Toyota Fortuner is by Far the Most respected SUV to ever come on the Indian shores, but the current generation of the Fortuner is now almost 10 years old and needs some real updates to at least cater to a newer customer base so Toyota is planning on launching in 2024 Toyota Fortuner Diesel Hybrid in India which packs the punchiness of diesel with the efficiency and smoothness of a Hybrid system.

Current Toyota Fortuner

Toyota Fortuner was first launched 15 years ago, in 2009. It was brought to India from the ASEAN markets via CKD format and further assembled in Toyota Kirloskar Motors’ Karnataka plant. It was launched in India to go head-on with the Ford Endeavour, which was quite ruling the market, back then. 

Toyota Fortuner, today, is in its third generation. It has a pure SUV-like stance, with tall height and broad road presence. The design language of the SUV is very smooth, unlike all the new-age SUVs with boxy nature. 

On the front, it has a huge grille, with a big Toyota logo. It is equipped with LED lights in both Headlamps and Tail lamps. The side of the SUV has a set of 18’ alloy wheels and a set of 17’ alloy wheels for the base variants. As said, it looks, and in fact, is tall from the side. There is also a side step for better convenience. The rear of the Fortuner looks a bit short in terms of its height, but actually, it is not. The rest of the rear is simple in terms of its design. 

It gets an option of two engines - a 2.8 L Diesel Engine and a 2.7 L Petrol Engine. The power figures of the Diesel engine are amazing, and in fact, it is one that sold the most among all the Fortuner variants. It produces 204 hp and 500 Nm of Torque. The Petrol engine is a highly underpowered engine, concerning the size of the SUV, as it produces just 163 hp and 245 Nm of Torque. It is also the least preferred engine in the Fortuner’s line-up. 

Today, the Fortuner’s top model sells at ₹60 lacs, which does not even have some basic features like a Sunroof, a digital Instrument Cluster, ADAS, an Electric Steering wheel, etc. But still, it sells the most in its segment. 

2024 Toyota Fortuner's Diesel Hybrid Engine

Recently, Toyota internationally released the Hilux’s Diesel Hybrid version, and as the Hilux is a cousin to the Fortuner, it is evident that this same Hybrid Technology will be transferred to the Fortuner. Most probably, this technology will be brought into the Fortuner in its 2024 Facelift version, where we might get to see some mechanical changes and very minimal technological updates. 

This Diesel Hybrid setup consists of a 48 V battery, which is placed inside the cabin, beneath the middle row of seats. This battery setup is plugged in with the 2.8 L Diesel Engine with its 6-speed AT transmission. 

The battery is capable of producing 16hp and 65Nm of Torque, all by itself. This battery does nothing but give a slight punch in the torque output of the vehicle the hybrid Fortuner, hence, making the Acceleration more linear and giving a crisp Throttle response. Well, the battery does not help the engine increase its power figures, as it remains the same at 204hp and 500Nm of Torque, even with this Hybrid setup. 

Fuel Efficiency of the Diesel Hybrid Engine

Toyota claims that this setup will help the 2024 Fortuner Diesel Hybrid generate a bit more in terms of fuel efficiency. The claimed increase of 5% to 10% in the fuel efficiency figure is expected by this Hybrid engine, which tells us, the non-hybrid version of the Fortuner gives a mileage figure of 9 kmpl in City conditions and 14 kmpl in Highway conditions, now, with the Hybrid setup, it will give 11 kmpl in City conditions and 16 kmpl in Highway conditions. 

2024 Toyota Fortuner Diesel Hybrid India Launch and Pricing

The 2024 Toyota Fortuner Hybrid is expected to enter the Indian Automobile market by mid-2024 that is June - July 2024. It will most probably be available at a slight premium price, starting from ₹35 lacs and will climb up to ₹52 lacs.