Toyota FJ Cruiser: Cool Box For America

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

With the FJ Cruiser, Toyota has a stylish off-roader with a retro look in its range. But if you want to buy it in Germany, you have to go to a free importer.

By Stefan Grundhoff

The FJ Cruiser was one of the great favorites of the public at the American auto shows. Retro elements, painted blue and white and with a robust outfit, it took the hearts of American off-road fans by storm. But the Japanese waved it off when it came to the European market. No, the FJ Cruiser shouldn't come to old Europe.

Free importers are happy

Many German Toyota dealers are sad, free importers like US-Cars24 rub their hands and hardly keep up with deliveries. Cool FJ design instead of a tired Land Cruiser outfit - who says no to that?

In the USA, the Japanese not only scores with his unusual styling, but also with prices from 22,000 US dollars. In Germany, however, it gets a bit more expensive: "Including imports, customs and the corresponding modifications, the Toyota FJ Cruiser starts with us with 32,600 euros," says importer Dieter Thiel. That's how much you have to pay for a standard Land Cruiser.

Retro design a real show

But the retro design of the 4.67-meter-long Toyota FJ Cruiser is a real show: mighty protective strips and flared fenders could also turn it into a service vehicle for a lunar expedition. Especially with the rounded front, memories of the legendary FJ series from Toyota come to mind, which were produced extremely successfully from 1960 to 1983.

The long bonnet and the rear passenger cell also give rise to hot rod feelings. The doors that open in opposite directions are a real highlight. The front door could also come from a casual coupe due to its size, but the rear doors are nothing more than small access hatches and unfortunately have no windows that can be opened.

Practically rustic in the interior

Nevertheless, even tall people can get in properly and thanks to the 2.69 meter wheelbase there is more space than enough in the second row. The interior is practically rustic, lavishly dimensioned rotary and push buttons seem to come from the robot age.

But the FJ is not a noble SUV, but a young trendy mobile. This is particularly noticeable in the plastics used, the water-repellent fabric seats and the robust control elements. The trunk varies between 790 and 1892 liters of storage space, which is easy to load thanks to the rear door that opens wide.

All-wheel drive for an extra charge

Under the sheet metal there is well-known all-wheel drive technology from the Toyota 4Runner, but the standard FJ Cruiser is only a rear-wheel drive, the 4x4 drive costs extra. A diesel is not in the range, so the importers lure with a LPG system, which costs around 3,000 euros extra, but saves money in the long term - in any case there is enough space for the 80 liter underfloor tank, most FJ Cruisers carry their spare wheel on the Tailgate.

The drive is provided by the well-known four-liter V6, which gives the roughly two-ton Toyota a lot of legs. The engine mobilizes up to 178 kW / 242 hp and a maximum torque of 377 Newton meters when the pedal is pressed. But there is hardly much more than 160 km / h because of the square, practical aerodynamics.

The rigid axle is noticeable

Average consumption levels off at around 12 liters of regular gasoline per 100 kilometers - at least on the road, as expected, the American demands a hefty gulp more off-road. But it offers good conditions for the next picnic in rough terrain.

The ground clearance of 24.5 centimeters and a fording depth of 70 centimeters give you just as much freedom as short overhangs with mighty slope angles of 33 and 30 degrees respectively.

Memories of old FJ

In addition, the FJ Cruiser offers an extremely complete range of safety equipment. There are not only internally ventilated disc brakes at the front and rear, but also a lockable rear axle differential, ESP, front, head and side airbags, brake assist and precise, speed-dependent power steering.

But if you are out and about in the FJ Cruiser, you will also feel reminded of the old FJ because of the driving experience. Especially on bad slopes there is a noticeable rumble in the rear, the rigid axle cannot be concealed, even because of the mighty 265/70 tires.

Eye-catcher for the city

But that in no way detracts from a cool appearance. Especially in narrow city centers, the audience has enough time to take a look at the FJ. The two-tonne playmobile drives everything differently than manoeuvrable and requires a certain amount of practice or the optional parking aid even when parking backwards, because you can hardly see anything behind. An automatic transmission is standard and a must in any case. Such a cruiser simply must not be switched and the performance is always enough to be powerful on the road.

In Germany, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is unfortunately not as cheap as it is in its home country USA. If you want to be out and about with equipment appropriate to your status, you have to buy another 6,000 to 8,000 euros for all-wheel drive, safety package and numerous comfort extras in addition to the entry price of over 32,000 euros. On the other hand, in city traffic you are happy about an interested audience and an all-wheel drive that does not have to hide from the broad competition.