Toyota fj Cruiser (Toyota FJ Cruiser) 2021 - 2021 video review and test drive

The key is as simple and unpretentious as the car itself. It has a built-in immobilizer, and the key fob has a panic button.

“A real man should be rude, smelly and hairy,” says popular wisdom. Accordingly, the car for him must be large, brutal and passable. The Toyota FJ Cruiser is ideal for this role, and its close relationship with the Land Cruiser 120 allows us to hope that this is not just an image product, but also has some consumer qualities.

The appearance of the word “macho” in the Russian language distorted its original meaning. Now a macho is someone aggressive, prolific and brutal. There is little left of the original concept of “male” (this is how macho is translated from Spanish). And increasingly this word is used ironically.

“They say this car works flawlessly on girls.” Sorry, I couldn't check...

After crossing the ocean, something similar is observed in the Toyota FJ Cruiser. In America, this is an inexpensive youth SUV (price in the US starts from $25,990), actively using the image of the FJ40, popular in the 60s. In our country, even for a 5-year-old car you will have to pay almost twice as much, and at such prices we are not talking about any driving with subsequent washing of the interior with a hose. This car is one of the components of the image of a real man.

— It’s impossible to confuse the FJ Cruiser with another car, it has so many unique features

And why did I think it was short?! It turned out that the length of the Toyota FJ Cruiser is only 80 mm shorter than the donor 120th Land Cruiser Prado. However, with a considerable length (4,635 mm), the space in the rear seat is similar to that in any other three-door car. Obviously, it's all about the shortened frame from the TLC120 and the design refinements of the front end. As a result, although the rear sofa fit within the base, it left little space for passengers. It's a bit tight in the shoulders too.

— Although the trunk looks like a full-fledged expedition basket, it is not one

Most likely, the factory roof rack is to blame for this perception, when a rather large SUV seems like something compact. Take it off, and it's immediately clear that this FJ is still a crocodile (in terms of length). However, there are many for whom a crocodile is synonymous with appearance. We admit that this is one of the most unique cars. But tell me, is the Wrangler ugly? And any of the Hummer family? So the FJ Cruiser is no worse than any of them. He has an equally eminent ancestor, and the current image is complete.

Front turn signals are orange...

rear ones too

...only a symmetrical headlight beam may be banned in 2012

The glass opens separately, but this is of little use

Inside, the “efjay” is no less brutal. The handles in the interior are as impressive as those on the outside; not only children, but also girls may want to grab them with both hands. And you can hold on to the microclimate control handles on uneven surfaces. It seems that the main task of the windshield is to provide space for three wipers, and visibility is a ninth or tenth matter. As a result, viewing the surroundings from the bowels of the FJ Cruiser is only slightly more convenient than from the cabin of a Hummer H3. The driver's seat has to be raised immediately, firstly, because the front panel hides the hood, and secondly, because otherwise the seating position is reminiscent of a 4Runner - you sit with your legs extended.

The steering wheel not only looks like a foreign body in a brutal interior, but is also too thin in cross-section

The instrument panel is 100% consistent with the overall retro style

Traditional off-road instruments resemble robot eyes

Gigantomania has reached buttons, knobs, and knobs.

The rectangular front panel is a barrier behind which it is easy to hide from the outside world. In fact, obstacles in the form of curbs and ditches are often hidden behind it. Fortunately, this is not so scary - the wheels are almost 31 inches in size (265/65 R17) and the suspension is similar to that on the Prado/4Runner. The FJ40 may have been more off-road, but its descendant does not dishonor the honor of the uniform - it is a real SUV with a low gear and even a rear differential lock. There are a ton of accessories available in the US that significantly enhance the FJ Cruiser's off-road capabilities. However, do we need it?

It's easy to get into the back seats, but there's not a lot of space there.

Raising the seat is a natural desire in the FJ Cruiser

Inconvenient rear door pocket - a victim of style

The sacrifice of the rear passengers is not in vain - the trunk is large

There's even an outlet

I guess not. Again, the integrity of the image comes to mind. The Wrangler looks miserable in stock trim, the H3 drives just as poorly, and the FJ is completely ready to ride. Moreover, the SUV drives very well on asphalt. Of course, we are not talking about precision control and driver-like character, but the dynamics are impressive, and the loud exhaust fits well into the image. The FJ Cruiser is a good 200 kg lighter than the Prado and just as much faster. The suspension resembles the same Prado, that is, it is very good.

The gear selector is comparable to the controls of trucks

The driver also has a convenient shelf above the instrument panel.

