some town driving (like in Joburg), consider automatic. If I know now what I do, I would have gone auto.

10,000 kms service intervals are a bummer. But since Covid-19, my mileage about < 10,000 a year.

I get around 9.3 l/100 in town ... 7.5 on the open road.

Comfortable. Packs a decent load in the boot. I still have my 3rd row of seats fitted. I love the comfort, the electric socket in the boot for my cooler box when we go traveling or into the Kruger National Park. The ground clearance is awesome.

Services are mostly down in an hour.

I love my Fortuner. It's a 2017 and I see myself with this model for at least another 8-10 years.
 
I like the idea of a Forester or even an XV.
Fortuner is too much of a risk for me. Not sure about Everest.
Jimny is nice for 4x4 but for travelling 1000's of KM? No thanks.
 
Brawler said:
I like the idea of a Forester or even an XV.
Fortuner is too much of a risk for me. Not sure about Everest.
Jimny is nice for 4x4 but for travelling 1000's of KM? No thanks.
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XV is a really nice option with some great features too.
 
Driven both top range models, Everest much more than the Fortuner. The Everest is a nice place to be inside. Cool tech, info system, comfortable leather seats, very practical 7 seater. It feels like you driving a truck though and to me feels sluggish. The fortuner is far more agile, fun to drive but the auto gearbox I have heard that it has a mind of its own. Very high revs downhill. The 7 seat setup is not practical and takes up space when folding as compared to the Everest where is folds into the floor. Fortuner is hijack friendly but holds a better resale value than the Everest.
 
Rocket-Boy said:
So my wife has decided that due to Covid and international travel being out for a while, that we should really explore SA instead.
I like the idea and there are tons of little towns and random places we would like to see.
My 3 series isnt really going to cut it for cruising 100km+ dirt roads which are fairly common to some areas.

So I have been looking, Im not really interested in the smaller SUV's like the X-trail, CR-V, Kuga etc. Those all just seem like hatchbacks with a bit more ground clearance.

Enter the Fortuner and Everest, which are a lot more solid and have a lot more space.
So if you had a R400k budget and could choose between the two, what would you go for?
Is there anything else obvious that Im missing that I should consider?

Not really interested in a double cab, those things are horrible to live with on a daily basis.
Click to expand...
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