Spec Comparo: Toyota Fortuner Vs Ford Endeavour Vs Chevrolet Trailblazer Vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

The new Toyota Fortuner was launched in India yesterday. Despite its size and the segment it will cater to, it was one of the most anticipated cars of 2016, for loyalists and the automotive industry alike. Its predecessor just annihilated all its competitors and was quite simply the undisputed king of its segment. While Toyota hopes that the new-gen Fortuner runs a similar riot, current offerings from Ford, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet aren’t quite easy to beat. To make matters easy for everyone, we’ve put the diesel-powered variants of all the contenders against each other because none, apart from the new Fortuner, feature a petrol mill under the hood.

Dimensions:

The Toyota Fortuner sits comfortably in the mix of its rivals. While it isn’t as long, wide or tall as either of the Americans, it does knock out its Japanese counterpart from Mitsubishi. The new-gen Fortuner has the shortest wheelbase. However, if opted for one of the 2WD variants, it gets the same wheel-size as the Pajero Sport. The worrisome figure here is the ground clearance which is one, in no way as good as its competitors, and two, is considerably less than its predecessor. Less ground clearance does pay dividend in getting the centre of gravity closer to the ground, which helps in a more controlled handling setup. But the whole point of a SUV is the ability to tackle rougher grounds, which goes for a toss without good ground clearance figures. Granted that people seldom take their beloved cars or SUVs to tar-less terrains, but roads in our country hardly pass for a ‘smooth surface’ tag.

Engine And Transmission:

With the exception of the Ford Endeavour, all the SUVs are available with just one engine option across their respective list of variants. The revived Fortuner has a similar engine capacity to that of the Trailblazer but in terms of outright power, it falls way short to the Chevy and the 3.2-litre Ford. The Toyota does, however, manage to pip the Mitsubishi and the Ford, with the 2.2-litre engine, in terms of torque. This will help the Fortuner get off the line quicker than the other two. On the transmissions front, apart from the Chevrolet Trailblazer, all the SUVs are available with either a manual or an automatic gearbox. Also, the Trailblazer is the only car in contention that does not feature a four-wheel-drive system. Notably, the new Fortuner has the most frugal diesel engine amongst its competitors, clocking a mileage of 14.24 km/l.

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Features And Comfort:

For the segment that they are designed to cater, all these cars check the basic list of features such as airbags, ABS with EBD, projector headlamps, alloy wheels, large touchscreen multi-function displays with Bluetooth connectivity and automatic climate control. In the end, it all boils down to what one can or can’t do without. Some of the stand-out features on the outside of the second-gen Fortuner are auto headlamp leveling, bi-beam LED projector headlamps, push start/stop, dusk sensing headlamps and LED daytime running lights. The cabin features electrically adjustable driver’s seat, seven airbags, sequential shift and paddle shifters for automatic gearbox, cruise control, touch-screen infotainment display paired with six speakers and a powered tailgate which can be programmed to open up to a certain angle for shorter passengers.

The Fortuner’s biggest rival is the Endeavour, which is equally loaded with gadgetry, both on the inside and outside. Its feature list includes keyless entry, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, large TFT screen coupled with a 10-speaker sound system, chrome door-handles and ORVMs, LED taillights, LED daytime running lights, seven airbags, four power outlets, auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror, rain sensing wipers and dual zone climate control.

The other American car here has only one trim on offer in India. Thankfully it is the fully loaded LTZ variant which is also packed with features like 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display which is paired to a 6-speaker sound system, projection front fog lamps, LED taillights, dual tone metallic roof rails, 6-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat (both the Ford and Toyota have an 8-way setup), programmable ‘follow me’ headlamps and cruise control.

Lastly, the Mitsubishi, which is the oldest car here and with the least amount of gadgetry on offer, is in a dire need for an extensive overhaul. Its feature list includes a MID (Multi-Information Display) screen, 6-speaker sound system, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, paddle shifters for automatic transmission, dual automatic air conditioning and keyless entry.

Price And Warranty:

There is no doubt that Toyota has priced the second-gen Fortuner competitively to try and regain all its lost market share, especially from the Ford. Even the standard warranty period works in its favour. However, the Fortuner fails to undercut the pricing of all the models of the 2.2-litre Endeavour, which alone can make a lot of difference in the SUV segment. On the other hand, the Chevrolet Trailblazer makes a strong case for itself, considering it is the most powerful SUV out of the lot and is priced just above the entry-level models of the Endeavour. The Pajero Sport is priced quite high despite falling behind its competitors in terms of features.

With the exception of the Ford, all SUVs get the same 3 years/1,00,000Km warranty period. This is where the Toyota has its history to back itself up with. Toyota cars in India have been legendarily reliable as we haven’t heard any horror story on customer dissatisfaction. If it is unimpeachable reliability you are after, the Fortuner stands out as the obvious choice. If that is too tedious for you, it won’t take long to figure which is the best value for money proposition.