MG Magister vs Toyota Fortuner: Two big SUVs and where they lead

MG Motor India finally unveiled the new MG Magister SUV in the Indian market. First showcased at the 2025 India Mobility Expo, the Magister is a substantially updated version of the Gloster. Pre-bookings have started through MG dealerships and online channels with a booking amount of Rs 41,000. The company will reveal prices and begin showroom previews and test drives from April 2026, with deliveries expected to begin in May 2026. When launched, the Magister will take on rivals like the Toyota Fortuner Legender. In this article, let’s compare the newly revealed Magister with the Toyota Fortuner Legender.

MG Magister vs Toyota Fortuner Legender: price, variants The new MG Magster will be offered in three variants – Sharp 4×4, Savvy 4×2 and Savvy 4×4, with prices expected to start at Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom). The company will announce prices and begin showroom previews and test drives from April 2026, with deliveries starting in May 2026. The Fortuner Legender is offered in two variants – Legender 4×2 and Legender 4×4, with prices ranging from Rs 42.1 lakh to Rs 47.5 lakh (ex-showroom). MG Magster vs Toyota Fortuner Legender: Engine options and 4×4 hardware Talking about the engine, it has been introduced in a single 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel with 215 HP power, which comes with ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The SUV gets a 4×4 system with all-terrain management software, which MG calls M-Hub, which offers 10 selectable terrain and drive modes along with a segment-first three differential locks. It also gets a crawl mode called M-Crawl function, and has a maximum water-wading capacity of up to 810 mm.

The Toyota Fortuner Legender also gets a single engine option – a 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo diesel engine, producing 201 hp power and 420 Nm torque in the MT and 500 Nm in the AT. It gets two gearbox options – a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. This engine also gets a 48V mild-hybrid system that includes a belt-integrated starter generator and a lithium-ion battery. The Legender also gets 4×2 or 4×4 variants with five multi-terrain modes. MG Magister vs Toyota Fortuner Legends: Dimensions Comparing the dimensions further, the new MG Magster measures 5046 mm in length, 2016 mm in width, 1876 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2950 mm. The Fortuner, on the other hand, has a length of 4795 mm, width of 1855 mm, height of 1835 mm and a wheelbase of 2745 mm. On paper, the MG Magister is clearly a better shaper than the Toyota Fortuner. It is long, wide and tall, and also has a very long wheelbase. MG Magister vs Toyota Fortuner Legender: Features and Safety In terms of features, the Magister gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, MG’s i-Smart 2.0 connected-car technology, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker JBL sound system, electrically adjustable front seats that offer heating, cooling and multiple massage functions, three-zone automatic climate control with rear-row vents, Dual wireless charging pads, a panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, 64-color ambient lighting, a gesture-activated tailgate and more.Safety equipment includes Level 2 ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning with prevention, and blind-spot monitoring. Standard safety features also include electronic stability control, hill-hold and hill-descent control, ISOFIX mounts, a surround-view camera system and six airbags.Talking about the features of the Fortuner, it gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected car tech, semi-digital cluster, 8-way power-adjustable and ventilated driver and co-driver seats, 11-speaker JBL audio system, front parking sensors, ambient lighting, wireless charger and more. In terms of safety, it gets a rear camera with sensors, seven airbags, stability control, ABS with EBD, hill assist control and more.