MG Gloster vs Toyota Fortuner. Which SUV should you get?

MG Motors successfully launched the Hector in India and it did quite well also. Now, they are trying to enter the full-size SUV segment with the Gloster. The full-size SUV segment is already dominated by the Toyota Fortuner for quite some time now.

However, MG Motors want to disrupt that with the Gloster. MG Motors has ensured that Gloster offers “more” in terms of everything when people compare it with the segment leader. So, today we compare the newly launched Gloster to the Fortuner:-

Space

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One of the reasons to buy a full-size SUV is the space that it offers and the Gloster is the one that is much superior in this department. It is taller, wider and longer than the Fortuner. It also has a significantly better wheelbase which translates to more cabin space.

So, the occupants in the Gloster will have better legroom, shoulder room and headroom. If you are looking for an SUV for the family and practicality, the Gloster is definitely a better pick for you.

Performance

With a big SUV, you need a big powerful engine. Toyota Fortuner’s 2.8-litre diesel engine produces a max power output of 174bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 450Nm. Whereas, the Gloster is available with a 2.0-litre diesel engine which is offered in two states of tune. There is a turbocharged variant that produces 161bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 375Nm. Then there is the twin-turbo variant of the same engine that produces 215bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 480Nm. As we can see that the single-turbo variant of the Gloster produces a bit less power than the Fortuner. However, the twin-turbo variant is a much better and powerful engine than the one found on the Fortuner. Even the transmission found on the Gloster is a much-refined unit than the Fortuner ones. The 8-speed unit of the Gloster is a superior unit than the 6-speed transmission of the Fortuner. So, if it is the performance that you want then you are better off with the twin-turbo variant of the Gloster.

Petrol engine

If you are afraid of the uncertainties of vehicles with diesel engine or want to keep the SUV for a long run and also consider yourself environmentalist, there is a petrol engine that is offered with the Toyota Fortuner. The Fortuner comes with a 2.7-litre petrol engine that is capable of producing 164bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 245Nm. It comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard. However, if you are someone who enjoys the convenience that an automatic transmission offers, you can opt for the 6-speed automatic gearbox. Unfortunately, MG Motors does not offer the Gloster with a petrol engine. So, if you want an SUV powered by a petrol engine, the Fortuner is your only option.

Features

One of the factors behind Hector’s success was the features that it offered. MG Motors is trying to replicate the formula with the Gloster also. Gloster is one of the most feature equipped SUV that you can buy right now. It gets 64-colour ambient lighting, heated seats, driver massage seat, push button to start/stop, cruise control, driving modes, terrain modes, 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, connected car technology, three-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, a multi-information display and much more.

Whereas the Toyota Fortuner falls short with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, push-button to start/stop, Power and Eco driving modes, a smaller Multi-information display, electric tailgate, puddle lamps etc. So, the Gloster offers much more premium and attractive features as compared to the Fortuner.

Price

If you are on a budget, then the Gloster is the one that will save you a bit of money. Where the Gloster starts from Rs. 28.98 lakhs ex-showroom the Fortuner starts from Rs. 30.67 lakhs ex-showroom. So, the Gloster is Rs. 1.69 lakhs cheaper than the Fortuner. However, if you can buy a petrol engine then the Fortuner is a bit cheaper as the Toyota Fortuner starts from Rs. 28.66 lakhs ex-showroom.

We think that the Gloster offers more value for money as it offers more space, more powerful engine, more features and it is cheaper. Having said that, there is no matching the reliability factor of Toyota. Being a new company, the MG Motors service network is not as good as other manufacturers. So, it is a personal choice whether a person prefers the trusts the reliability of good old Toyota or wants to go with the Gloster which is here to de-throne the Fortuner.

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