Kuga (2013) vs Fortuner (2011) vs other

[Ganjora]

after extensive research we settled on a subaru forester xs for my wife last year.
extremely comfortable and composed vehicle.
loved it so much that i bought myself an 08 xt earlier this year.
once you have driven a forester you cannot even consider anything else.
the xt is something else.
very, very strong. also very thirsty 60l gets me 450km town driving.
the new models are much lighter with the cvt box, my wife's does about 10.5l/100km

[Stollas]

We got a demo Freelander 2 SD4 SE about two months ago and compared to the 3.0 D-4D's i use at work it is obvious day and night difference with comfort and luxury and, yes, build quality. In fact, my second hand Freelander cost the same as a Fortuner second hand (R380 - R400k), and the Freelander will go where the Fortuner will go; the Fortuner must be driven by a man off-road, but my wife does the off-road driving in the Freelander. The Freelander easily out-runs the 3.0 D-4D, is by far more fuel efficient and requires services every 24,000km.

In the Fortuner, You can't see the centre console screen during the day when driving with your lights on.

The Fortuner is in top spot of every evildoers list.

The services and customer service from the dealers is the lowest priority on the dealer's list.

Finally, like driving a VW GTi, makes you Mr. Average Joe.

[Hermanator]

We got a demo Freelander 2 SD4 SE about two months ago and compared to the 3.0 D-4D's i use at work it is obvious day and night difference with comfort and luxury and, yes, build quality. In fact, my second hand Freelander cost the same as a Fortuner second hand (R380 - R400k), and the Freelander will go where the Fortuner will go; the Fortuner must be driven by a man off-road, but my wife does the off-road driving in the Freelander. The Freelander easily out-runs the 3.0 D-4D, is by far more fuel efficient and requires services every 24,000km.

In the Fortuner, You can't see the centre console screen during the day when driving with your lights on.

The Fortuner is in top spot of every evildoers list.

The services and customer service from the dealers is the lowest priority on the dealer's list.

Finally, like driving a VW GTi, makes you Mr. Average Joe.

Sjoe - quite a mouth full. I haven't own (not even driven) a Fortuner before so I cannot comment. I am just curious as to the reason you believe a woman cannot drive the Fortuner off-road?

[Dorado75]

What about a Ford Everest?

[Haggy4x4Bedinges]

Fortuner is nice like a cup of tea in Bethal it has become a status symbol every second oke has one , I don't say its bad car just not for me

Everest very nice well specked I will choose it any day above the Tuna ,

But then again the Disco 3 and 4 are also up there.

[KurtG]

Sjoe - quite a mouth full. I haven't own (not even driven) a Fortuner before so I cannot comment. I am just curious as to the reason you believe a woman cannot drive the Fortuner off-road?

Yes it was a very interesting post by Stollas and I'm wondering how much of the post is based on opinion and how much on facts? I like the FL2 (my father owns one) but I'm not sure the comparison with the Fortuner is a fair and factual one, they are both great cars in their own right.

[JonnyAfrikaans]

the Freelander will go where the Fortuner will go

...bit of a long statement to my mind!? I have owned a Fortuner, drive a new 4th gen forester now daily and know the FL2 very well (BIL has one). The Fortuner is an awesomely capable off-road vehicle. It will definatley go further than either a FL2 or Fozzie (especially in the hands of average Joe).

Fozzie and FL2 to my mind occupy a niche somewhere between the larger softroader market and the more hardcore (e.g: Fortuner, 4x4 D-Cab, Jeep etc market). They will go MUCH further than the iX35's, CRV's, Kuga's, Tiguans and the like and capable of reaching what I would guess to be 80 - 90% of a Fortuner's capabilities (thier biggest drawback being the lack of low gear). If you require to do a lot of steap rock climbing nothing beats lowgear and good old fashioned lockers!

As I am not the type that does hectic grade 4 (..and up) trails, a Fortuners capabilities are much more than I require. The trips that we did in the Fortuner through Baviaans, Richters and Namibia could have been just as easily been achieved in a Forester (or a FL2 although I presume the FL2's ground clearance would become bit of a problem especially in Richterveld). The Forester is a more comfortable day to day drive than the Fortuner (and safer from an NCAP perspective) and for this reason I would rather choose a Forester or FL2 over and above the Fortuner.

Now the comaparison between the Forester and the FL2/Disco Sport. The FL2 and Discovery Sport are more luxurious than the Forester (even the 4th gen Fozzie), but for that you pay quite a bit more! The Foresters are immense value for money to my mind. They are cheaper, have more ground clearance and more interior space all round than the FL2 (not sure about the Disco Sport). The 4th gen is a brilliant car to drive and is fancy enough for my needs (leather seats, huge sunroof, cruise control, bluetooth, voice dail, USB/IPOD, keyless entry, power tailgate, auto headlight & wipers, reverse camera and computer with a bunch of cool screens and various stats). It also has X-Mode which I have not yet used but plan to on our trip from CPT to Pilanesberg and back through Lesotho in Febuary.

All in all you should consider the vehicle and its application. If I was a hardcore overlander planning to conquer the toughest routes to the most remote location, you would probably be better of in a Fortuner vs Fozzie/FL2... but you want to see the most of southern africa in comfort and dont mind sometimes taking the 'escape route' to get there, well...a Fozzie or FL2 will probably do just fine!

Just 2 cents from a someone thats been on both sides of the Fortuner (Full 4x4) vs Fozzie/FL2 (more hard than soft roader) fence.

Cheers.

[Ocin]

how many times do you want to go to chobe. I won't buy a certain car for one holiday.
if you are going to need low range a lot get the fortuner. if you only need it for one trip rather rent a proper 4x4 and then buy the most comfortable SUV.
the freelander wins my vote.