Toyota Fortuner vs Mahindra Scorpio-N

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.

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
VS
Mahindra Scorpio-N in South Africa

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Z8L 4x4 AT Adventure Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 699,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 129 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Fortuner
Fuel Economy Scorpio-N
🛡 Safety Scorpio-N
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
Scorpio-N starts ZAR 195,901 cheaper Fortuner from ZAR 685,900 · Scorpio-N from ZAR 489,999

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fortuner Scorpio-N
Maximum Power 150 kW 128.6 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque 500 Nm 400 Nm
Engine Size 2755 cc 2184 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 13.2 km/l 14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 279 mm 187 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 460 l
Airbags Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags Front, side and curtain airbags
Kerb Weight - -
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 5 years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Fortuner +11 pts
Efficiency Scorpio-N +4 pts
Safety Scorpio-N +1 pts
Practicality Fortuner +11 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Fortuner

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

Scorpio-N

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

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Scorpio-N

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fortuner Scorpio-N
Model Introduced Year 2006 Not Available
Generation Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades Current local listing
Facelift History Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT -
Model Year Current Current
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass 1825-2070 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Fortuner Scorpio-N
Length 4795 mm 4662 mm
Width 1855 mm 1918 mm
Height 1835 mm 1905 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 2750 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 279 mm 187 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 57 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2735 kg -
Towing Capacity 2800 kg -
Seating Capacity 7 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors -
Boot/Cargo Space - 460 l

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Scorpio-N leads by 1 points

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

Index leader 75 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 54% source coverage
75
#1 Index leader

Scorpio-N

54% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 60
Performance 69
Efficiency 60
Safety 90
Practicality 78
Leads by 1 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 Fortuner +11 Efficiency Scorpio-N +4 Safety Scorpio-N +1 Practicality Fortuner +11

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Scorpio-N

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 60/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 78/100

Fortuner

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

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Mahindra Scorpio-N leads the catalogue index with 75 pts vs 74 pts for Fortuner

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Scorpio-N 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 Fortuner and Scorpio-N 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: Fortuner 80 vs Scorpio-N 69.

Efficiency index: Fortuner 56 vs Scorpio-N 60.

Safety-equipment index: Fortuner 89 vs Scorpio-N 90.

Practicality index: Fortuner 89 vs Scorpio-N 78.

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

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.