Toyota Fortuner Legender: The Toyota Fortuner has always been unfazed by whatever road or off-road you throw at it.
The new Legender version takes this formula up a notch, bringing urban cool to Toyota’s tough-guy SUV without skimping on the qualities that turned the name into a status symbol from one end of the subcontinent to the other.
Toyota Fortuner Legender: Distinctive Design Evolution
The premium nature of the Legender is communicated through a heavily updated front fascia.
There’s no more boxy Fortuner-style grille upfront, instead it’s a slimmer split version with sharper LED headlamps and sequential turn indicators to either side.
More aggressive yet sophisticated, the bumper incorporates larger air intakes and a more prominent silver skid plate.
From the side the Legender carries over the Fortuner’s meaty dimensions, but it adds modern cues such as the unique two-tone paint treatment, machine-finished alloy wheels and the gloss-black that replaces much of the regular model’s chrome work.
The new design adds LED taillights back there, which are linked by a gloss-black garnish, helping give the car an even wider look.
Elevated Interior Experience
In the cabin, the Legender similarly doesn’t revolutionise the Fortuner’s design, but rather supplements it with some considered upgrades.
In the dash it’s better materials and a few nice soft touches, and cool nigthime lighting.
The perforated leather seats have contrast stitching and provide more support when hustling through corners but are also very comfortable for long drives.
Technology updates consist of a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with crisper graphics and smartphone compatibility plus a 360-degree camera system and a potent JBL audio system.
The instrument cluster for the driver is semi digital and provides customizable displays, to bring a hint of contemporary to the drive experience.
Uncompromising Performance
Toyota Fortuner Legender: Beneath the bonnet the Legender packs Toyota’s smooth 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine, boasting 204 hp and 500 Nm, which translates to the vehicle’s ability to command power without hesitation on any terrain.
The power is fed through a six-speed automatic, which has good driving manners and emphasizes smoothness over sportiness.
Four-wheel-drive models gain Toyota’s terrain management system, which can switch between modes for different surfaces, and comes with electronic differential locking and hill descent control.
These functions are more than what most owners will use, but are an important part of the Fortuner’s don’t-worry-I’m-prepared-for-anything image.
Safety and Technology
Toyota Safety Sense comes along for the ride in the Legender – a collection of active safety gadgets such as pre-collision warning, lane departure alert and adaptive cruise control.
These are premium features and are not commonly found in this segment.”
further stating that “This reflects Toyota’s continued commitment to offer advanced safety to a segment which has traditionally had to settle with rugged performance with no compromise on comfort and safety.”
Wireless charging, updated connectivity options and better voice recognition move the van closer to current day expectations, even if the infotainment interface is more about being sensible than state of the art.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Different styling sets it apart from regular Fortuner
Notorious Toyota reliability and awesome resale value
Real off-road almost unheard of among modern SUVs
Torquey diesel engine is seriously strong
Advanced driver-safety technology package
Even more commanding on the road, with greater refinement
One of the widest service network in India
Cons:
Premium pricing against European luxury competition
Firm ride, firmer than that of monocoque-based competitors
Third-row bench seating for children.
Newer, lighter alternatives are more fuel efficient
A few lower-quality interior materials compared to price point
The Handling gives away its truck underpinnings
Well executed infotainment system has no peers for intuitiveness
Toyota Fortuner Legender: Market Significance
We took it out to see if its all worth it in the end. Fortuner Legender: Design and features The Fortuner Legender has carved a niche for itself in the Indian automotive scene with a price ranging between ₹38-50 lakhs (ex-showroom).
It carries a premium that flirts with luxury-badged rivals but continues to win over buyers who place importance on Toyota’s reliability record over European cachet.
And that’s where the Legender triumphs: It’s a more sophisticated take on the Fortuner recipe, but without sacrificing what made the original such a cult hit.
Yet it also recognizes the changing tastes of consumers, while retaining a clarity and authenticity that is sometimes manifestly lacking in luxury-badged rivals.
It will challenge the new Fortuner to stay ahead, but in an age when most buyers seem more interested in the continuity of their air-conditioning vents or 4WD control positions, the essentialness of a 4WD system that works in or near to extreme conditions seems to continue to shine through over the shiny details; a philosophy India’s overwhelming SUV culture clearly supports.