A new Toyota SUV test prototype was spotted undergoing testing in Thailand, and all signs point to it being the next-generation Fortuner body-on-frame SUV.
For more than two decades, the rugged Toyota Hilux midsize pickup has had an SUV sidekick in the guise of the Fortuner in markets including India, southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. It used to be available in Australia as well, but it was retired from the market last year over poor sales.
Meet the 3-Row SUV Version of the New Hilux
The three-row Fortuner will soon enter its third generation, taking after the recently launched ninth-gen Hilux pickup on which it is based. While the prototype you see in these photos is fully camouflaged, the design cues borrowed from the new Hilux are hard to miss.
The front end appears to feature very similar slim LED headlights and the same grille seen on the 2026 Hilux, with the side view largely following the design of the double cab Hilux up to the C-pillar—with a small difference in that the Fortuner’s belt line rises suddenly before crossing the rear passenger windows.
Obviously, the Fortuner has a typical SUV format with two additional side windows and a tailgate instead of the Hilux’s truck bed. Another difference from the Hilux, which has vertical taillights, is that the Fortuner has horizontal full-width lamps.
Inside, the new Fortuner will expected to adopt a similar dashboard as the 2026 Hilux, which features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch central infotainment screens. The Fortuner will offer a total of seven seats on three rows, and is expected to get updated advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
The Same Rugged IMV Ladder-Frame Platform Lives On Underneath
Toyota
The upcoming Toyota Fortuner carry on with the same IMV platform shared with the Hilux, which means that it will offer gas and mild-hybrid diesel powertrains, with a battery electric version also possible, though not confirmed. The platform also supports a hydrogen fuel-cell variant, which is currently in development and will debut in 2028 on the Hilux.
As you probably know, the new Hilux offers an all-electric version, a first for the nameplate. It features a 59.2-kWh lithium-ion battery powering two electric motors with a combined 193 hp and 349 lb-ft of torque. The Hilux BEV has a targeted WLTP range of up to 160 miles, a 1,576-lb payload and a towing rating of up to 3,527 lbs.
While a BEV version is unconfirmed for the Fortuner, the SUV will be available with a 201-hp 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel featuring a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. A 164-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder gas engine may also be offered.
According to Thailand’s Car250 (via Electrek), the next-generation Toyota Fortuner will debut in Thailand by the end of 2026, spreading to its traditional markets shortly after. Unsurprisingly, the United States will not get the Fortuner, as our market doesn’t get the Hilux either.
