If you like your SUVs bone-stiff, trucky, and blessed with an aura of indestructibility that whispers ‘I tow boats for fun,’ the Toyota Fortuner 2.8L turbo diesel-automatic is built for you. If you also enjoy roadside looks of reverence (or envy), a commanding driving position and a drivetrain that treats rough roads like a mildly inconvenient suggestion, congrats — this is your steed. If, however, you bought an SUV to feel thrifty at fuel stops, you might want to sit down; we tested the Fortuner’s real-world mileage and it tells a story of compromises written in diesel and polite sighs.
How we tested (because numbers without context are just smug claims)
The mileage figures that follow come from the classic ‘tank-full-to-tank-full’ ritual. For the city test, the Fortuner was filled, the trip metre reset and driven roughly 100km across Delhi NCR peak-ish traffic on the same route, same load, same ritualistic honking. For the highway run, we used the Sohna stretch of the Delhi–Mumbai expressway — a favourite for testers who like long, straight roads and the illusion of guilt-free revs. Highway runs were done around 100km/h. We recorded fuel in litres upon refill and did the maths like responsible adults who hate surprises at the petrol pump.
Key Features
Engine and performance
The 2.8-litre turbo-diesel churns out hearty torque and moves the Fortuner with the assuredness of a barge that knows it’s allowed on the road. Low-end grunt makes it pleasant in the city for overtakes and climb-outs; on highways it settles into a relaxed cadence. The automatic gearbox is tuned for smoothness rather than sportiness — which is to say it upshifts politely and refuses to be riled into unnecessary revving.
Fuel economy (the numbers that made us check twice)
This is where the Fortuner behaves like two different personalities. In the city, our real-world test returned 11.21 kmpl after a 102km run at an average speed of 22 km/h, where we filled 9.09 litres at Rs. 88/litre. Highways are kinder: a 125km run at a measured average speed of 72 km/h yielded 15.29 kmpl with 8.2 litres consumed. The claimed combined figure sits at around 14.4 kmpl, so city driving fell 22% short, while highway driving exceeded the claim by about 6%.
Fuel tank and range
With an 80-litre tank the Fortuner has stamina. Expect full-tank ranges between roughly 807 km (all-city pessimism) and 1101 km (highway optimism). A 50:50 city/highway split works out to about 954 km on a tank, and at the fuel price used in the test a 90% fill costs approximately Rs. 6,336. Practical and reassuring for those who like long trips — and also for those who simply enjoy not stopping every 300 km to talk to playfully curious fuel attendants.
Ride, handling and comfort
Body-on-frame vehicles rarely disguise their truck DNA, and the Fortuner wears it with pride. Suspension soaks up poor roads without melodrama, and the steering is heavy but communicative. Long-distance comfort is good for a vehicle of this ilk — seats are supportive and noise insulation is respectable, which makes highway cruising pleasant and theatrical in equal measure.
Practicality & technology
Roomy cabin, generous boot, and a useful towing capacity. Tech is competent rather than flashy — think solid infotainment, driver aids and safety kit that covers essentials. You won’t be dazzled by gimmicks, but you won’t lose basic conveniences either.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Strong low-end torque and highway manners; long range with an 80-litre tank; robust build and good ground clearance; predictable, durable drivetrain; respectable highway fuel economy (15.29 kmpl in testing).
- Cons: City fuel economy is uninspiring (11.21 kmpl in testing), which translates to a hefty per-kilometre fuel cost of about Rs. 7.85 at Rs. 88/litre; it’s large and thirsty in urban stop-and-go; steering and ride are truck-like — not for someone who dreams of nimble corners; premium pricing and maintenance expectations that match the badge.
User Experience: what it’s like to spend time with the Fortuner
Start the engine and you get that subtle rumble that announces a serious diesel is awake. In the city the Fortuner behaves like an aristocrat in a crowded subway: it moves with purpose, but squeezing through tight urban gaps is a moral compromise you have to make with your ego. Parking requires planning, and the EPA dream of frugal urban commuting evaporates quicker than diesel in a hot tank. Merging onto highways is where the car smiles — relaxed cruising, confident overtakes and a hushed cabin that makes motorway hours pleasantly dull in the best possible way.
Despite the size, ergonomics are straightforward: controls are where your hand would expect them to be, visibility is commanding, and seats are comfortable enough for long family road trips. On the downside, the fuel gauge will catch your attention often enough to ruin philosophical musings about eternal endurance.
Comparison: how it stacks against alternatives
Against similarly priced, body-on-frame SUVs (think of full-size, rugged diesel SUVs), the Fortuner’s strengths are its Toyota reliability, long-term resale and familiar mechanical simplicity. Competitors may offer marginally better urban fuel economy or more features for the money, especially in markets where rivals have leaned into turbo-diesel efficiency or more tech. But rivals often fail to match Toyota’s perceived longevity and service network. If you want fuel-sipping plushness, you’ll need to look at crossover-style SUVs or premium brands that provide a softer ride and more frugal urban powertrains. If you want a proper ‘shoulder-the-difficult-road’ machine, the Fortuner is the archetypal, if slightly thirsty, choice.
Who should buy this
Buy the Fortuner 2.8L diesel-automatic if you live in or frequently travel through rough roads, need a vehicle that doubles as a capable tow rig, prefer a high seating position with demonstrable road authority, and value Toyota’s real-world reliability and resale. It’s ideal for long highway runs, weekend explorers, and buyers who want an SUV that looks serious and behaves like it belongs outdoors more than downtown Mediterranean cafes.
Avoid buying it if your commute is a daily 30-40 km of clogged city streets and your primary metric is cost-per-km. The Fortuner will do it, but your wallet will sigh theatrically at the fuel pump.
Value for Money
Value is a tidy argument between sticker price, running cost and how much psychological comfort you extract from a Toyota badge. Running cost math is unforgiving: tested city fuel economy of 11.21 kmpl at Rs. 88/litre works out to roughly Rs. 7.85 per km in urban conditions. On the highway that drops to Rs. 5.76 per km thanks to the 15.29 kmpl figure — significantly better, and the Fortuner’s true environment. If your use case is highway-heavy or long-distance travel, the Fortuner begins to look reasonable; on predominantly urban runs it slides toward ‘luxury truck’ territory with correspondingly lofty bills.
Given Toyota’s reputation for durability and decent resale, the Fortuner can make economic sense over a multi-year ownership horizon — but only if you factor in fuel consumption as a predictable ongoing cost, and not an occasional surprise. Financing, insurance and service costs in your market can tilt the picture either way, so crunch those numbers against your actual city-highway split before you sign anything.
So here’s the simple truth: if you need a capable, long-legged, reliable SUV that feels at home on highways and poor roads, and you are willing to trade some urban thrift for dependability and road presence, the Fortuner 2.8L turbo diesel-automatic is a smart, sensible pick. If, however, your chief aim is to save at the fuel pump and score the last free parking spot, look elsewhere.