The Future of the Fortuner After the Hilux Update
The arrival of the new Hilux pickup inevitably raises the question: what about the Fortuner? Given the close technical ties of the SUV with this pickup, it was expected that the new generation would be a natural continuation. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Toyota Australia confirmed that local Fortuner sales will end in mid-2026, marking 11 years since its debut. However, this does not mean the end of the model altogether. The SUV will continue to be sold in a number of international markets, including parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Reasons for Discontinuation of Sales
Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, announced this news to local media.
The Fortuner has been a great product for us over many years and has found a relatively small but enthusiastic customer base. But due to changing consumer preferences in Australia, we have made the decision to discontinue the Fortuner.
Hanley explained that Toyota customers are “predominantly” returning to the Hilux or moving to the Land Cruiser model range (including the Prado and 300 Series). He cited the expansion of the Hilux lineup and “portfolio rationalization” as the main reasons for dropping the Fortuner.
The executive also acknowledged that the Fortuner “was never Toyota’s best-selling model,” but noted that it fulfilled the task set by the company.
Introduced to the Australian market in 2015, the Fortuner received a mid-cycle update in 2020. It uses the IMV platform and a 2.8-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine shared with the Hilux pickup, but features a slightly shorter SUV body with three rows of seats for seven occupants.
Notably, Australia was not among the markets where the Fortuner with a mild hybrid diesel was available.
Internal and External Competition
Currently, the Fortuner starts at AU$59,044 (US$38,500) for the base GX grade and goes up to AU$72,570 (US$47,300) for the top Crusade version. This makes it significantly cheaper than the Land Cruiser Prado, which starts at AU$78,550 (US$51,200).
However, Australian buyers have clearly defined their preferences. From January to October 2025, Toyota sold 2,928 units of the Fortuner, while the Prado found 23,298 new owners.
The Fortuner also lagged significantly behind key competitors such as the Ford Everest (21,915 units) and the Isuzu MU-X (12,499 units). Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was discontinued earlier this year due to non-compliance with updated Australian design rules.
An Uncertain Future
Toyota has not yet outlined specific plans for the Fortuner’s future. If a new generation does appear, it will almost certainly remain tied to the Hilux on the IMV platform, rather than transitioning to the newer TNGA-F architecture used by the Land Cruiser Prado and 4Runner for the American market.
The reason is pragmatism. With the Fortuner’s market presence shrinking, potential sales volumes may not justify the investment required for a complete redesign. At best, any future iteration is likely to be a substantial update rather than a complete generational change.
Toyota’s decision demonstrates how quickly the automotive market can change, even for established manufacturers. The Fortuner’s loss of ground to more popular models indicates that even in the SUV segment, consumers prefer more specialized solutions. Technological development also plays a role – the lack of hybrid versions for the Australian market may have been an additional factor in the decision to discontinue sales.