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2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser Safety Review

July 4, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Good,” frontal offset and side impact
IIHS

Five stars, driver-side front impacts; four stars, passenger-side front impacts; five stars, side impacts; three stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

full-length side curtain airbags” standard
Edmunds

front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags” standard
Car and Driver

The scores are there, but the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser’s safety grade is docked for poor visibility. For 2009 the FJ Cruiser receives roll-sensing side curtain airbags, as well as active headrests for the front seats.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the FJ Cruiser its top “good” rating for frontal offset and side impact collision occupant protection. Edmunds points out that in “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser earned a top five-star rating for driver safety in head-on collisions. Front passenger protection rated four stars.” Additionally, front and rear passenger side impact protection earns a perfect five stars.

The FJ’s stout Toyota 4Runner frame performs very well in crash testing. Combined with a litany of safety features, the two should both help prevent accidents and cushion the blow—should the driver of an FJ experience one. Car and Driver reports the FJ Cruiser comes standard with stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seatbelt pretensioners, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

Automobile Magazine notes with “the spare tire taking up much of the tailgate, it's advisable to order the optional rear parking sensor.” Practicality has to take a backseat with a style as radical as the FJ Cruiser’s; nowhere is this more obvious than from the view out, which Motor Trend likens “to wearing a football helmet, with a wide, truncated slot straight ahead and two big blind spots in the periphery.” Despite the optional backup camera, the FJ’s poor visibility outward can be seen as a design that reduces safety.

Conclusion

The 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser offers solid occupant protection, but its design creates major visibility problems.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Good,” frontal offset and side impactIIHSFive stars, driver-side front impacts; four stars, passenger-side front impacts; five stars, side impacts; three stars, rollover resistanceNHTSAfull-length side curtain airbags” standardEdmundsfront-seat-mounted side-impact airbags” standardCar and Driver The scores are there, but the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser’s safety grade is docked for poor visibility. For 2009 the FJ Cruiser receives roll-sensing side curtain airbags, as well as active headrests for the front seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the FJ Cruiser its top “good” rating for frontal offset and side impact collision occupant protection. Edmunds points out that in “National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser earned a top five-star rating for driver safety in head-on collisions. Front passenger protection rated four stars.” Additionally, front and rear passenger side impact protection earns a perfect five stars. The FJ’s stout Toyota 4Runner frame performs very well in crash testing. Combined with a litany of safety features, the two should both help prevent accidents and cushion the blow—should the driver of an FJ experience one. Car and Driver reports the FJ Cruiser comes standard with stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, dual front airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, front-seatbelt pretensioners, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Automobile Magazine notes with “the spare tire taking up much of the tailgate, it's advisable to order the optional rear parking sensor.” Practicality has to take a backseat with a style as radical as the FJ Cruiser’s; nowhere is this more obvious than from the view out, which Motor Trend likens “to wearing a football helmet, with a wide, truncated slot straight ahead and two big blind spots in the periphery.” Despite the optional backup camera, the FJ’s poor visibility outward can be seen as a design that reduces safety. ConclusionThe 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser offers solid occupant protection, but its design creates major visibility problems. 2009 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER STYLING | [9 out of 10] Road & Track: “Those familiar with the older FJs will immediately see the family resemblance” Motor Trend: “the basic cabin harmonizes nicely with the busier exterior” Car and Driver: “retro-themed design” Buyers bored with bland ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

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See the Toyota FJ Cruiser in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (1 total)

  1. By  Play 99.6 #1, Posted: 8/25/2009

    we totally dig the FJ Cruiser, so we ran a contest to give it away. here are the highlights from Touch It To Win It - you won't believe how long the winner lasted with her hand on the car!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URW42QjO19g

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