Toyota Fortuner 2.8 Diesel Expert Review

The Fortuner Finally Looks Like It Has Had an Espresso

The standard Fortuner has always looked tough. The GR Sport looks like someone gave it a double espresso and told it that the office closes at six.

The aggressive front fascia, GR-specific bumpers, black detailing, larger wheels and red brake-caliper treatment give the SUV considerably more attitude. It remains unmistakably a Fortuner, but the styling is less “government convoy” and more “I have somewhere interesting to be.”

At 4,795 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,835 mm tall, it is still a large machine. That size gives the GR Sport an imposing presence on Bangladeshi roads, although it also explains why squeezing into some Dhaka parking spaces feels like attempting surgery with gardening equipment.

The 19-inch wheels improve the visual drama, while the GR details give the vehicle a stronger connection with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

It is not a genuine low-slung sports car, obviously. It is a body-on-frame seven-seat SUV wearing sportswear.

That distinction matters because the GR treatment is not purely cosmetic. Toyota also gives the GR Sport specially tuned suspension and monotube shock absorbers, making the chassis more controlled than the ordinary Fortuner.

The result is one of the best-looking Fortuner versions ever produced.

It is large, aggressive and slightly ridiculous in exactly the right way.

For Bangladesh, the high ground clearance and tough construction remain more important than the styling—but thankfully, you get both.

Sporty, Practical and Not Quite Luxury

The GR Sport cabin makes a serious attempt to separate itself from the regular Fortuner.

There are suede/leather sports seats, red stitching, GR branding, aluminium sports pedals, a GR steering wheel and sportier trim details. The driving position remains high and commanding, which is particularly useful in Bangladesh traffic.

The front seats provide good support, while the second row has useful flexibility. It slides, reclines and folds independently, while the third row folds 50:50 and can be raised alongside the sides of the luggage area.

That gives the Fortuner something many sporty SUVs forget: genuine family practicality.

The cabin also includes dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-conditioning controls, PM2.5 filtration, wireless charging and multiple USB charging points.

There is even a cooled storage compartment. In Bangladesh's summer heat, that is one of those features that sounds unnecessary until you actually use it.

The 9-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone integration and JBL system make the cabin feel substantially more modern.

But it still isn't a luxury SUV interior.

Some plastics feel ordinary for a vehicle costing more than Tk 2 crore in Bangladesh. The dashboard architecture is also beginning to show its age beside newer premium SUVs.

Yet there is something reassuring about the cabin. It feels designed to be used rather than admired.

Seven people can fit, the AC can fight Dhaka's climate, luggage can be accommodated, and the materials should tolerate years of family abuse.

That is very Fortuner.

Finally, a Fortuner With a Proper Toys Department

The GR Sport is much more than a body kit. The biggest mechanical upgrade is the 224 PS, 550 Nm 2.8-litre diesel engine, paired with a six-speed automatic and 4WD. Toyota also gives the GR Sport specially tuned monotube shock absorbers, which sharpen body control and reduce some of the floatiness associated with conventional Fortuner suspension. Inside, the equipment list is generous. There is a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, JBL premium audio with 11 speakers and a subwoofer, wireless charging, USB charging for rear passengers and T-Connect connectivity. The 360-degree camera is particularly useful in Bangladesh. So are parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Toyota also adds Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and a pre-collision system, making highway driving less tiring. The GR Sport has an electric tailgate, smart entry, push-button start, paddle shifters and multiple drive modes. What is missing? Autonomous parking, a sunroof and some of the elaborate connected features found in newer premium SUVs. But the important stuff is here. The GR Sport doesn't attempt to win a technology war with a Mercedes. Instead, it provides useful equipment around a very strong mechanical package. And frankly, I'd rather have a working 550 Nm diesel and 4WD than an enormous screen displaying seventeen things I don't need.

A Big SUV With Serious Safety Hardware

The GR Sport's safety package is considerably more sophisticated than the Fortuner's old-school reputation might suggest.

Fundamental systems include ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-start Assist, Downhill Assist Control and Trailer Sway Control. Toyota also provides seven airbags and four-wheel disc brakes.

Then the electronic safety systems arrive.

Blind-spot monitoring watches the areas the driver cannot easily see, while rear cross-traffic alert helps when reversing out of parking spaces. The 360-degree panoramic camera provides a much clearer view around the vehicle.

Toyota's Pre-Collision System can warn of potential frontal collisions and assist braking, while Lane Departure Alert helps prevent unintended lane departures.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control is particularly useful on highways. It reduces the constant accelerator-and-brake routine that makes long Bangladesh journeys tiring.

The physical size and strong structure also provide a reassuring sense of solidity.

But the GR Sport is still a heavy body-on-frame SUV. It does not stop or change direction like a lightweight sports sedan.

The most important safety feature therefore remains the driver.

Good tyres, correct tyre pressure, healthy brakes and properly functioning ADAS systems matter enormously.

For a new or properly maintained example, however, the GR Sport provides a very comprehensive safety package.

It is not merely a large vehicle with airbags.

It is a large vehicle with a modern electronic safety net wrapped around a robust mechanical platform.

This Is the Fortuner That Finally Got Interested in Driving

The ordinary Fortuner is quick enough. The GR Sport is considerably more entertaining.

Toyota's 2.8-litre 1GD-FTV has been tuned to produce 224 PS and 550 Nm, and the difference is obvious when you bury the accelerator.

There is a large wave of torque from low engine speed, so overtaking doesn't require a committee meeting between the gearbox, engine and driver.

The six-speed automatic is smooth, while paddle shifters allow more control when descending hills or attacking winding roads.

Then there is the suspension.

Toyota fits the GR Sport with specially tuned monotube dampers, giving the vehicle better body control than the ordinary Fortuner. It still isn't a sports car—the laws of physics remain stubborn—but it feels more composed through corners.

A long-distance road test covering more than 700 km found the 224 hp GR Sport genuinely enjoyable to drive, particularly when using Sport mode. Fuel consumption during harder driving was around 9.7 km/L.

In Dhaka, the story changes slightly.

The high seating position and strong torque are excellent. The size is not.

Parking sensors and the 360-degree camera become your best friends, while city fuel consumption around 7–9 km/L can become expensive.

Outside the city, however, the GR Sport makes far more sense.

Highway stability, overtaking power, 4WD traction and suspension control combine into a machine that feels equally comfortable crossing a motorway or a questionable village road.