Fortuner, Everest or ...?

[Mortymoose]

My 3.0 Lt Fortuner is now 7 years old and 150 000km on the clock! She has served me well and I am two years late to buy my next vehicle, why? I just love this car, but for camping, which I did again this past weekend...




..... But I regret not getting a 4 x 4 version and the biggest problem I had with the car is SPACE, there is not enough space, especially for camping....... max as a squash two adults and a kid. This past weekend I squashed four teens into the vehicle and then added a trailer (first time doing this offroad) and It was still not enough...

Needless to say I got stuck in parts that I usually manage going at speed and tyres 1.6 ...



Stuck without a signal I noticed fresh tracks had been on the road before me and it was not long before a friend of mine from conservation arrived, she had been setting up camera traps for the leopards down at the camp site...... we chatted, assistance rendered and I was on my way to my Winter Camp spot.....

The English HO have been looking debating a bakkie or Fortuner 4 x 4 for the past two years..... we both like the "Window" space on the Fortuner, but in all honesty, with the camping crowd I hang out with, well The Bakkie (Toyota) reigns supreme with all of them kitted out with long range tanks, water tanks, winches and stainless steel canopy..... The other thing we will most definitely be doing is buying 2nd hand, buying a brand new car to bundu bash ain't cool....

 

[BadBoyGP]

Pathfinder not a bad choice as well.

 

[3WA]

the biggest problem I had with the car is SPACE, there is not enough space, especially for camping

Guys like you, filling a Fortuner!

I'm a backpacker who drives a Jimny. When SO and I car camp, we put everything we need into two backpacks (including tent and sleeping bags). That leaves space in the Jimny for three or four cases of beer.

 

[Sinbad]

I had two colleagues with Foresters at my previous company, they both enjoyed them but moaned like heck about the fuel costs.
The one guy had endless issues with his, which is weird because Subaru has always been known for reliability.

My first tank
Mainly freeway to be fair.

I have dual zone climate control, reverse camera, huge sunroof, Bluetooth audio (missed android auto by 1 year), satnav, auto lights and wipers, USB and aux sockets. Not sure what other bells and whistles you'd need...

 

[Surv0]

Fortuner!!! That said, all the advice about a Subaru isnt off the mark. I have a 2016 XT Forester and it is absolutely amazing to drive, especially offroad.

In fact I prefer driving it offroad to my v8 4x4 truck Equal fuel usage hahaha

That said, the fortuner is really good, spacious, powerful and its a toyota build to go offroad. But at 400k budget, you need a used option. I recommend taking one for a test drive.

And as a fairly large person (tall), the Ford is going to be inadequate. I've tried them all, including the latest explorers and well definitely not the right size for somebody 6ft 4 and up. Everest is the same.

There is a reason why people here in North America dont really use Fords as overlanding vehicles... go figure...

 

[Surv0]

My first tank
Mainly freeway to be fair.

I have dual zone climate control, reverse camera, huge sunroof, Bluetooth audio (missed android auto by 1 year), satnav, auto lights and wipers, USB and aux sockets. Not sure what other bells and whistles you'd need...

You can buy replacement head units which are totally Android Auto based.. can even run some games... Im busy looking into it as my current one seems outdated and the Android Auto is OK, not great.

 

[Mortymoose]

Guys like you, filling a Fortuner!

I'm a backpacker who drives a Jimny. When SO and I car camp, we put everything we need into two backpacks (including tent and sleeping bags). That leaves space in the Jimny for three or four cases of beer.

You are one of those yuppy campers! We camp in style up here North of the Frontier, Fold Out Table, Two cases of beer, two large coolboxes with meat, One coolbox with Cooldrinks/water , I large trommel with all dry stuff, five camping matrasses , two tents (2 man and 5 man) , one canvas Gazebo, five camping chairs, 8 large bags of wood,1 braaigrid, 20 lt water, 1 large Skottel coz real campers eat bacon, eggs, wors, onions for breakfast not cereal bars....... That filled up me car and the trailer....

Ironically is was a modified Suzuki jeep running on a Nissan pannetjie engine that pulled my trailer back through the desert sands on Sunday....

 

[Rocket-Boy]

I’d go with a 4x4 Hilux double cab and a nice canopy plus roof tent just in case you decide on camping

I was mad keen on a double cab a few years ago, right up until I had a brand new Hilux double cab as a rental car in Namibia...
I drove 1800km in that car and hated almost every second of it, barring the 150m of loose sand I drove over - that was a blast
The last leg of the trip I asked a colleague to swap cars, he had a Corolla and has a Hilux as his daily driver. That Corolla was like sitting in a Rolls by comparison!
So yeah you can live with them and get used to long distances in a bakkie, but I'm honestly just used to more comfort than that.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

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.

Awesome info, thanks for writing it all up.
Auto is a non-negotiable for me really, its also the main reason Im not considering the previous Fortuner which only had 4 speed auto.
Service costs are something I have thought about, but not a lot really. I'm in a permanent work from home position so I hardly get close to 10k km in a year.
Your fuel economy is better than my 3 series! I had also looked at the 2.7 and 4.0 petrol Fortuners, but then I remembered that fuel is expensive and I dont hate myself.
In one of the Aussie reviews they mentioned that the 2.4 doesnt have the infotainment system, apparently it was only standard from the 2.8, does yours have it?

