Ford Everest vs Toyota Fortuner

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Ford Everest in South Africa

Ford Everest

3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD Diesel 10-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,340,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 184 kW 🔧 600 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel Current
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Everest
Fuel Economy Fortuner
🛡 Safety Fortuner
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Fortuner starts ZAR 139,100 cheaper Everest from ZAR 825,000 · Fortuner from ZAR 685,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Everest Fortuner
Maximum Power 184 kW @ 3250 rpm 150 kW
Maximum Torque 600 Nm 500 Nm
Engine Size 2993 cc 2755 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 11.8 km/l 13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 226 mm 279 mm
Boot / Load Bay 259 l -
Airbags 6 Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags
Kerb Weight 2450 kg -
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Warranty 4 years / 120 000 km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Everest and Fortuner are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Everest +11 pts
Efficiency Fortuner +4 pts
Safety Fortuner +8 pts
Practicality Fortuner +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

Everest

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Fortuner

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Everest

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Fortuner

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Everest Fortuner
Model Introduced Year 2015 2006
Generation Currently sold Everest belongs to the latest generation with enhanced comfort and safety systems Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades
Facelift History Major generational update in 2022 with improved safety, technology, and design Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2021
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status active published
Segment Large SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2450 kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Everest Fortuner
Length 4914 mm 4795 mm
Width 1923 mm 1855 mm
Height 1842 mm 1835 mm
Wheelbase 2900 mm 2745 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 226 mm 279 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 80 l
Boot/Cargo Space 259 l -
Kerb Weight 2450 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3150 kg 2735 kg
Payload Capacity 680 kg -
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2800 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.9 m -
Front Headroom 972 mm -
Rear Headroom 953 mm -
Front Legroom 1058 mm -
Rear Legroom 912 mm -

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Everest leads by 3 points

Everest and Fortuner are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 77 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 67% source coverage
77
#1 Index leader

Everest

67% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 91 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 91
Efficiency 52
Safety 81
Practicality 77
Leads by 3 points
74
#2

Fortuner

59% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Ownership 43
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 89
Practicality 89
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Everest +11 Efficiency Fortuner +4 Safety Fortuner +8 Practicality Fortuner +12

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Everest

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 81/100
Practicality 77/100

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Ford Everest leads the catalogue index with 77 pts vs 74 pts for Fortuner

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Everest leads. However, Fortuner may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Everest and Fortuner comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Everest 91 vs Fortuner 80.

Efficiency index: Everest 52 vs Fortuner 56.

Safety-equipment index: Everest 81 vs Fortuner 89.

Practicality index: Everest 77 vs Fortuner 89.

Ownership-cover index: Everest not separately scored vs Fortuner 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.