Top 3 Alternatives of Toyota Fortuner

The Toyota Fortuner is an established name in the Philippines car market. Very little comes close to approaching what Fortuner offers for its albeit slightly steep price. In recent times, the status and the equipment levels it affords even for the base model means that it has taken the status of a luxury vehicle for the middle class. However, the SUV market is now inundated with similar offerings from other manufacturers, often overshadowing the Toyota. Here are the top three alternatives for the Toyota Fortuner in the Philippines car market.

1) Mitsubishi Montero Sport

The Mitsubishi Montero Sport is one of the few cars here that can give the Fortuner a run for its money in every single department. It has refined its legendary Mitsubishi off-road capability with every new edition and has maintained a strong front in the face of the Fortuner. It also manages to give the Fortuner some stiff competition in the equipment department making it very good value for money. They have very similar driving characteristics too probably because of the similar way that they are constructed. The differences between the cars come out in how they treat the third row of passengers and the fact that the Toyota has a slightly higher torque figure and a better transmission. The Toyota though suffers in comparison to the Montero Sport as its entertainment options and some usability characteristics seem dated. The Montero Sport also turns out to be more comfortable and overall more at ease on tarmac than the Fortuner, where it is going to spend most of its life, despite what its underpinnings might suggest. But these are niggles that we learn to expect from long-standing rivalries. Sooner rather than later, these brands will iron them out and make choosing between them even more difficult.    

2) Isuzu  mu-X

The Isuzu mu-X is kind of a black sheep when compared to the Fortuner. However, in the Philippines, it is a black sheep with its own cult following. Go to any online discussion about SUVs and you will find people who swear by the exceptional value that they get from their Isuzu. For these people, the refinement and modern equipment that one associates with the Fortuner is not a big concern in comparison to the durability and practicality that comes with the Isuzu. The Isuzu is based on the Chevrolet Trailblazer and has pretty much the same issues as the Chevy while also being heavier. It pales in comparison to the Fortuner in terms of materials and refinement. It also has slightly dated interiors, a smaller cargo space and lacks many of the safety features of the Fortuner. However, an Isuzu driver would think of these features as more things that can go wrong in the car. An Isuzu driver will instead tell you about the relaxed drive, the off road performance and the astonishing mileage that their car affords. They will also tell you how their huge SUV is so much cheaper to buy and run then the Toyota.

3) Ford Everest

If the Isuzu takes a value based approach to the family SUV market, the Ford brings the fight right at Toyota’s doorstep. With the Everest, Ford has thrown a massive gauntlet at the feet of the Toyota and is very quickly becoming a crowd favorite. The differences are easy to spot. The Ford is altogether a better looking vehicle. Some might even call it gorgeous, no small praise for a gigantic SUV. It is also decidedly more modern than the Fortuner, both in the exterior, the interior and under the bonnet. Despite the fact that it started life as a front wheel drive Ford Ranger, it now comes with AWD with many driving modes, making it very capable off-road. It is however, more geared towards living in an urban environment than in the wilderness. The interiors are utilitarian and built to a price but they just seem to be that much more thought out and have a better feel than the Fortuner. Its steering is light and much easier than that of a conventional SUV thanks to numerous driver aids and because the car is lighter. On the features front, it certainly overshadows the Fortuner without a doubt. In addition, the price at which it is available further makes it a value for money option over the Fortuner.