WHAT IS IT?
GR-S is the key here. It stands for Gazoo Racing Sport, and this badge indicates that the Toyota in question has been given “cosmetic upgrades and/or dynamic handling improvements”. That’s from the horse’s mouth. So the Fortuner GR-S not only looks better but also has performance to match.
WHY THIS?
The Fortuner is one of South Africa’s most popular vehicles, which means you probably want one. Fair enough – it is an unbelievable combination of performance, capability, and reliability. But you also want to stand out from all the other Fortuners in the car park, so you want the one with the flash badge, more power, and better suspension. It’s an easy sell.
OUTSIDE
The current Fortuner is nearing the end of its lifecycle and will be replaced soon, so the GR-S has been well timed to spark a bit of extra interest. Thanks to the S in the name, you know what to expect – Toyota leaned into the sporty with GR badges, a beefier front bumper, gloss-black skid plate, and fog-lamp bezels. Anthracite 18-inch GR alloy wheels shod with all-terrain tyres, black lower grille, and a body-coloured “Fortuner” rear badge give it visual muscle. There’s also a pretend rear diffuser that looks good. The GR-S Fortuner is only available in two monochrome colours – Attitude Black and Platinum Pearl White.
INSIDE
Again, it’s the GR badges that make the difference. Slide inside and you’re greeted with leather-and-suede bucket seats trimmed in red stitching and embossed with the GR logo. A matching GR start button, steering-wheel insert, GR logo on the instrument cluster, and even a special key fob underscore the sporty vibe.
All the usual suspects are here in terms of kit for convenience and comfort, but there is one button that I feel needs to be spoken about. Below the handbrake handle is something that harks to 20 years ago – a gear-lock button and keyhole. Yes, the Prospecton factory has fitted South African Fortuners with a gear-lock because of the theft risk. It’s a neatly done bit of analogue security, but it does raise a question mark over things like risk and insurance cover.
THE DRIVE
You still get Toyota’s dependable 2.8-litre four-cylinder GD-6 turbodiesel, but now with a bump: 165kW of power and 550Nm of torque. The drivetrain is 4x4 with a six-speed auto box, and it all performs admirably.
A more noticeable improvement is the suspension, which gets monotube shock absorbers to firm things up. This means more road-holding finesse as well as excellent ride quality on all surfaces. Bravo, Toyota engineers.
FINAL WORD
The Fortuner is a brilliant all-rounder, as is evident by the numbers sold and the prevalence on our roads. The GR-S does up the ante in terms of desirability and performance, and this perhaps justifies the price. My concern revolves around that little gear-lock button and what it implies. That’s my only concern, but it isn’t one I’d easily overlook.
GO GET IT
The Toyota Fortuner 2.8 GD-6 4x4 GR Sport is competitively priced at R999 000. It also comes standard with nine-service/90 000km service plan and a three-year/100 000km warranty. Visit www.toyota.co.za for more info.
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