Upcoming Rivals Of The Toyota Fortuner: MG Majestor To Jetour T2
The Toyota Fortuner is one of the most celebrated SUVs in its segment. It has been ruling this segment for over a decade, and despite being expensive, the Fortuner has retained its crown. Like many Toyota models, it is known for its reliability. Over the years, we have seen many brands enter this segment with promising products. Here is a list of SUVs that are preparing to compete with the Toyota Fortuner in this segment.
The first one on this list is the Majestor SUV. This is a D+ segment SUV, which means that in terms of dimensions, the Majestor is bigger than the Fortuner. The MG Majestor gets a massive road presence with a large front grille, rugged-looking front bumper, LED DRLs, split headlamps, LED tail lamps, a boxy design, 19-inch wheels, twin exhaust tips, and more.
The SUV looks rugged on the outside and offers premium features inside. The Majestor comes with three-zone climate control, electrically adjustable front seats with memory, massage, and ventilation functions, a panoramic sunroof, a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker JBL audio system, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree camera, a powered tailgate, and Level 2 ADAS, among others.
The Majestor is offered only with a diesel engine. It is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that generates 213 hp and 479 Nm of torque. It is a capable off-roader and comes with three differential locks, 10 selectable terrain modes, crawl control, and more.
Volkswagen recently launched the all-new Tayron R-Line in the Indian market. This is a seven-seater SUV, and apart from the performance variant, Volkswagen will also launch a lower-spec, non R-Line variant of the Tayron.
In terms of design, the upcoming version will look more or less the same as the R-Line variant, with a few cosmetic differences and possibly fewer features. It is expected to be powered by the same 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine but will produce lower power and torque compared to the R-Line variant.
Next is the Jetour T2, which is going to be a plug-in hybrid SUV expected to launch in the Indian market this year. This will likely be one of the first products to be launched in India by JSW as an independent brand.
It remains to be seen whether JSW will launch the SUV under the same name or use a different name for the Indian market. The SUV will offer a range of premium features and comes with a boxy exterior design that gives it a rugged look. It will be powered by a plug-in hybrid setup, combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a 26.7 kWh battery pack, delivering a combined output of 375 hp and 610 Nm of torque.
Skoda recently announced that it plans to reintroduce diesel engines in a few models in limited numbers. The current flagship SUV, the Kodiaq, is one of them. The exterior design of the SUV will remain the same as the current version, but it will be powered by a diesel engine.
It will be brought to India as a CBU and, as mentioned earlier, will be offered in limited numbers. This also means that the Kodiaq diesel will be expensive. It is expected to use a 2.0-litre TDI engine producing around 198 hp and 400 Nm of torque. It will be mated to a DSG gearbox, with power sent to all four wheels.
Apart from the diesel, Skoda will also bring the performance-oriented RS variant of the Kodiaq to India. It will come with blacked-out exterior elements, an RS-specific bumper, and several other cosmetic differences. The Kodiaq RS will use a 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine that generates 263 PS and 370 Nm of torque, with power sent to all four wheels.