No such issues in the Fortuner. It feels
quicker the moment you set off. Its 4-cylinder 3.0-liter common-rail,
turbo-diesel develops 168bhp and 343Nm, available from as low as 1400rpm. This
makes driving in stop-go traffic much easier – there’s enough grunt from the
word go. Another key factor behind this better drive-ability is its 4-speed
auto ’box. Powering only the rear wheels, the Toyota’s transmission is easily
the quicker of the two, which shows in its responses to part-throttle inputs.
Fortuner
has a stiff ride. Performance and handling are better though
But don’t be fooled by the Rexton’s
lethargic gearbox. Once in the right power band, its engine works really well
and before you know it, it’ll swiftly move ahead of the Fortuner before hitting
a top speed of 194kph, compared to the Toyota’s 174kph. On fuel efficiency, the
Fortuner has a slight advantage, returning 7.3kpl (city) and 10kpl (highway).
The Rexton returned 6.5kpl (city) and 9kpl (highway).
What’s common to both SUVs is that once
you’re off the throttle, the engine starts idling and robs you of any sort of
engine braking. In the Rexton, you can counter this by driving in manual mode.
In the Fortuner, even manual mode isn’t much help.
‘In India, most SUVs and up as daily rides,
and for that job, the Rexton is more likely to please’
Because of this nature, driving the Rexton
in the city could be a bit annoying as it’ll take a while before the engine
gets back into the revs and responds to your right foot. The Rex compensates
with its ultra-light steering wheel, which is a boon in the city but lacks any
sort of feedback. No such complaints on the Fortuner, which responds quickly to
throttle input.
Fortuner's
cabin looks basic and uninspiring. Lacks features
It’s only out on the highway that you
realize the Rexton’s suspension leans more toward ride quality than handling.
Low-speed ride is good and absorbs most road irregularities. But push the
Rexton going into a corner and you find massive body roll at higher speeds, and
that light steering only makes matters worse. The steering weighs up as speeds
rise, but it doesn’t have the feedback or the consistency of the Fortuner’s
steering system.
Fortuner's
4-speed 'box is responsive and feels better in city limits
The Toyota in contrast has a stiffer
suspension setup and low-speed ride is a bit firm. You do feel the bumps on
broken surfaces but not so much as speeds rise, and the pitching is not as
heavy as the Rexton’s.
When it comes to scrubbing off speed, the
Rexton’s brakes don’t offer much with the first few mm of brake pedal travel.
The real braking kicks in only when you press the pedal further. The Fortuner’s
brakes bite as soon as you hit the pedal and it feels much more reassuring.
The Rexton RX7 AT AWD retails at $46,627.
It gets safety features like ESP, ABS, traction control, hill descent, engine
immobilizer and dual front and side airbags, apart from the long list of
creature comforts. The Fortuner 4x2 AT, which has a smaller feature list, is at
$51,525, and gets ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control, dual airbags, and
engine immobilizer.
In India, the overwhelming majority of SUVs
end up as daily rides, and for that job, the Rexton, with its refreshing cabin,
long equipment list and comfortable ride, is more likely to make buyers happy.
Also an advantage is the AWD, which can come in handy in rough conditions. And
with the Fortuner AT available only as 4x2, taking it off the road will be like
digging a hole for yourself with the rear wheels. Literally.
The Rexton is $4,898 cheaper than the
Fortuner, plus it comes with loads of features. Sure, the Fortuner is
tried-and-tested and has Toyota’s tank-like build quality, but is it worth an
extra Tata Nano worth of cash?
This is a pretty close fight. On the road,
where these SUVs will be driven mostly, the Rexton will keep you happy with a
comfortable ride plus the bells and whistles. The Fortuner plays its ‘better
performance and handling’ trump card well but that stiff ride, lack of features
and unexciting cabin mean victory for the better value for money Rexton.
At the time of going to press, Toyota
announced that a new 5-speed auto ‘box will replace the Fortuner’s 4-speed
unit. While that changes the performance figures a bit, it doesn’t alter the
result by much because the new ‘box pushes the Fortuner further up the price
bracket.
Specifications
Ssangyong Rexton RX7 AT
§
Engine: 2696cc, 5-in-line, common-rail,
turbo-diesel
§
Power: 184bhp
§
Torque: 402Nm
§
Transmission: 5A
§
0-100kph: 10.25secs
§
Top speed: 194kph
§
Weight: 1986kg
§
Fuel efficiency: 7.75kpl
§
Fuel capacity: 78 liters
§
Price: $46,627
§
Verdict: 6/10
§
Pros: equipment, comfortable ride, cabin
§
Cons: lethargic gearbox, useless third row,
handling
§
Bottom line: the Rexton comes across as a
comfortable SUV with loads of creature comforts and safety features. Cheaper
too.
Toyota Fortuner 4x2 AT
§ Engine:
2696cc, 5-in-line, common-rail, turbo-diesel
§ Power:
184bhp
§ Torque:
402Nm
§ Transmission:
5A
§ 0-100kph:
10.25secs
§ Top
speed: 194kph
§ Weight:
1986kg
§ Fuel
efficiency: 7.75kpl
§ Fuel
capacity: 78liters
§ Price:
$51,525
§ Verdict:
6/10
§ Pros:
performance, handling, rugged SUV looks
§ Cons:
lacks features, expensive, stiff ride, third row only for kids
§ Bottomline:
responsive engine and gearbox, but it’s expensive and lacks features.
|