Glove compartment too small

Despite the rich equipment, some buttons remained free

Did not like:

• unusual appearance
• dynamics
• brutal interior and exterior
• floor finishing with easy-to-clean plastic
• huge handles and handles

• visibility
• cramped rear sofa
• sitting in the driver's seat
• lack of lighting in the front part of the cabin
• a small number of niches and pockets

View from the outside

The FJ spins helplessly with its left wheels on the snow rolled out to an icy crust, while its right wheels stand on the virgin snow. I feel the absurdity of my situation - I parked the SUV on the elementary side of the road. Yes, in most cases I would figure it out myself, but apparently not today. And the residue remained...

I've had my eye on the FJ Cruiser for a while now. Quite a bright appearance, a powerful engine and the growing population of cars in the city just kept saying: “There’s something in this car!” Well, so I tried the FJ, and immediately in rather difficult weather conditions.

I feel a little uncomfortable inside. Maybe because, as it turns out, I have the smallest palm of all the test pilots? Large door opening handles, large automatic transmission knob, large heater control knobs. A hint that you can drive in leggings? But Toyota's standard paddle shifters, slightly inconveniently located buttons on the front panel and a thin steering wheel bring us back to earth. Design costs.

The front seats are American-style, but the rear seats are traditionally cramped for short cars. Moreover, the assemblers, choosing between the luggage compartment and rear passengers, gave preference to the first. Usually, climbing into the gallery in a three-door car is at least inconvenient, but not in an FJ. Quarters that open in the opposite direction help a lot! Although at first we struggled with the order in which the doors were closed, we got used to it by the end of the day.

The FJ drives great. A powerful engine, a fairly nimble gearbox and rear-wheel drive easily carry away a two-ton colossus. But the all-wheel drive system was a little puzzling. As you already know, I was stuck on the snowy side of the road. Of course, everything can be attributed to weak tires, but the Part Time system (plug-in front-wheel drive) also gave in. In this case, the rear axle locks only when downshifting is engaged. And for it to turn on, you need to drive a few meters. Unfortunately, I didn't have any.

But overall, I liked this muscular SUV. But I can’t help but feel artificial and pretentious, in almost everything. Deliberately rough appearance, bulging brutality inside. Although, probably, marketers and designers know better which product sells best. After all, purely functional things attract the attention of only a narrow circle of professionals.

— My conclusion: “If FJ, then only with mechanics and permanent all-wheel drive.”

Roman Kim

Personal cars BMW 318is and BMW X3.

Fan of figure driving competitions.

Doors

The ergonomics are funny with these doors. Look, I can close the back one from here, and I can close the front one, and my front handle is so crazy. There is such a grip, it feels like this door must weigh about 700 tons, because this handle must withstand the weight. But this is purely an image issue. Really like.

I can even open it from here. On the one hand, it is thought out, but for all movements you have to pull it out a little. After all, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, although compact, is an SUV. It is rather large, so the distance to it is large. It's a pity that you can't close one front door. There is an inscription here that you can only put bottles here, not cups - it’s even drawn.

Milestones of history

1960 - Toyota FJ40

2003 - Toyota FJ Cruiser Concept (Chicago Auto Show)

2003 - Toyota FJ Cruiser Concept (Chicago Auto Show)

2010 - Toyota FJ Cruiser

2010 - Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Japanese call the FJ Cruiser a reincarnation of the FJ40 model, which was produced from 1960 to 1984, and in Brazil it lived on the assembly line until 2001. The concept of the modern model was first shown at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show, and the production version was shown two years later. Serial production began in 2006, and in 2010 the car underwent a slight update, in particular, up to 260 hp. The engine power was increased.

Story

From the very creation of the 2021 Toyota FJ Cruiser, legend has it that the car was made just for an exhibition. And as a result, buyers “assaulted” Toyota offices. Where can I buy? What to take? What price? Where is she? Let us assemble it to order. And they started mass-producing it, that is, it shouldn’t have existed initially, but it turned out so cool that it had to be sold.

In terms of mass popularity, it cannot be compared with other models, because the product is purely image-based.

You have to be a bit of a special person to constantly carry so many “loves” along the highway. As a result, if you want to buy this car on Avito today, you can buy about 30 such cars throughout the country, but you will have to travel very far to do this. If you live in Moscow, you have a huge advantage, there are seven of them. If you are in St. Petersburg you have one car. So, what do you have to choose from? Take what you give, because most likely it will never happen. A very rare car.

Classmates

Hummer H3

Jeep Wrangler JK

Nissan X-Terra

Hummer H3 . In Kazakhstan, a 5-door SUV with a 3.5-liter engine (220 hp) and a 4-speed automatic transmission can be purchased for an average of $36,015 .

Jeep Wrangler JK , introduced in 2007, comes in both three and five doors. In Kazakhstan, versions with a 3.8-liter gasoline engine (202 hp) predominate, but there are few of them on sale. The average price is $43,625 .

