The Toyota Fortuner GR Sport, a performance-oriented version of the popular SUV, continues to be unavailable in the Australian market despite its presence in other countries. Here's why Toyota Australia is hesitant to bring this model to local shores:
Limited Local Demand
- Toyota Australia has indicated that the Fortuner GR Sport is "not on our radar at the moment"
- The standard Fortuner has struggled to match the sales dominance of its HiLux counterpart in Australia
Focus on Other GR Models
- Toyota Australia is prioritizing other GR Sport and full GR models for the local market
- Current GR offerings in Australia include the GR Yaris, GR Supra, and LandCruiser 300 Series GR Sport
Existing Fortuner Updates
- Toyota has recently updated the standard Fortuner in Australia with improved tech and convenience features
- These updates aim to keep the model competitive against rivals like the Isuzu MU-X
Potential Future Developments
- A full-fat GR HiLux is expected to top the next-generation pick-up range due mid-decade
- A corresponding Fortuner version may also be on the cards for future releases
International Availability
- The Fortuner GR Sport is available in markets such as Indonesia and Thailand
- These versions feature cosmetic upgrades and, in some cases, performance enhancements
While the Fortuner GR Sport remains unavailable in Australia for now, Toyota has stated that it is "continually looking at opportunities to expand the Toyota GR range with more exciting models".
This leaves the door open for potential future introductions of sportier Fortuner variants to the Australian market.