Fortuner Facelift – What to Expect?  » MotorOctane

India adores the Toyota Fortuner. Since its launch in 2009, its fanbase has grown exponentially and has become a status symbol in Indian households. The sales figures match those of a car that is in multiple segments below. To put this into perspective, Toyota sold more Fortuners in October 2025 than the Honda Elevate, which is 20-30 lakhs cheaper. Toyota has now decided to give the Fortuner a fresher look and an extensive feature list.

Toyota sells the Fortuner in Australia, the UAE, and other key global markets, but it doesn’t garner the same love as it does in India. Moreover, Toyota Australia has decided to cease production of the Fortuner in 2026. Fortunately for its Indian fanbase, Toyota has more promising plans for the Indian market.​ Toyota recently unveiled the new Hilux at the Thailand Motor Expo. 

Exteriors Changes

The Fortuner will get a notable makeover. Some cosmetic changes include slimmer LED headlamps, a distinct new front grill, and revised LED taillights. A sleeker, yet bolder front end will allow the Fortuner to maintain its road presence.​ 

It is well known that the Fortuner shares its platform with the Hilux, and it is predicted that the upcoming Fortuner will continue to do the same.​ The next-gen Fortuner will closely resemble the newly showcased Hilux. The only differentiating factor would be the replacement of an enormous flatbed with two additional seats. 

Updates in the Cabin

A more drastic change has been made inside the cabin. Gone is the outdated 8” screen; Toyota has replaced it with a 12.3” infotainment screen. The analogue driver’s display has been upgraded to a fully digital one. A clutter-free centre console, along with modern amenities such as a wireless charging port, electronic parking brake and ADAS, is a revelation compared to the outgoing Fortuner. ​

Powertrain Options

Now, here is the more intriguing news. ​Toyota has continued to show its commitment to hydrogen fuel and has promised to launch a hydrogen-propelled Hilux by 2028 in global markets. Considering the woeful advancements in Indian Hydrogen fuel infrastructure, it would be far-fetched to expect a Fortuner , powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, to grace the Indian roads.

It is unlikely that Toyota will release the Fortuner as an EV in the near future, but you can expect to see the hybrid variants on Indian roads soon. The hybrid variant will feature a 48V battery pack beneath the rear seat, similar to the current mild-hybrid Fortuner.  

Toyota has refrained from messing around with the well-established ICE powertrains. Identical 2.8L Diesel and 2.7L Petrol engines will be available with the newer models. The power figures remain unchanged, and so do the transmission options. Having said that, minor tweaks have been made to the diesel engine to improve the efficiency by 7.5%.​

Both Toyota models will offer 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. 

Rivals 

Despite impressive sales numbers, the outgoing Fortuner feels outdated compared to its modern rivals, the Jeep Meridien, MG Gloster, and the Skoda Kodiaq. The Fortuner misses out on vital features such as ADAS, a digital driver’s display, and a sunroof. The competition is expected to get tougher, with the upcoming arrivals of the Volkswagen Tayron and Hyundai Palisade soon. 

Read More: Volkswagen Tayron – VW’s new 7-seater

Expected Date and Price?

The Fortuner is expected to launch in the second half of 2026. As expected with most car revisions, the Fortuner will see a slight price hike of up to 2 lakhs rupees.

Fabled for its robustness, Toyota will aim to maintain these standards with the upcoming Fortuner and Hilux models. You can take the ruggedness and dependability of the forthcoming Fortuner for granted. This would be the Fortuner’s most significant upgrade since 2016, and you can expect the newer model to sell like hotcakes. 

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