Toyota makes some of the best cars on the market in every segment, including cars and SUVs for off-roading. With that being said, like many other automakers, Toyota sells some vehicles exclusive to automotive markets outside of the U.S. Here’s a look at the Toyota Fortuner and how it’s an off-roading SUV comparable to the Toyota 4Runner.

A look at the Toyota Fortuner’s capabilities

According to CarAdvice, the Fortuner is a capable but relatively expensive SUV. It comes with a 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. This engine option is rated at only 201 hp, producing roughly 369 lb-ft of torque. However, while it is a powerful 4×4 SUV, it won’t be cheap. CarAdvice reports that the Fortuner starts at about AUD 49,000, which equals about USD 36,000. 

That price tag will pay for a powerful engine and great off-roading capability. CarAdvice reports that the Fortuner is “one of the best in the segment” for off-roading. The Fortuner has Toyota’s off-road traction control system and a standard locking rear differential.

Furthermore, the Fortuner has a few excellent creature comforts in the cabin and third-row seating. That third row isn’t huge, but it’ll be good enough for kids and smaller adults. Also, like other Toyotas, the Fortuner gets good safety ratings, such as a five-star ANCAP rating.

How does the Toyota 4Runner compare?

Off the bat, the similarly named 4Runner is a more expensive vehicle than the Fortuner. According to Car and Driver, the 2021 4Runner starts at about $37,500, a roughly $1,500 premium over the Fortuner. However, the 4Runner has a 4.0-liter V6 gas engine rather than getting a turbo-diesel. That V6 is rated at 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque, with more horsepower but less torque than the Fortuner offers.

When it comes to off-roading, both models are very comparable SUVs. Car and Driver wrote that the 4Runner has a locking rear differential and traction control as standard features. In tests, the 4Runner excels off-road, especially in its TRD trim, just like the Fortuner. So, while there may ultimately be some slight differences in their off-roading capabilities, both Toyota SUVs are very similar.

An area that they differ on, though, is on the inside. Both the 4Runner and the Fortuner are in the mid-size SUV segment. However, the Fortuner has third-row seating, but the 4Runner doesn’t. As a result, Fortuner owners can take more folks on an off-roading adventure than 4Runner owners can. Plus, due to the Fortuner’s impressive torque advantage, it can tow much more than the 4Runner can.

The Toyota Fortuner will probably not come to the U.S.

The Fortuner’s turbo-diesel will allow it to tow about 6,800 pounds compared to the 4Runner’s 5,000-pound towing capacity. However, that turbo-diesel engine is also why the Fortuner will probably never come to the U.S. As powerful as it is, that turbo-diesel engine wouldn’t meet the emissions standards set in the U.S. 

On top of that, Toyota already has the 4Runner in the segment. This would mean that, even if the Fortuner could be sold in the U.S., it would eat into the 4Runner sales. Due to those two factors, even though the Fortuner is a competent off-roading SUV that Americans may love, it’s just not going to come here.