MG Gloster vs Toyota Fortuner Comparison

MG Motors has had enjoyed brilliant success in India with its first offering, the Hector SUV. With its generous dimensions, oodles of interior space, and brilliant connected-tech, MG Hector quickly became one of the most popular SUVs in India. Now, the Chinese-owned-British manufacturer is looking to introduce more vehicles to India, starting with another SUV, the MG Gloster. The Gloster will compete against Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4, and of course, Toyota Fortuner. In this article, we shall compare the Gloster and the Fortuner to see how the new-comer stacks up against the segment leader.

Let’s start with the dimensions. MG Gloster is the bigger vehicle here, measuring 5,005mm in length, 1,932mm in width, and 1,875mm in height. It also has a longer wheelbase, 2,950mm to be exact. The car easily dwarves the competition with its sheer size. That said, Toyota Fortuner is not a small car by any means, with a length of 4795mm, width of 1855mm, height of 1835mm, and a wheelbase 2745mm in length.

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As for the powertrain, the MG car is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel engine. The former produces peak power and peak torque of 224PS and 360Nm respectively, while the latter generates 217PS and 480Nm. There are two transmission options on offer: a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The diesel variant also offers a 4-wheel-drive system as optional. There is no confirmation though about the engine options that will be offered in India.

The Fortuner also has two engines on offer. The first is a 2.7-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine that is capable of producing 165PS and 245Nm. The second one is a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel motor which pushes out 176PS and 420Nm. Both engines can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Just like the Gloster, the diesel-powered Fortuner can be had with a 4-wheel-drive system as well, while rear-wheel-drive comes as standard.

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As can be seen above, MG Gloster overshadows the Fortuner with its powerful engines. The Toyota SUV is extremely potent in its own right, but the engines are now quite old and perhaps even outdated. Let’s just hope Toyota is planning to upgrade the car soon.

There will be a lot of features on offer in the upcoming MG SUV. Just like the Hector before it, the Gloster will feature connected apps via an eSIM. There will also be other features like a panoramic sunroof, a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Toyota SUV pales in comparison, with no sunroof, and no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. There are, however, a few nice features on offer, like 7-airbags, traction control, hill-climb assist, downhill assist, stability control, and power-operated back-door. You also get a 7-inch infotainment system, LED mood lighting.

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Lastly, there is a question of price. While there is no official confirmation on the price, an educated guess lands us on a figure of Rs. 30 Lakh for the base model of the MG Gloster. That would make it more expensive than the Toyota Fortuner, which retails for Rs. 28 – 34 Lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). The prices will see a revision after the BS6 update, but it will still be significantly cheaper than the mid-size MG SUV.

Overall, we’d say the MG Gloster will be the new segment leader when it launches in India. That will only hold true if Toyota doesn’t update or upgrade the Fortuner with new tech and gizmos. Till then, the Fortuner’s only saving grace will be its lower price. If, however, MG manages to price the Gloster in the same range as the Fortuner, or lower, there will be a new segment leader in town!