The Nissan X-Terra looks bland compared to its competitors, but has a similar purpose. The average price for an SUV with a 4-liter gasoline engine is $25,350 .

Two questions: should I bring him back from America and how will I continue to live with him?

It is becoming increasingly difficult to import a Toyota FJ Cruiser from America. Now, according to the ETT, the customs payment for such a 2006 car with an engine capacity of 3,955 cc. cm will be 22,939 euros. After the new technical regulations of the Customs Union come into force in 2012, problems may arise with registering a car. The turn signals on the FJ Cruiser from America are orange, but the head optics shine symmetrically. How REO will react to this feature is unknown.

Dimensions of Toyota FJ Cruiser

Toyota FJ Cruiser is a compact five-seater SUV. Its overall dimensions are: length 4635 mm, width 1905 mm, height 1840 mm, wheelbase 2690 mm, and ground clearance equal to 230 millimeters. Such a solid ground clearance, coupled with an all-wheel drive system, gives the car truly remarkable cross-country ability. The SUV will easily climb high curbs, overcome small fords and be able to move comfortably along broken dirt roads. We recently tested an SUV of similar dimensions. It also came to us from Japan, only from the premium class.

The trunk of the Toyota FJ Cruiser can please you with its spaciousness; with the backrests of the second row of seats raised, there is as much as 790 liters of free space in the back. This is quite enough for both the daily tasks of a city dweller and for a serious outing into nature with sports equipment. If, by a whim of fate, the owner needs to transport something larger, he can always sacrifice seats in the cabin and fold down the backs of the second row of seats. In this position, up to 1892 liters of free space will be freed up.

Transmission cases

If you compare the engine to a shovel, and the type of transmission to the digging method, then in the case of the FJ, the same shovel can dig in three different ways. If you want, dig with one hand. The flawed rear-wheel drive variant is available with a 5-speed automatic.

However, you can dig with both hands. Permanent all-wheel drive (Torsen-type center differential) is combined only with a 6-speed manual transmission. We dug with one hand, only occasionally using the other limb - a classic Part Time 4WD with a manually connected front axle. The rear axle is equipped with a rigid lock.

About security

The Toyota FJ Cruiser has been tested for safety by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Both organizations noted the high safety of the SUV: 5 stars according to NHTSA and an overall rating of “G”, that is, “good”, according to the IIHS. In 2008, the FJ Cruiser even received the “Five-star rating in driver's frontal crash test” award.

Despite the lack of a B-pillar and hinged side doors, the likelihood of serious injury in a side impact is also low. The driver is protected by a side airbag and curtain airbag, which also protects the rear passenger's head from impact.

Exterior of Toyota FJ Cruiser

To say that the new body of the Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV has a striking appearance is to say nothing. The car has a rather unusual design, reminiscent of the famous Toyota jeeps of yesteryear, the Hummer, and the Land Rover. The car is quite angular in appearance, however, it still looks as “modern” as it did 10 years ago. In fact, only a very sophisticated person is able to notice restyling, if, of course, it was really carried out.

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The front of the car is quite compact. The radiator grille is a small rectangle covered with a fine net. The hood line is parallel to the road. At the front there is a narrow air intake slit. On the sides of the radiator grille there are round headlights, which together with it have a single chrome frame. It is flanked on either side by wide orange turn signals.

The new model has a front bumper with a narrower air intake that sticks out quite strongly forward. This is not a simple plastic body kit, but a full-fledged power structure made of metal with a plastic coating. Directly below it is a fairly powerful crankcase protection, which allows the car to have a formidable appearance and overcome bumpy off-road conditions without consequences. In the basic configuration, the car can be equipped with an electric winch.

Not much has changed on the side of the 2021 Toyota FJ Cruiser, as well as on all sides. The same plastic overlays were on the large square wheel arches of this model 10 years ago. The side glazing has a small height, which adds massiveness to the car. Door handles are chrome plated. Sufficiently wide thresholds are located quite high, thanks to the high ground clearance. Among the original exterior details, one can note the narrow doors for the second row of seats. They clearly hint that carrying passengers in the back seat is not a prerequisite for operating this SUV.

Judging by the photo, not much has changed at the back either. The stylish taillights are located on the small rear fenders and protrude significantly outwards. The unpainted plastic bumper has a clearly defined rectangular texture with many elements. At the bottom there is a stylized protection with narrow horizontal fog lamps on the sides. A full-size spare wheel is located slightly offset from the center line of the tailgate. At the top of the door, on a plastic trim, there is a brake light repeater. A powerful roof rack is located on the roof, allowing you to transport quite heavy cargo.

