2025 Toyota Fortuner mild-hybrid diesel one step closer to Australia
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With the Australian Government’s new vehicle emissions regulations looming, Toyota could soon introduce a mild-hybrid version of its Fortuner 4WD.
A new 2025 Toyota Fortuner could soon make its way to Australia with a form of mild-hybrid system, offering buyers improved fuel economy and exhaust emissions from its turbo-diesel engine.
Toyota launched the mild-hybrid Fortuner in the right-hand-drive market of South Africa earlier in 2024, with the 48-volt system understood to be the same found in the Australian HiLux ute – with the Fortuner based on HiLux underpinnings and powered by the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.
Toyota Australia claims 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres for combined city and highway usage with the HiLux Rogue V-Active 48-volt mild-hybrid – a reduction of 0.6L/100km over the standard engine.
Toyota South Africa claims the system reduces fuel consumption by 0.3L/100km in the Fortuner, but these figures are based on different test standards.
The local arm of Toyota originally said the mild-hybrid system would improve fuel consumption by approximately 10 per cent, however the official figure appears to be closer to 7 per cent in the HiLux.
According to the South African data, tailpipe emissions are slightly improved, with the mild-hybrid Fortuner putting out 200g of CO2 per kilometre, versus 209g/km in the non-hybrid model – bringing the SUV much closer to the 199g/km restriction set by the Australian Government from 2025.
MORE: Toyota HiLux mild-hybrid diesel confirmed for Australia, just don't call it a hybrid
The electric motor-generator helps to turn the engine during acceleration via a belt system, with power stored in a small 7.6kg battery mounted under the second-row seats – but unlike a traditional hybrid, the car cannot be driven on pure electric power, instead acting more like a strong tailwind.
Performance remains unchanged, with the 2.8-litre engine making 150kW and 500Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with part-time four-wheel drive. A rear-wheel-drive variant is also available in South Africa.
While several car makers actively promote their mild-hybrid vehicles as ‘hybrids’, Toyota Australia badges its 48-volt HiLux variants as V-Active – not wanting to confuse buyers who may be familiar with traditional hybrid models, such as the Prius, Camry, and RAV4, which feature more significant electrification.
As reported by Drive in September 2024, Toyota Australia has “no plan” to drop the Fortuner from its local line-up, despite the model being axed from New Zealand.
Toyota is yet to make an official announcement on the mild-hybrid Fortuner for the Australian market, but it could be a matter of months with the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) scheme set to begin on 1 January 2025 – though credits and penalties will not come into effect until 1 July 2025.
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