Haval H9 vs Toyota Fortuner: Off-Road Toughness vs Reliability: The Ultimate SUV Showdown

Abu Dhabi: It is no surprise to find that SUVs dominate the automotive market worldwide. This global phenomenon is engulfing the UAE too. SUVs have been the preferred choice of buyers across segments due to their inherent advantages. It appears as though this trend is unstoppable, at least for the foreseeable future. With the SUV segment, the seven-seater is quite an interesting one in the UAE. Families need space, buyers want capability, and expect their vehicle to handle both city streets and desert sand with ease. Mix of on-road and off-road capabilities, making the segment highly popular among buyers, and the growing sales point towards this trend. 

In this segment, there are several great options for buyers, if you’re indeed looking for one. Two names are quite promising and offer great options, not necessarily in for same reasons and contexts. The Toyota Fortuner and the Haval H9, one name is familiar the other is not. 

The Fortuner has been around for years. A highly regarded, with a proven track record belonging to the brand Toyota. This makes it quite common across cities and towns. The Hilux-based SUV has, over the years, earned its reputation through decades of reliable service, especially demanding weather and driving conditions in the Emirates.

The H9, on the other hand, is a new kid in the block, and to a large extent is the challenger. Introduced by Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motors, under the Haval brand, and comes with its own advantages and benefits. It is capable, well-built, packed with features and also ready for off-road adventure, but available at a significantly lower price.  On paper, it matches or exceeds the Fortuner in many areas. But paper doesn't tell the whole story in the UAE, where brand reputation and long-term reliability matter as much as specifications.

They have some commonality, including being body-on-frame SUVs with three rows of seats, both offer four-wheel drive, and suitable for families who need space and occasional off-road ability. But their market positioning and customer approach are miles apart. Fortuner is a well-known brand that comes with Toyota's reputation and proven durability. The H9 is quite evidently a new entry and promises some compelling benefits, such as value, features, and modern technology.

So which one should you buy? We compare both of them on key parameters to help you make an informed decision.

Price Comparison

Like many Chinese brands, the H9 scores well when it comes to price. It is highly affordable, and its strongest USP. The 2025 H9 starts at AED 110,000 for the base variant and goes up to AED 130,000 for the top V2 Dignity variant. To make the deal even more attractive, you get a standard warranty of 6-year/200,000 km warranty, besides a complimentary 5-year roadside assistance. This is a clear attempt to make the car attractive with an assurance of peace of mind and hassle-free ownership.

The Fortuner costs AED 127,900 for the base variants, and gets quite expensive for the top-end variant, which is priced at AED 172,900. Also, you can see the difference in warranty, with Toyota’s standard 3-year/100,000 km. 

It is not really hard to figure out the noticeable price gap between the two rivals. Look at the top-end variant of the H6 that actually matches Fortuner’s base version. The gap is quite stark, and many families on a tight budget will find it highly difficult to ignore. Although there is still a major difference when it comes to resale value, and you know what Fortuner commands, which H6 will never. But you don’t want to sell and instead use it for the long-term, then it won’t be a huge factor. 

Model	Starting Price (AED)	Top Price (AED)
Haval H9	1,10,000	1,30,000
Toyota Fortuner	1,28,900	1,73,900

Dimensions comparison

The H9 is bigger in almost every dimension. At 4,950 mm long, 1,976 mm wide, and 1,930 mm tall, it's a large SUV with real presence on the road. The wheelbase measures 2,800 mm, and ground clearance sits at 224 mm. You get 18-inch wheels with 265/60 R18 tyres, and the fuel tank size is 80 litres. The boot is 747 litres, which isn’t the biggest but is sufficient. 

The Fortuner is 4,795 mm long, 1,855 mm wide, and 1,835 mm tall. The wheelbase is 2,745 mm with 220 mm ground clearance. The wheel size is the same, 18-inch alloy wheels with 265/65 R17  tyres are smaller. The fuel tank is 80 litres in size. 

You can make out that the H9 scores well when it comes to interior space, especially width. This could potentially make a real difference in the second and third rows, where families find more passenger seating and more shoulder room is welcome. Also, the volume is maximised thanks to the boxy design. While Fortuner, as most of us know, is a little narrower and slightly lower, which helps in moving through tight parking spots and city traffic.

As far as seating configuration, both are equal, three-row and seven seats. The third row in both is tight for adults; however, kids will find it okay. But that is the same as the design, which means they aren’t as spacious as a full-size SUV like the Land Cruiser or Patrol, but sufficient for families who prefer a bigger car with space and more seating capacity.

Dimension	Haval H9 (mm)	Toyota Fortuner (mm)
Length	4,858	4,795
Width	1,926	1,855
Height	1900	1,835
Wheelbase	2,800	2,745
Ground Clearance	224	220
Fuel Tank	80L	80L
Boot Space	747L	296L (with 3rd row up)
Wheel Size	18 inches	18 inches

Powertrain Comparison

The H9 gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 214 hp of power and 380 Nm of torque. The gearbox is an 8-speed auto and a full 4WD drive system. The engine seems to be fine, both in refinement as well as efficiency and performance. 