 

[3WA]

1 large Skottel coz real campers eat bacon, eggs, wors, onions for breakfast

Hey! If you need a skottel, it means you let the fire die!

 

[Creag]

Awesome info, thanks for writing it all up.
Auto is a non-negotiable for me really, its also the main reason Im not considering the previous Fortuner which only had 4 speed auto.
Service costs are something I have thought about, but not a lot really. I'm in a permanent work from home position so I hardly get close to 10k km in a year.
Your fuel economy is better than my 3 series! I had also looked at the 2.7 and 4.0 petrol Fortuners, but then I remembered that fuel is expensive and I dont hate myself.
In one of the Aussie reviews they mentioned that the 2.4 doesnt have the infotainment system, apparently it was only standard from the 2.8, does yours have it?

The standard model probably did not come with it. I fitted a rear view camera when I got my model. They fitted it with an infotainement type console in the cabin. It provides a video of rear when reversing, came with a satnav (which I never use) and a DVD player. Quite snazzy and was around 10k when I got mine in 2017.

I don't use their satnav because I prefer Waze. I have a cradle mounted to the windscreen where I dock my phone for this.

I love my Fortuner. I was interested in the Everest at the time. Never did a test-drive at the time. I sat in the Fortuner and did not think twice

 

[Nod]

 

[Nod]

 

[Craig_]

You are one of those yuppy campers! We camp in style up here North of the Frontier, Fold Out Table, Two cases of beer, two large coolboxes with meat, One coolbox with Cooldrinks/water , I large trommel with all dry stuff, five camping matrasses , two tents (2 man and 5 man) , one canvas Gazebo, five camping chairs, 8 large bags of wood,1 braaigrid, 20 lt water, 1 large Skottel coz real campers eat bacon, eggs, wors, onions for breakfast not cereal bars....... That filled up me car and the trailer....

Ironically is was a modified Suzuki jeep running on a Nissan pannetjie engine that pulled my trailer back through the desert sands on Sunday....

Fck me, you are almost packing your whole house when you camp. I camp lean, everything into the back of a passat. Have to play tetris to get it to work though.

 

[Mortymoose]

Fck me, you are aomost packing your whole house whme6you camp. I camp lean, everything into the back of a passat. Have to play tetris to get it to work though.

I left the missus at home, that saved space.....

 

[ebendl]

The standard model probably did not come with it. I fitted a rear view camera when I got my model. They fitted it with an infotainement type console in the cabin. It provides a video of rear when reversing, came with a satnav (which I never use) and a DVD player. Quite snazzy and was around 10k when I got mine in 2017.

I don't use their satnav because I prefer Waze. I have a cradle mounted to the windscreen where I dock my phone for this.

I love my Fortuner. I was interested in the Everest at the time. Never did a test-drive at the time. I sat in the Fortuner and did not think twice

The 2018 and older 2.4 Fortuner had a super basic infotainment system. Didn't even have a reverse cam or a park distance (might have been optional).

I test drove one and was a bit disgusted how basic it was. I'm not that concerned that the car needs every gimmick and gadget but considering it is a big car and 2018, I expected more.

At the end of 2018 Toyota upgraded both the 2.4 and 2.8 and added car play & android Auto and the 2.4 got a reverse cam (Hope I have this correct).

That being said, I now have a chance for a well-priced 2nd hand Amarok 2.0 BiTDI double cab, from somebody I know, so I might let the SUV dreams go (for now).

 

[Quantum Theory]

I was mad keen on a double cab a few years ago, right up until I had a brand new Hilux double cab as a rental car in Namibia...
I drove 1800km in that car and hated almost every second of it, barring the 150m of loose sand I drove over - that was a blast
The last leg of the trip I asked a colleague to swap cars, he had a Corolla and has a Hilux as his daily driver. That Corolla was like sitting in a Rolls by comparison!
So yeah you can live with them and get used to long distances in a bakkie, but I'm honestly just used to more comfort than that.

You know the Fortuner and Everest are built on the same platform (ladder frame chassis) as the Hilux and Ranger?

I stand by the Forester recommendation then. It will feel more like your car, compared to the Fortuner feeling like that bakkie in Namibia. The boot is a bit smaller and you don't get 7 seats, but still...

Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES for sale in Randburg - ID: 25972443

Used 2019 Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES For Sale - R 434 800 - ID: 25972443

www.autotrader.co.za

Thank me later

 

[CPTBoy]

Subaru Outback?

 

[Crowley]

Do you drive like a ****?

If "yes", then get the Fortuner. If "No", get the Ford.

 

[TheChamp]

You know the Fortuner and Everest are built on the same platform (ladder frame chassis) as the Hilux and Ranger?

I stand by the Forester recommendation then. It will feel more like your car, compared to the Fortuner feeling like that bakkie in Namibia. The boot is a bit smaller and you don't get 7 seats, but still...

Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES for sale in Randburg - ID: 25972443

Used 2019 Subaru Forester 2.0i-S ES For Sale - R 434 800 - ID: 25972443

www.autotrader.co.za

Thank me later

The suspension is way different though, especially on the Everest.