Toyota expands availability of advanced safety

November 13, 2019

TOYOTA has introduced four new advanced safety features to its Fortuner range, including high-tech crash avoidance capability and technology to help drivers stay in the desired lane.

The move means Toyota vehicles representing 89.5 percent of its sales are now available with these key features from the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced technologies. This includes 97 percent of Toyota’s passenger cars and more than 85 percent of its SUVs and light-commercial vehicles. Toyota vice president Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said the company plans to move beyond 90 percent as soon as possible by further expanding the availability of advanced safety technologies as new or updated models are introduced.

“This year, we expect to deliver well in excess of 200,000 new Toyota vehicles in Australia – and a substantial majority will be equipped with potentially life-saving features that can help prevent and mitigate collisions,” Mr Hanley said. “Fortuner is just the latest vehicle in our range to offer crash avoidance and lane-keeping technologies – features that are already standard in top-selling models as diverse as HiLux, Corolla hatch, Camry, Kluger and HiAce. It has achieved a five-star safety rating.”

Fortuner’s pre-collision safety system uses a forward-facing camera and radar that can detect vehicles and pedestrians day or night and cyclists during the day.

Newly adopted lane-departure technology in Fortuner is designed to help prevent accidents. When the system detects the vehicle may deviate from its lane, it alerts the driver with visual and audible warnings and vibrates the steering wheel. If necessary, it can provide steering assistance through the braking system.

Additional new advanced safety for Fortuner includes a high-speed active cruise control to maintain a suitable distance from a vehicle ahead when travelling above 40 km/h, and road-sign assist. These two technologies are linked. When the RSA detects a speed-limit sign that is different to the pre-set cruise-control speed, the driver can use steering-wheel switches to reset the vehicle speed to match the new speed limit.

In a further upgrade, Fortuner GX joins the GXL and Crusade variants in having a colour 4.2” screen displaying key driving information in the instrument cluster. The new safety and convenience features result in price increases of 2.3 to 3 per cent – though the RRPs are between $3700 and $4200 lower than when the Fortuner nameplate was introduced in 2015, due to a late-2017 price realignment.

Seven-seat Fortuner is powered by a 130kW, 450Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder common-rail direct-injection turbo-diesel engine. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, its fuel use is just 8.6 litres/100km. Every Fortuner is equipped with an air-conditioned cool box, Bluetooth connectivity and audio and phone controls mounted on the steering wheel.

Extra equipment for GXL variants includes keyless smart entry and start, roof rails, fog lamps, privacy glass and downhill assist control. Top-of-the-range Crusade has additional features such as leather-accented interior, power tailgate, climate-control air-conditioning, bi-LED headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels and a power-operated driver’s seat. Every Fortuner is covered by Toyota Service Advantage capped-price servicing at a maximum of $240 per service.

Visit toyota.com.au to learn more about the Fortuner range.

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