Toyota, the Japanese automotive manufacturer, has revealed a mild-hybrid version of the Fortuner SUV in South Africa. The new hybrid Fortuner MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) gets its mild-hybrid technology from the Hilux MHEV that was unveiled in 2023.
The South African-spec Fortuner MHEV looks very similar to the Fortuner Legender sold in India. Unlike India, the SUV gets more exterior paint shade options in the South African market.
The Fortuner MHEV is powered by the same 2.8-litre diesel engine, coupled with a 48V mild-hybrid system. The hybrid system provides an additional 16 hp and 42 Nm for a total output of 201 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Toyota claims that the Fortuner MHEV is 5 percent more fuel-efficient than the standard Fortuner 2.8 diesel.
The Fortuner MHEV comes with a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard and offers both 2WD and 4WD variants. Toyota also claims that the Fortuner MHEV now gets better throttle response and a smoother engine restart with its new idle start-stop feature.
Apart from the mild-hybrid tech, the Fortuner now also gets the Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite and a 360-degree camera. There are also some minor interior cosmetic tweaks.
Following its introduction in South Africa, the SUV is expected to go on sale in other markets in the coming months. The Fortuner MHEV and the Hilux MHEV are being gradually rolled out internationally. However, India is continuing with the regular Fortuner and the Hilux for now. It remains to be seen if and when Toyota decides to bring its diesel mild-hybrid tech to the country. However, looking at the stringent laws around diesel engines, Toyota might completely skip this powertrain for India. If it does come to India, we are sure enthusiasts will be happy to get their hands on one.
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