Toyota Fortuner Australian pricing revealed

The all-new Toyota Fortuner – Toyota's seventh SUV – will start from $47,990 as a manual and $49,990 for an auto.

Based on the Hilux underneath – it shares its engine and front half but uses unique coil spring rear suspension and a wagon body on top – the Fortuner provides an important towing and off-road alternative to the similarly sized Kluger, which is based on a Camry and gets a V6 petrol engine.

The new nameplate, which in some ways steps in for the 4Runner of the 1990s, undercuts the conceptually similar Ford Everest - a car priced from $54,990 – and is the same starting price as the Holden Colorado 7. But the Fortuner is more expensive than other rivals such as the Isuzu MU-X ($45,600) and Mitsubishi Challenger ($42,490).

The Fortuner will be offered in three models, all of which get three rows of seats to accommodate seven people. The entry-level GX ($47,990 for the manual, $49,990 for the auto) gets a reversing camera, cruise control, 7.0-inch touchscreen controller, Bluetooth, three 12V power outlets and a cooled glovebox. There's also curtain airbag safety (as part of the seven-airbag package) and ventilation to all three rows.

But the GX gets 17-inch black steel wheels, rather than the alloys of others.

Step up to the GXL ($52,990 as a manual, $54,990 as an auto) and it picks up 17-inch alloy wheels, smart key start and entry, rear parking sensors, tinted windows, roof rails and front foglights. There's also a leather steering wheel, auto up-down for all windows and a more advanced and detailed trip computer, although – like all Fortuners – there's no digital speedo built in.

There is also more off-road help in the form of downhill assist control.

At the top of the range is the Crusade ($59,990 for manual, $61,990 for auto), which gets 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a powered tailgate, climate control ventilation, satellite-navigation, digital radio, powered driver's seat, a 220V power outlet, partial leather trim (it's mixed with fake leather).

The Fortuner is powered by a new 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel – the same engine recently fitted to the Hilux and Prado – making 130kW of power and up to 450Nm of torque with the auto transmission (420Nm for the manual).

It is rated to tow up to 3000kg with the manual gearbox and 2800kg with the auto.

Is has a part-time four-wheel drive system, which means it can only run in rear-wheel drive on bitumen roads. Choose four-wheel drive – there's also a low-range 4WD system – and a locking rear differential for serious off-road work.

Underneath it shares its solid steel underbody protection with the Hilux.

The approach angle is 30 degrees and the departure angle 25 degrees. It can drive through up to 700mm of water and has ground clearance is 279mm.