Toyota FJ Cruiser: Fun, joy in an iconic package

By Botchi Santos July 15,2014

THE FJ CRUISER’S engine sounds good: growly, deep-chested and surprisingly rev-happy, willing to zing to redline all day.

When Toyota unveiled the FJ Concept vehicle at the 2003 North American International Motor Show, almost 20 years after production of the original FJ40 Land Cruiser utility vehicle ended, everyone was shocked that Toyota, such a conservative, stiff and unexciting conglomerate, would commission such a vehicle. In 2006, the FJ Cruiser hit showrooms in the United States and quickly became a favorite.

 

It looked fun, comical almost, but possessed serious offroad ability thanks to underpinnings shared with many of Toyota’s light commercial utility vehicles such as the Land Cruiser Prado, Hilux, Tacoma, 4Runner and Lexus GX SUV. We have current Toyota chair Akio Toyoda to thank for the FJ Cruiser, as he was secretly involved in its feasibility, development and testing. Call it a preemptive strike from the big boss himself before launching the revitalized Lexus lineup with the L-Finesse design theme and trademark spindle grill, as well as the everyday man’s sports car, the 86, plus the rumored MKV Supra to go into production by 2015.

 

It’s funny, though, that when FJ Cruisers started coming into the country in late 2006, it was priced close to P3 million, with some paying questionable taxes, but it was a massive hit. Everyone who wanted a fun offroad-looking vehicle—who didn’t want to spend on European metal yet wanted a little more sophistication and panache than the traditional ladder-frame, pickup-based, four-cylinder SUVs have—had found their answer. It looked attractively different, in really loud colors, and had a sense of occasion about it. Toyota had zeroed in on an emotional connection with this car and its buyers.

Rev-happy

 

It was no surprise then that Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. finally decided to officially import the FJ Cruiser into our shores. Armed with a Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement certification, the FJ Cruiser knocked off P600,000-P700,000 from the gray market price, while offering full-factory warranty. The die was cast, and hundreds of enthusiasts started lining up again at Toyota dealerships.

 

All official-import Toyota FJ Cruisers come only with a five-speed automatic and four-wheel-drive system powered by a 4-liter, V6-designated 1GR-FE with dual VVT-i that produces 260 horsepower and 367 Newton-meters of torque on 91 octane fuel. Use higher octane, and expect a few more ponies to be liberated. The engine itself sounds good: growly, deep-chested and surprisingly rev-happy, willing to zing to redline all day.

 

Inside, you get washable fabric seats with a fully sealed plastic interior. This is interesting because it means you can simply hose down the interior when it gets muddy during your offroading expeditions. Whether this presupposes that you can take in some water during river crossings is a question nobody from Toyota is willing to answer though, but hard-core offroader FJ enthusiasts say it should be fine.

 

Unfortunately, the FJ was designed in an era where little emphasis was placed on driver comfort and optimal driving position, focusing instead on what was available from the corporate parts bin while retaining its eye-catching style. Indeed, sitting inside the FJ, you’re comfy and don’t mind spending hours upon hours behind the wheel, but the steering wheel angle is too upright, the pedals are like a sewing machine’s and the overall feel is that of sitting atop the FJ, rather than simply sitting inside of it.

 

Getting in is tough, too. Suicide doors on the rear make entry to the already tight back seats tough. You also have to open the front doors before you can open the rear ones, and that’s after you’ve overcome the really tall ride height of almost 1 foot off the ground.

 

Height a blessing

 

This difficulty in entry and exit makes the FJ Cruiser a tough everyday vehicle for families, ladies (especially pregnant ones) wearing heels and short skirts and families with children. I rode in the back seat from Manila to Clark, and it felt claustrophobic. Thankfully, luggage space in the trunk was cavernous.

 

But this added height blesses the FJ Cruiser with almost 700 millimeters of flood-wading ability, and almost 230 mm of ground clearance. You can essentially overcome most flash floods, and climb up and down most terrain thanks to its 34-degree departure angle,  30-degree approach angle and 27.4-degree break-over angle. Yes, you can clear some center islands when traffic gets really bad. Just don’t tell people you read that from here.

 

In terms of safety, the FJ Cruiser is right up there, too: four-piston front and two-piston rear ventilated disc brakes equipped with ABS-EBD and Emergency Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and  A-TRAC, or adaptive traction control, which mimics locking differentials without the binding sensation, and  allows you to clear loose terrain such as mud and fine sand. You also get six airbags in total: side front and side rear airbags plus front airbags for the driver and front passenger. The lack of a traditional B-pillar for the suicide doors probably necessitated the side rear bags.

 

Perfect imperfections

 

So how is it to drive? Like a truck, in the best possible way. I’m used to driving low-riding, low-slung cars (because my Yaris wants to be a race car and my Supra thinks it’s a supercar) so getting on top of the driver’s seat was a welcome change: You see well ahead of the road, and the steering wheel, which admittedly is quite upright, feels light and easy but with a touch of more self-centering feel than I’m used to versus other Toyotas.

 

The engine is a real chugger: It’ll happily rev at around 2000 revolutions per minute all day, bouncing back and forth between 90 and 110 kilometers per hour, which will net you a

THIS icon possesses a serious offroad ability.

semidecent 6.5 kilometers per liter on the highway. Break 5 kpl in the city and you’re a saint. Credit goes not only to the huge engine but to barn door aerodynamics, as the FJ is pretty much a brick wall, aerodynamically, on the highway.

 

Surprisingly, driving in town was, well, pleasurable. Metro Manila’s roads and byways have more in common with the moon than a modern highway system, so I essentially ignored all the potholes, bumps, ruts and surface imperfections. The FJ Cruiser just swallowed all these up without much concern. The somewhat short wheelbase, coupled with the tall ride height, means the FJ seesaws rather uncomfortably on any less than baby-bottom-smooth highways past 100 kph; but for me, I think it’s part of its character.

 

Surprisingly, maneuvering in tight spots was easy as the FJ has excellent turning radius. However, the front and rear overhangs are quite generous, and there’s a number of blind spots looking out from the driver’s seat, which makes this a daunting task for newbie drivers. If you’re used to driving anything low-slung, however, it’s not much difficult than your usual sports car.

 

There’s a myriad of available aftermarket support for the FJ Cruiser, which makes it popular for enthusiasts. Suspension, wheels, tires and complete lift kits, LED, xenon and old-school halogen spotlights and fog lamps, plus reinforced steel bash bumpers front and rear along with skid plates, transmission plates and differential plates, roof racks and rails, and even a supercharger kit with a piggyback ECU are available. Of course, the usual engine bolt-on parts are also available, such as a cold-air intake kit, a snorkel kit, headers, exhaust and so on.

 

The verdict? It’s a great, fun-to-drive, enjoyable and iconic car. Performance (in the right arena, which is offroad) is impressive; there’s presence, an emotional connection to its owner, large aftermarket support, and unique and iconic looks.

I want it, but…

 

I was actually almost ready to pony up for one to replace my Yaris, but my wife has a hard time getting in and out of it, and being parked beside my Supra in our tight carport means there’s almost no space to get in and out of either cars. And it’s really thirsty, combined with my driving style (I saw 4 kpl until I told myself to tame it lest I run out of fuel fast!). I’d bankrupt myself really quick in this!

 

There’s a substantially long waiting list as well (as long as six months, depending on color) from what I heard from friends who bought one recently. Nonetheless, I really want to own one someday.

 

Sadly, Toyota has announced that 2014 will be the FJ Cruiser’s final year of production. They have yet to announce a replacement, too, so that means if you, me and everyone else really want an FJ Cruiser, it’s time to get in line now.

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