Fortuner has been the uninterrupted
segment leader so far. But with Mahindra’s new mantra of giving more for less,
the Rexton might make Toyota work harder to keep that margin intact.
A few years ago, when the newer-generation
iPhones came to India, they became an instant hit. Mobile phone users went
crazy and bought iPhones left, right and center. Other manufacturers tried
their luck and came up with considerably cheaper alternatives. Only one such
rival, Samsung, has managed to snatch a piece of the ridiculously priced,
high-end smart phone pie.
The premium SUV segment in India has a
somewhat similar story, with Toyota’s Fortuner being the iPhone here. When it
launched in 2009, loyal Toyota customers sprinted to the nearest showroom and
got themselves this rugged, desirable SUV. Other carmakers gave it a shot, but
none mirrored Toyota’s success. Then, three years later, Mahindra bought
Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company and launched the Rexton in India.
Rexton
has the better ride here. Straight-line stability is good.
The initial reactions suggest the Rexton
has the potential to do what Samsung’s phone did to the iPhone. But can the Rex
actually take the fight to the established Japanese product? We find out in our
all-automatic SUV comparo, pitching the Rexton RX7 AWD AT against the Fortuner
4x2 AT.
The Rexton is not all-new – it’s an
evolution of an older Merc M-class – but in its latest avatar, the third-gen
Rexton is a new entry into India. With its recent makeover, the Rexton appears
more modern and ready for some action. Underneath, it remains the same. The
changes are more focused on improving styling. A new fascia and styling tweaks
at the rear have now extended its shelf life.
The Fortuner too has got a mid-life
makeover and an 4x2 automatic variant, both in early 2012. The facelift
included cosmetic changes inside and out, making the Fortuner even more
appealing.
On paper, the Rexton is longer and wider
than the Fortuner, but parked together, the Toyota stands out as the more
rugged. This has more to do with the Rexton’s facelift, which now makes it look
a bit softer.
Inside, the Rexton’s cabin takes us by
surprise. The black-and-beige dash has a mix of soft-touch and quality
plastics. The leather seats and the piano-black wood trim on the center console
and door pads further liven up the interior. In terms of features, the Rexton
comes loaded to the teeth. It’s got everything except a bar and refrigerator.
Strangely, the Rexton has no reverse camera, just sensors.
Rexton's
cabin looks refreshing and comes with loads of features
The Fortuner’s cabin is starkly different.
Despite Toyota refreshing the interior a year ago, the dash resembles the
Innova’s. In all-hard plastic form, the Fortuner leaves a lot to be desired.
And the feature list is nothing to boast about either.
The Fortuner’s cabin feels like a typical
SUV’s; you actually have to climb in. The Rexton’s cabin can be easily accessed
by your girlfriend, wife or ahem, someone wearing a saree, without the help of
an escort. The Fortuner’s front seats are supportive, but the Rexton’s feel a
bit more comfortable. The Fortuner’s middle seat has better comfort and
legroom. The less said about the last row, the better. The Rexton’s last row
can actually be used as punishment for errant kids, or annoying friends who
pile on to you for long drives. The Fortuner’s isn’t great either, but it’s not
as uncomfortable as the Rexton’s.
The
5-speed 'box is lethargic. Manual mode feels a lot better
Traction
control and hill descent switches useful in Rexton
‘In both SUVs, once you’re off throttle,
the motor starts idling and there’s no engine braking’
Both SUVs have big and powerful motors. The
Rexton gets a 5-cylinder 2.7-liter common-rail, turbo-diesel good for 184bhp
and 402Nm. While Ssangyong has further developed this Mercedes-sourced engine,
you don’t have to drive it much to see that its refinement levels are just
about decent. The RX7 variant comes mated to an old-school five-speed torque converter
’box powering all four wheels.
On the road, the gearbox doesn’t feel
particularly quick, but thanks to its permanent AWD system, the Rexton is
quicker off the line 0-100kph in 10.25 seconds. Pushed harder, the upshifts are
kind of acceptable, but downshifts take their own sweet time. You can actually
count to three before the ’box downshifts and lets you overtake. But once in
the groove, there’s enough grunt to take you past triple-digit speeds and
cruise at around 130kph all day long.
