Toyota FJ Cruiser History
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The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a off-road-focused sport-utility vehicle, aimed at the same active crowd that loves the Jeep Wrangler or Nissan Xterra—or, for that matter, older CJs, Land Cruisers, or International Scouts.
With a retro exterior inspired in part by the 1960s-era Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, crossed with modern cues from Toyota's newer sport-utility vehicles—and an odd design that involves small rear-hinged back doors—the FJ Cruiser makes a rugged yet fashionable statement for those who want to take to the trail and look good in the process.
Under that showy exterior are the bones of a true, modern SUV. With most of its underpinnings shared with the previous-generation (pre-2010) Toyota 4Runner, the FJ Cruiser packs a 4.0-liter V-6 engine making 239 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, along with a sturdy off-road-oriented four-wheel drive system, which includes a low range. Helping out the 4WD system is a set of electronic aids that add finesse, control wheelspin, and help distribute torque—altogether called A-TRAC. Thanks to lots of ground clearance the FJ can ford up to 27.5 inches of water, and great approach and departure angles allow precarious rock-scrambling without damage.
With either a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission, the FJ Cruiser isn't downright quick on the road; accelerates well enough from a standing start but could use a little more passing power for some drivers. Highway cruising isn't the FJ's forte; it's noisy on multiple counts, with road and tire noise combining with some wind noise. And in the city, although the FJ has a manageable size, you might find visibility difficult. On a curvy road, its 4,300-pound curb weight gets in the way of any quick changes in direction and ride quality is a bit busy but not too jarring.
Inside, the Toyota FJ Cruiser has nice front seats and a good driving position, though the small rear-hinged back doors don't make access to the back all that much easier and the back seats are almost unusable. There's a decent amount of cargo space in back, but the floor is rather high and the side-hinged tailgate isn't always convenient.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser hasn't really changed much since its 2007 model-year introduction. Side airbags were made standard for 2008, and in 2009 the FJ got a helpful available rearview camera setup. Intuitive Park Assist is now also available.
Some accessories and special editions have made the FJ Cruiser even more off-road focused. A Toyota Racing Development (TRD) package includes Bilstein off-road shocks, special rims and all-terrain tires, a performance exhaust, rock rails, and appearance upgrades. For 2010 there's also a Trail Teams Special Edition package that includes some of those items and more interior equipment.
