Used Car Buyers Guide: Pre-owned Toyota Fortuner – All You Need To Know

The first notion of buying a used car is often filled with doubts. Will the car be reliable? Will there be any hidden problems? But the fact is, more used cars are bought in India than new cars. A new car starts depreciating the moment it is rolled out from the showroom. So the decision of purchasing a used car makes a lot of sense financially.

Since its launch in 2009, the Toyota Fortuner has been one of India’s bestselling premium SUVs. To this day, it remains a popular choice in the Rs 20+ lakh category. The main points that attribute to that fact are the commanding design and the Toyota brand’s reliability. It stands on par with some of the newer models like the Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas, and the Honda CR-V. In short, it is a vehicle that is expected to offer bulletproof reliability. In reality, it does.

So does buying a used Toyota Fortuner make sense? Considering that it is one of the vest SUVs in its class, it makes complete sense. So here we will offer some guidelines when you are planning to buy a used Toyota Fortuner. But first, let us take a look at the main variants of the vehicle.

Toyota Fortuner- Variants and Features

When the Fortuner was launched, it came with a 3.0-litre diesel motor and manual transmission. In January 2012, a version with 4-speed automatic transmission was launched. This was upgraded to a 5-speed transmission in 2013. 

The current market model was launched in December 2016, which came with a redesigned cabin and chassis. A petrol variant was also added in the same year. In 2017, a Sportivo model with a sporty touch was launched. In September 2019, a special Celebration edition was introduced.

The Fortuner comes with a 2755 cc diesel engine and a 2694 cc petrol engine. The diesel variant starts at around Rs. 32.5 lakhs and the petrol variant at close to 30 lakhs.

Here are some of the main pros and cons of the Toyota Fortuner

Pros

1. An imposing street present
2. Excellent build quality that leads to a long life
3. Both diesel and petrol engines are capable performers.
4. A spacious and practical cabin
5. The off-road performance is impressive.
6. Full range of safety kits and plenty of other features

Also Read: Used Car Buying Guide: Pre-owned Hyundai i20 – All You Need To Know

Cons

1. Ride quality is not the best in this category.
2. Petrol variant offers a low mileage of around 6-7kmpl for city.
3. The diesel engine has a very short service interval of 5,000 km.
4. Cost-cutting in some interior areas
5. It is not a full-time 4x4 vehicle.
6. Some 2009 and 2010 models offered poor braking performance.

What is the best used Toyota Fortuner model?

It is best to choose a Fortuner model that was released post-January 2012. These models came with some updates that improved the overall performance. Also, the front-end design was made more attractive. You can expect an odometer reading of 70,000 km or more from a Fortuner around eight years old. Such a car can be available at a price between 12 to 14 lakhs.

However, considering the car’s overall reliability, this is a good deal that offers excellent value. We will advise you not to pick a used Fortuner that is over eight years old. You will not get a good resale value for such a vehicle.

In case you are looking to buy the latest model that was released in 2016, keep in mind that Fortuners have a strong resale value. So you will have to pay around 25 to 27 lakhs or more for such a car. Even at that price, the Fortuner will offer the right bang for your buck. If you are an off-road enthusiast, you can also look for a used 4×4 Fortuner.

Why buy a used car?

If you are still hesitant about picking a used car, here are some of the points that can help you make a decision. Take a look.A used car depreciates at a much lower rate than a new one. A new car’s depreciation rate is close to 15% in the first year itself. Moreover, you do not need to drive a used car while fearing dents and scratches.

1. The insurance rates for used cars are much lower than those of new ones.
2. In case you buy from a genuine aggregator, you can also get a limited warranty on a used car.
3. If you buy a certified version, it can look and perform very close to a new car.

Buying certified used cars.

Buying a Certified Pre-Owned car is always a safer option as such vehicles are thoroughly inspected and are covered by a warranty. At CARS24, all our cars are certified and come with a 140 checkpoint pre-inspection report. Every used car of ours is refurbished by experts to make sure your car is as good as new! Also, we offer a 6 Month or 7500 Km Warranty and a 7 Day Easy Return in case you're not satisfied with the purchase.

Such vehicles also give you peace of mind as you do not have to worry about unforeseen repair and maintenance costs. For a Fortuner, you can easily avail of the much famed Toyota reliability.

A certified car might cost a tad bit more but our prices are one of the lowest in the country, Also, we offer a 2 minute paperless finance with same day disbursal.

Points to keep in mind while buying a used Fortuner

Since the vehicle sector is more organised now, buying a  pre-owned car is much easier. Here are a few points you need to keep in mind while buying with confidence.

1. Make sure that you test drive the car before buying. It is best to bring a few friends or family members to check the car in loaded conditions. Check the engine performance, the suspension, and also the braking performance. A detailed study of the car is also needed to check for significant repairs or accidents. 
2. Also, ensure that the paperwork of the car is complete and CARS24 takes care of it too.
3. Before picking a model, make sure that it suits your purpose. Then ensure that the ownership experience is hassle-free. 
4. It is best to do some homework and learn about the features of the vehicle. That way, you will be able to spot missing elements, if any.
5. Buying a certified used car from a franchised pre-owned dealer is the costliest option. But it gives you security. On the other hand, buying directly from an individual will allow you to bargain and get a better price. Still, you should not buy a car at face value. There are also used car brokers, but they may not be reliable in many cases.
6. You need to decide on your budget and the maximum limit that you can stretch to if needed. Keep in mind that interest rates for finance support on new cars are higher. So do not let an enthusiastic salesperson take you for a ride.

Without a doubt, the Toyota Fortuner is one of the best SUVs you can pick from the used car market. At first, glance, buying a used vehicle can seem to be a challenge But with CARS24 it's a cakewalk, you can find good used Fortuner's for sale at your fingertips on CARS24 App or visit Cars24.com