Toyota Fortuner GR Sport: The Best Fortuner Yet?

Toyota's Fortuner has dominated the seven-seat family SUV segment in South Africa for years. Its combination of Hilux-based 4x4 capability, bulletproof reliability and practical packaging has seen it outsell every rival. For 2024, Toyota introduces the GR Sport variant — borrowing the Gazoo Racing aesthetic from the Yaris GR and Land Cruiser range. The visual changes are significant. A sportier front bumper with integrated skid plate, 20-inch alloys wrapped in 265/50 tyres, red GR Sport badging and a black roof create a muscular silhouette. Inside, the seats get Gazoo Racing logos embroidered in red stitching and the steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather. Mechanically, the GR Sport retains the proven 2.8-litre GD-6 turbodiesel producing 150kW and 500Nm mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Suspension settings have been revised — slightly lowered compared to standard, with adjusted damper tuning aimed at on-road dynamics. The result is a Fortuner that feels more assured at highway speeds without sacrificing the off-road ability that buyers expect. Ground clearance drops marginally from 223mm to 216mm — you'll barely notice in real-world conditions. On our test route from Cape Town along the N2 to Hermanus and then across mountain passes to Caledon, the GR Sport impressed with its composure on sweeping bends. It doesn't pretend to be a sports car — but it's the most dynamically satisfying Fortuner yet. Seven seats remain, with the third row suitable for adults on short journeys. Boot space with all seats up is modest at 220L but grows to a practical 800L with the third row folded. At R959,900, the Fortuner GR Sport is expensive — R130,000 more than the standard 4x4 Legend. Whether that premium is justified comes down to how much the styling matters to you.