Toyota Fortuner Launched With Mild-hybrid Tech In South Africa

• Toyota Fortuner with mild-hybrid diesel engine launched in South Africa.

• The 48 V mild-hybrid system is paired to the same 204 PS 2.8-litre diesel engine sold in India.

• India-spec Fortuner is offered with 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT, unlike the South African model which is paired with an automatic transmission only.

• We expect Toyota to introduce this mild-hybrid in India a few years later.

Toyota has launched its full-size SUV, the Fortuner, with a mild-hybrid powertrain for the South African market. Last November, Toyota introduced the Hilux for the European market with a similar mild-hybrid system paired with the same 2.8-litre diesel engine shared between the two models. Initially debuted in South Africa, the mild-hybrid Fortuner may be introduced in India at a later stage. Let’s delve into the changes.

The South African Fortuner is equipped with a 48V mild-hybrid system, which Toyota claims enhances power delivery and improves fuel efficiency. Toyota also claims that the mild hybrid technology contributes up to an additional 16 PS and 65 Nm to the 2.8-litre diesel engine, resulting in a combined output of 204 PS and 500 Nm. It is only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. According to Toyota, the mild-hybrid technology improves fuel efficiency by up to 5 percent compared to conventional non-hybrid diesel powertrains.

In addition to mild-hybrid technology, the South African Fortuner also includes a 360-degree camera and ADAS features like lane departure alert and blind spot monitoring system. It gets features such as 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, a 11-speaker JBL sound system, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

While Toyota has not yet disclosed any plans to introduce the mild hybrid system in India, we expect that they will introduce it in the near future. Currently, the Fortuner is priced between Rs 33.43 lakh and Rs 42.32 lakh (ex-showroom) in India, rivaling the MG Gloster.