Seating puts the driver towards the outside edge of the FJ’s cabin, making it easy to visualize where the front wheels are heading. This adds peace of mind, and can minimize the risk of wandering over a tire-shredding rock or into a nasty rut.
Plentiful suspension travel and generous ground clearance add further confidence, and the entire package is built with body-on-frame construction. Fans of a solid, tough and seriously capable off-roader typically agree that this is the way to travel.
Backing drivers up on said travels is plenty of equipment to help in particularly hairy situations.
Does that upcoming rock look suspiciously anxious to puncture your fuel tank or transmission? Not to worry. The FJ Cruiser wears plate-metal underwear to protect its sensitive stuff.
Hung up with 3 or less wheels contacting the ground? Just engage the standard A-TRAC system. Among other things, this off-road traction control function puts the kibosh on useless spinning of wheels that aren’t on the ground. This can get the FJ out of many sticky situations, rather than leaving it to tread uselessly like an overturned turtle.
There’s even a rear differential lock that clicks to life at the press of a button for additional last-resort traction. Tow-hooks are bolted to the front if all else fails.
Of course, all this capability as a mud-buggy doesn’t mean FJ Cruiser is some low-tech tractor, either. A long list of standard safety features is on board, and both premium audio and a full suite of power accessories are available.
Additionally, FJ Cruiser benefits from Toyota’s recently re-worked four-litre V6. For 2010, engineers coaxed another 20 horsepower from the under the hood for a total of 259. That’s figure comes using less fuel than last year’s model, too. More power using less gas with no compromise is starting to be a big priority for shoppers, and that’s just what’s happening here.
There are a few compromises, though. FJ Cruiser’s height and small rear doors mean entry and exit aren’t as simple as with larger machines like the 4-Runner. Some drivers will wish for a taller windshield and better forward visibility, and the relatively simple cabin lacks the upscale atmosphere available in other SUV models.
Given the standard turf-tackling hardware and built-in weekend adventure pass, FJ Cruiser’s fun-for-the-buck equation puts up a good argument for your $31,505.
photo:Paul Giamou, Toyota
Plentiful suspension travel and generous ground clearance add further confidence, and the entire package is built with body-on-frame construction. Fans of a solid, tough and seriously capable off-roader typically agree that this is the way to travel.
Backing drivers up on said travels is plenty of equipment to help in particularly hairy situations.
Does that upcoming rock look suspiciously anxious to puncture your fuel tank or transmission? Not to worry. The FJ Cruiser wears plate-metal underwear to protect its sensitive stuff.
Hung up with 3 or less wheels contacting the ground? Just engage the standard A-TRAC system. Among other things, this off-road traction control function puts the kibosh on useless spinning of wheels that aren’t on the ground. This can get the FJ out of many sticky situations, rather than leaving it to tread uselessly like an overturned turtle.
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| The Toyota FJ Cruiser is the multi-talented 4-Runner’s corporate cousin. |
There’s even a rear differential lock that clicks to life at the press of a button for additional last-resort traction. Tow-hooks are bolted to the front if all else fails.
Of course, all this capability as a mud-buggy doesn’t mean FJ Cruiser is some low-tech tractor, either. A long list of standard safety features is on board, and both premium audio and a full suite of power accessories are available.
Additionally, FJ Cruiser benefits from Toyota’s recently re-worked four-litre V6. For 2010, engineers coaxed another 20 horsepower from the under the hood for a total of 259. That’s figure comes using less fuel than last year’s model, too. More power using less gas with no compromise is starting to be a big priority for shoppers, and that’s just what’s happening here.
There are a few compromises, though. FJ Cruiser’s height and small rear doors mean entry and exit aren’t as simple as with larger machines like the 4-Runner. Some drivers will wish for a taller windshield and better forward visibility, and the relatively simple cabin lacks the upscale atmosphere available in other SUV models.
Given the standard turf-tackling hardware and built-in weekend adventure pass, FJ Cruiser’s fun-for-the-buck equation puts up a good argument for your $31,505.
photo:Paul Giamou, Toyota
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