New Toyota Fortuner to be revealed in December, SA launch expected 2027
Toyota will unveil the updated Fortuner in Thailand on 1 December, with local sales expected around Easter 2027 and assembly continuing in Durban.
Toyota’s next Fortuner is close to its public debut. The ladder-frame SUV will be shown to the world on 1 December in Thailand, according to The Citizen, and it is expected to reach South African showrooms around Easter 2027.
The Citizen Motoring’s Pitstop podcast discussed the new seven-seater this week, along with the changes it is likely to bring.
What is expected to change
Unlike the Land Cruiser 300 and the Prado, the new Fortuner will not use the TNGA-F platform. It stays on the IMV 0 platform, which is also under the new Hilux.
Spy photos published by Indonesia’s autonetmagz.com suggest the basic shape will stay largely the same. The update looks like a major facelift, comparable to the "extensive enhancements" given to the Hilux. Visible changes include:
- a flatter grille;
- restyled headlight clusters;
- new bumpers and alloy wheels;
- rear lights taken from the outgoing Prado and the Lexus GX.
Inside, the cabin appears very close to the Hilux’s, which borrowed much of its design from the Prado. The steering wheel, dashboard and centre console look the same, and the climate control keeps physical buttons. A Multi-Terrain Select system is included, along with two 12.3-inch displays.
The report also expects a surround-view camera, heated and ventilated electric front seats, and a new or updated set of safety and driver-assistance features.
Under the bonnet, the 2.8 GD-6 turbodiesel is expected to carry over, with or without a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
Built in Durban again
The vehicle unveiled in December will be produced in Thailand, its main market. South Africa’s version will again be assembled at Toyota’s Prospecton plant near Durban, where the Hilux is also built.
What this means for South Africans
Local assembly means the Fortuner stays tied to the Durban plant, alongside the Hilux. Buyers who want one should note the expected timing of around Easter 2027. Pricing and specifications for South Africa have not been confirmed in the report, so those details will only be known closer to the local launch.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
