Toyota Fortuner Legender: Toyota’s better late than never answer to demands for more premium, unique looking variants in their already existing models From the L audience to the higher capacity In new ones…..Toyota could pass as the Corporate Denial Company.
Serving as Toyota’s Fortuner SUV range-topper, the Legender brings improved exterior styling, feature updates and an updated cabin, all without compromising the tough-as-nails mechanicals that have given the Fortuner its reputation for toughness and dependability.
Toyota Fortuner Legender: Design Development:
Instantly, the Legender separates itself with a completely reimagined front end with a decidedly more menacing, angular bumper design complete with integrated LED fog lamps, edgier grille treatment and a more upscale, modern headlamp execution.
The split type LED head lamps with sequential LED turn indicators provide a unique light signature, with the lower air dam featuring a sharper, more modern design than the standard Fortuner.
From the side, the Legender retains the Fortuner’s basic shape but gets its own set of alloys in 18- or 20-inch flavours depending on market.
The two-tone exterior, including an available black contrast-color roof, color-keyed with the A-pillars, makes the Soul appear especially bold on the road, and floats the roof to create a cabin with a playful vibe from the outside.
Its rear features restyled LED tail lamps with light guides that assure a distinctive after-dark presence, as well as the subtle Legender badging and an updated bumper to clearly set it apart from the regular Fortuner line-up.
This cohesive design strategy does make for a richer impression but without losing the ruggedness characteristic of the model.
Interior Refinement
Internally, the Legender brings up the cabin experience of the Fortuner by a few notches, thanks to various material and feature upgrades.
Although, the dash remains architecturally similar but inserts better quality materials and improved is fit and finish.
Again it adds a refined ambiance to the interior, with distinctive seams and, depending on the market, two-colour leather scenarios for the seating surfaces and trim.
Analog gauges are unified with a larger color multi-information display in the instrument cluster that offers a full range of vehicle information, while the center console gets a new infotainment system and larger screen and more convenient tech such as wireless smartphone integration.
Ambient lighting cues also boost the premium ambience when the sun sets, while discreet Legender badging on door sills and in the seat embossing further underline its special status.
Powertrain Options
Aurts reportingThe Legender, usually though not always matching most of the high-spec Fortuner grades above it, is based on Toyotas well-sorted 2.8-litre turbodiesel motor – something of a good mix of performance and claimed thirst.
This four-cylinder engine produces some 204 horsepower and an impressive 500 Nm — a lot of muscle for confident acceleration and strong towing.
Although it still needs to be confirmed with JDN or a brochure, possibly, a six-speed auto is also part of the press release but it’s still possible the manual is still available in certain markets in certain applications.
In most cases, the four-wheel drives in the line-up can be used in 4×2 mode which means the Fortuner can be used as a separate-cruiser that offers cardholders the ability to go off road.
Chassis and Capability
But even though it’s a pricier package, the Legender keeps the Fortuner’s off-road cred, its ladder frame construction and full-on 4WD produces the real versatility beyond the pavement.
Ground clearance is still good at about 225mm and approach and departure angles are more than a match for difficult terrain when it must.
The suspension setup – front double wishbones, rear four-links with a coil spring at each corner – has been recalibrated in an effort to better balance the needs of the road and off-road, but its design is largely the same as that of the standard Fortuner.
Through this engineering approach even the Legender retains the integrity and the toughness that the model has been known for around all global markets.
Feature Integration
The Legender will build on Toyota’s premium image with optimum feature inculcation, key among those being ‘advanced driver assistance systems’ like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and pre-collision safety in a few options.
Driver assistance functions range from power tailgate with hands-free function to wireless charging pad, from ventilated seats to new ambient lighting systems.
The sound system is also improved to reflect the premium positioning, including more premium speakers and even branded audio partnerships by market.
Together these additional features add to the ownership experience, yet still maintain the great versatility for which the Fortuner has become so popular.
Market Position
The Fortuner Legender is a key piece of the jigsaw in Toyota’s worldwide portfolio, servicing a requirement for more upmarket looking SUVs without customers having to shell out close to double for a Land Cruiser.
This is a position that recognises the increasing savvy of mid-size SUV buyers in markets in developing countries where Fortuner has done so well.
Toyota Fortuner Legender
The Toyota Fortuner Legender does a good job of sprucing up an already proven formula by adding thoughtful touches to the appearance as well as some feature additions to the already competent Fortuner package, all while retaining the core competence and robustness it is known for.
By combining the Toyota Fortuner’s established credentials with a more stylish and versatile product offering, Toyota has ensured there is a Toyota Fortuner to suit the needs and desires of the most discerning South African drivers.