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STYLING | 10 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
interior design...stays true to the original FJ philosophy by being straightforward and functional rather than overly stylized and littered with gimmicks
Edmunds' Inside Line
a modern African safari vehicle
MSN Autos
styling is very retro and the black matte hood sticker adds even more of a throwback look
AutoWeek
the temperature-control knobs look like they belong on a Lego Duplo play table
Car and Driver
Toyota hasn't touched the styling of the FJ Cruiser since it introduced this tough off-road-oriented model more than five years ago—and that's a good thing, as the FJ arrived well-detailed and pretty perfectly balanced, design-wise, between modern and ageless.
To sum, the FJ Cruiser channels the 1960s-era FJ40, but was updated with a more whimsical, almost cartoonish look that's still really cool. HUMMER models came close to matching the FJ's presence, but they're history. And if MINI ever decided to make a macho true-truck off-roader, this might also be what it would look like.
And in any case, we think that the FJ's in-your-face looks and retro cues like the steep windshield and old-style front end are what make the vehicle so special. The design is also practical in some areas, too. The FJ Cruiser’s side access doors, for instance, open 90 degrees in clamshell fashion for easy rear-seat ingress and egress. Additionally, a swing-up glass hatch is incorporated into the side-hinged rear door and can be opened independently for quick access to the trunk.
The chunky, almost technical look continues into the cabin which is dominated by a somewhat drab instrument panel featuring matte-metallic highlights. Traditional round gauges are separated into clusters in the dash, and meshy seating with contrasting body-color inserts establish a serious basic-truck attitude; on the bright side—and in keeping with the retro-goodness—significant portions of the dash are done in the same color as the exterior.
The Trail Teams Special Edition stands out from the rest of the lineup for 2013 because of its monotone Cement Grey exterior, with black bumpers, grille, and door handles--plus matching Cement Gray accents inside.
Conclusion
The 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser has a design that looks tough, rugged, and almost ageless.
