Pros
FJ Cruiser is a capable off-road vehicle that can be used in town with ease. It comes with practical instrumentation, large doors, and a sparse interior.
Cons
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled vehicle to the Land Cruiser FJ series that rivaled Land Rover in off-road ability. The FJ Cruiser has the simplicity, but not the ability to play in that league.
Price
MSRP is $33,540 for a base model. MSRP for a basic off-road version is $37,050.
Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined in L/100 km)
Manual transmission:13.8/10.3/12.2
Automatic Transmission:12.7/9.5/11.3
Improvements and changes
The FJ Cruiser bounces into 2014 virtually unchanged. Based on the 4Runner platform, much of the optional equipment is similar.
Exterior Styling
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is styled to be a modern imitation of its namesake. The old-style fenders and hood attached to the upright and box-like cabin evoke memories of off-road greatness. The front doors open nearly 90 degrees as do the rear half doors that make side loading and unloading of gear or people easy. At the back is a two-part rear door. The glass is one part and pops open at the push of a switch, while the entire door swings open for ease of loading.
Inside
The traditional “garden hose” interior can still be cleaned that way. You do need to be a bit more carful of the electrics in the dash area, but the floor mats and flooring are all rubberized and built for that type of treatment. The off-road package includes a set of interesting gauges that let you know all the angles the FJ Cruiser is at. Some find it quite entertaining to watch. The front buckets are comfortable and provide decent support for off-road work. The rear seat is more an accessory for short trips than a seat to be used over long distances.
Cargo/towing/payload capacity
Maximum towing capacity is 2,268 kg (5,000 lb).
Maximum cargo volume behind the front seats is 1,890 litres. With the second-row seat in place it is 790 litres. Maximum payload is 1,230 kg (2,712 lb).
Powertrain
The only engine used is the DOHC, 24-valve, dual variable valve timing (VVT-i) V6 that puts out 260 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard and a 5-speed automatic is optional. Full-time 4WD is standard while a part-time system with an automatically disconnecting differential is optional. Active traction control, rear differential lock, a 2-speed transfer case with protector palates is all standard. Crawl control is only available when ordered with an automatic transmission.
Safety
Dual front, front seat side impact, and full-length side curtain airbags are standard. All seating positions have three-point lap belts. The LATCH system to anchor child seats is standard. A tire pressure monitoring system is standard. STARS safety system which consists of stability control, traction control, ABS, electronic Brake force distribution, and brake assist are all standard along with four-wheel disc brakes.
Comparables
Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Xterra, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Tribeca, Kia Sorrento, Nissan Murano, Ford Edge.
FJ Cruiser is a capable off-road vehicle that can be used in town with ease. It comes with practical instrumentation, large doors, and a sparse interior.
Cons
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled vehicle to the Land Cruiser FJ series that rivaled Land Rover in off-road ability. The FJ Cruiser has the simplicity, but not the ability to play in that league.
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| Photo: Toyota |
Price
MSRP is $33,540 for a base model. MSRP for a basic off-road version is $37,050.
Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined in L/100 km)
Manual transmission:13.8/10.3/12.2
Automatic Transmission:12.7/9.5/11.3
Improvements and changes
The FJ Cruiser bounces into 2014 virtually unchanged. Based on the 4Runner platform, much of the optional equipment is similar.
Exterior Styling
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is styled to be a modern imitation of its namesake. The old-style fenders and hood attached to the upright and box-like cabin evoke memories of off-road greatness. The front doors open nearly 90 degrees as do the rear half doors that make side loading and unloading of gear or people easy. At the back is a two-part rear door. The glass is one part and pops open at the push of a switch, while the entire door swings open for ease of loading.
Inside
The traditional “garden hose” interior can still be cleaned that way. You do need to be a bit more carful of the electrics in the dash area, but the floor mats and flooring are all rubberized and built for that type of treatment. The off-road package includes a set of interesting gauges that let you know all the angles the FJ Cruiser is at. Some find it quite entertaining to watch. The front buckets are comfortable and provide decent support for off-road work. The rear seat is more an accessory for short trips than a seat to be used over long distances.
Cargo/towing/payload capacity
Maximum towing capacity is 2,268 kg (5,000 lb).
Maximum cargo volume behind the front seats is 1,890 litres. With the second-row seat in place it is 790 litres. Maximum payload is 1,230 kg (2,712 lb).
Powertrain
The only engine used is the DOHC, 24-valve, dual variable valve timing (VVT-i) V6 that puts out 260 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard and a 5-speed automatic is optional. Full-time 4WD is standard while a part-time system with an automatically disconnecting differential is optional. Active traction control, rear differential lock, a 2-speed transfer case with protector palates is all standard. Crawl control is only available when ordered with an automatic transmission.
Safety
Dual front, front seat side impact, and full-length side curtain airbags are standard. All seating positions have three-point lap belts. The LATCH system to anchor child seats is standard. A tire pressure monitoring system is standard. STARS safety system which consists of stability control, traction control, ABS, electronic Brake force distribution, and brake assist are all standard along with four-wheel disc brakes.
Comparables
Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Xterra, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Tribeca, Kia Sorrento, Nissan Murano, Ford Edge.