Buyer Help

There shouldn't be any major complaints about the Toyota FJ Cruiser. It’s not for nothing that in 2010 this model was named the most reliable SUV on the North American market. And that means a lot.

The body is strong and is not in danger of corrosion. And why worry about this, because the car began production not so long ago. But the frame can be called a weak point. Cracks may appear in the front of the frame. They are especially likely to appear on lifted vehicles with a winch installed.

The 1GR-FE engine is known from such models as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Land Cruiser 200. This V-shaped “six” has a timing chain drive and an omnivorous fuel system - it easily absorbs AI-92 gasoline without any visible consequences. Oil change with filter - every 10 thousand km. Conventional spark plugs last an average of 30 thousand km, but the engine does not run as well on them as on the prescribed platinum or iridium spark plugs, which last twice as long.

The transmission is reliable. The automatic transmission can withstand more than 250 thousand km before repair. It’s difficult to say exactly how much, since there are practically no cars with high mileage yet.

The weak point is the rear differential in models with forced locking. When trying to drive out of a diagonal hang, there is a risk of breaking the axle gearbox. In this case, a common pattern can be observed: the larger the diameter of the wheels installed, the higher the risk of damaging the unit.

The suspension, as befits such an SUV, is strong. Its service life directly depends on what roads and in what mode the car is used. And even more depends on the quality of components installed in the car. It's no secret that finding a used FJ Cruiser in original condition is very, very difficult.

Prepared by Evgeniy Karimov

Specifications

Automobile

Engine

Dynamic characteristics

Transmission

Suspension

Brakes

Dimensions and weight

Toyota FJ Cruiser interior

As the test drive showed, the modernization in the cabin is also not very noticeable. The car is purely utilitarian, so the design here is not luxurious. It is intended for active recreation. Finishing with plastic, fabric and metal is what is needed for this model. When looking at the front panel, you get the feeling that it was stretched between two pipes of different diameters. The large upper “pipe” houses the rounded deflectors of the climate system.

The three-spoke steering wheel is quite modern and comfortable. It has a leather braid and service buttons on the side spokes. Behind it, the instrument panel is clearly visible, where a large analogue speedometer occupies a central place. To the left of it is a tachometer of reduced diameter, and to the right are three pointer indicators arranged in one circle: fuel level, battery charge level and engine temperature.

The center console looks like a prehistoric radio. In its upper part on the front panel, a compass, thermometer and altimeter can optionally be placed. Directly below them on the upper “pipe” there are two air ducts, between which there is an electronic clock with luminous numbers. Below, in a colored frame, there is a radio with an LCD screen with two “knobs” and many auxiliary buttons. On the side of it there are buttons for emergency lights and heated seats.

The “floor” below is the climate control unit with three large “knobs”. At the very bottom of the center console there is a row of service buttons, connectors for charging gadgets and a 12V socket. Almost under the console on the main tunnel there are control levers for the gearbox and transfer case. Next to them is a cup holder for the driver and a handbrake. Between the front row seats there is a small niche for small items, a larger cup holder and a small armrest.

The seats here are there to sit on. They have a minimum level of comfort so that life for a road traveler does not seem like honey. Finished with the simplest and roughest fabric, they are also quite tough. At the same time, the seats have lateral support and mechanical adjustment. There is a sofa in the second row, which does not have this.

But in this car you can carry quite a lot of cargo with you. The trunk volume is 800 liters. By folding the second row of seats, you can increase it to almost two cubes of usable volume.

Interior trim

A photo of the salon will be below. If desired, the interior can be tuned or additional accessories installed. You can choose the colors of the body and body cover at your discretion. The car for Russia will be supplied in different colors.

Inside you can see an extraordinary and unlike anything else design. The equipment is all made reliably. Also, cruise control is not provided inside the cabin, but there is air conditioning even in the basic configuration. The towbar (basic equipment) will not have a rear view camera.

It will be possible to open the rear doors only after opening the front doors slightly. Passengers of average height in the rear will be quite comfortable. There can be 3 of them there.

The driver is given limited visibility, which will take some getting used to. It is limited by an overhanging roof and a narrow windshield. Because of this, it will be difficult to see traffic lights in the city if they are high up.

At the rear, visibility will be limited by the narrow glass and spare wheel, as well as the wide pillar and high glass line on the side. Convenience when using the trunk is that you can separately fold the upper and lower parts of the doors.

You can buy the Toyota fj Cruiser 2021 with a trunk volume of 790 liters. If you fold the back row of seats, it can be increased to 1890 liters. Competitors (Hummer H3 and Jeep Wrangler) have significantly smaller trunk sizes. Convenience is the low loading height and flat floor, which is obtained when folding the rear row seats.