The Fortuner has two engine options: the base 2.7L EXR gets a naturally aspirated four-cylinder, giving 164 hp of power and 245 Nm of torque, integrated with a 6-speed automatic. The more powerful one is the 4.0L, V6 producing 235 hp of power and 376 Nm of torque with a 6-speed automatic. Here too you get a standard 4WD system across all variants.

The H9's turbo engine is good for low-end torque, helpful when you are towing and doing off-road work. The 8-speed gearbox from ZF is smooth, and when it comes to performance, nothing much to say other than it feels adequate. The Fortuner 2.7L, for some buyers, may feel underpowered, especially when loaded with passengers and luggage. But then there is an option of a bigger and more powerful powertrain. As expected, you can make out the difference; the V6 is smoother and more refined than the H9's turbo four, but also significantly more expensive. That fact remains. 

Specification	Haval H9	Toyota Fortuner
Engine	2.0L Turbo I4	2.7L I4 / 4.0L V6
Power	214 hp	164 hp / 235 hp
Torque	380 Nm	245 Nm / 376 Nm
Transmission	8-speed automatic	6-speed automatic
Drivetrain	Full-time 4WD	4WD (all UAE variants)
Fuel Economy	9-12 km/L	10-12 km/L (2.7L) / 7-9 km/L (4.0L)

Features

When it comes to the experience inside the cabin, you’ll know immediately once you get in. The H9's cabin feels modern, laid out with pretty much everything. You get Nappa leather seats with electric adjustment, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 7-inch instrument cluster. It gets more premium features like automatic climate control, wireless charging, an air purification system, a panoramic sunroof, and rain-sensing wipers, all make your life a lot easier. You most likely appreciate the dashboard layout, which appears clean, and decent quality materials for the price you pay.

The Fortuner's interior is familiar, but you know very well, it is more basic. The base variant has fabric seats and manual climate control with a 4.2-inch multi-information display. This gets better in the mid variants with leather seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While at the costly top-end, you get tan leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and an 11-speaker JBL sound system. The quality is great, and the design seems to be a little old-school.

Feature	Haval H9	Toyota Fortuner
Upholstery	Nappa leather (standard)	Fabric (EXR) / Leather (GXR/VXR)
Climate Control	Automatic	Manual (EXR) / Tri-zone (GXR/VXR)
Infotainment	8-inch touchscreen, CarPlay/Android Auto	8-inch touchscreen, CarPlay/Android Auto
Seating	7-seater	7-seater
Audio	10-speaker system	6-speaker (base) / 11-speaker JBL (VXR)
Sunroof	Panoramic	Not available
Special Features	Wireless charging, air purification, 360° camera	Heated/ventilated seats (VXR only)

Safety Comparison

Another area where both SUVs have got almost everything you need to feel safe and secure, especially when you take the family out. The H9 six airbags, standard ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system.  Is anything missed? Yes, full auto parking, which is there and works reasonably fine.

The Fortuner has seven airbags standard on all variants, then ABS with EBD and brake assist, vehicle stability control, hill start assist, and front and rear parking sensors. Toyota Safety Sense includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available on higher but only top variants. On paper, the H9 has more features. In reality, Toyota's safety systems are better calibrated and more reliable.

Feature	Haval H9	Toyota Fortuner
Airbags	6-8	7
Driver Assist	Adaptive cruise, lane departure, blind spot, collision warning	Toyota Safety Sense (PCS, LDA, AHB)
Cameras	360-degree	Reversing camera (standard), 360° (not available)
Parking	Full auto parking, sensors	Front and rear sensors
Off-Road Aids	Hill start/descent, terrain modes	Hill start assist

Off-Road Capability

While comparing these two SUVs, we are essentially talking about two off-road capable ones. So they are your everyday city and family SUVs, but also your adventure companion too. The H6 has body-on-frame SUVs with four-wheel drive for moderate off-road work, not the full off-roader like Cruiser or Wrangler. The H9 is offered with terrain management with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and 4-Low modes, locking rear differential, and high ground clearance of 224 mm. The Fortuner uses a Hilux ladder-frame chassis, a low-range transfer case, rear diff lock. The ground clearance is 220 mm, not the best, but it works. The H9 gives an impression of modernity with electronics smoothing the ride. The Fortuner is mechanical and proven.

Conclusion 

Looking at these two formidable, tough SUVs makes you feel really good for buyers. Because anyone looking to buy gets a lot to choose from as the market is flooded with options. Both the H9 and Fortuner are two distinctive SUVs in the three-row, seven-seater segment that come with their own strengths and capabilities, and very visible off-road DNA. 

The Fortuner belongs to the Japanese heritage with a long history and performance track record of over two decades. Its real strength is its solid reputation, and you instantly know that owning one is going to be easy due to Toyota’s excellent support. Everyone knows the SUV; mechanics fix them easily, parts arrive overnight, and resale value stays strong. It's the safe choice, but it costs a lot. 

On the other hand, the H9 is the latest to arrive, belonging to a new brand in the UAE market. However, it comes at an exceptionally valuable overall package. You get more features, more space, better warranty, and big upfront savings. For budget buyers who want a seven seater, and also cherish comfort, safety and love features, but don’t necessarily afford to pay more, it is a compelling choice. Haval's building reputation slowly, but the service network is limited versus Toyota. Our comparison offers a clear perspective, now visit the showroom of both the brands, and experience them in real life.