Sound the klaxons, grab a paper bag if you need to hyperventilate, and don’t touch that dial. For years, we’ve been awaiting news on a new small off-roader from Toyota carrying the nameplate of one of the greatest off-roaders of all-time, and the moment you’ve all anticipated is finally here. The Land Cruiser FJ is real, it looks amazing, and it’ll infuriate you to no end when you learn what Toyota’s plans are for its littlest off-roader.
Right off the rip, the Land Cruiser FJ is a proper body-on-frame off-roader based on the architecture of Toyota’s IMV commercial vehicle. Riding on a 101.5-inch wheelbase, the littlest member of the lineup stands about an inch shorter in length than the outgoing RAV4, but makes up for it in height by standing 1.33 inches taller than the U.S.-spec Land Cruiser. Put those figures together and you get cute, cherub-like proportions that wear a modern interpretation of some absolutely classic styling.
Similarly to the U.S.-spec Land Cruiser, the Land Cruiser FJ was shown off with two different front ends, one with round headlights and one with more modern ones. Guess what? Both play well with the decidedly body, function-first styling. Nobody will ever mistake this thing for a crossover because it’s just too utilitarian for that. A rear mounted spare tire carrier permits easy access when wheeling, while removable multi-piece bumpers can be pulled off to increase clearance should you feel a bit eager. There’s room for a snorkel, and six-lug hubs are a visual flourish of real capability. Like big brother, like little bro.
The cabin also looks pure Land Cruiser, all upright and blocky and hardwearing. We’re talking real buttons, a real handbrake, even the Land Cruiser trait of a separate climate control screen in case the infotainment system packs up when subject to inhospitable desert conditions. Oh, and how about the view out over that flat hood? Doesn’t that just look fantastic?
Of course, aesthetics aren’t the real reason people buy Land Cruisers. They buy them because Toyota’s longest-running line of SUVs contains some of the toughest vehicles on the planet, and the Land Cruiser FJ leans into that with a rugged, proven powertrain. Under the hood sits the same 2TR-FE 2.7-liter inline-four used in the Hilux for the past 21 years. It’s hitched to a six-speed automatic transmission, and a part-time four-wheel-drive system puts the power to all four wheels when the going gets tough, provided the driver selects four-wheel-drive.
What’s more, Toyota claims the Land Cruiser FJ boasts the same wheel articulation as the legendary 70 Series Cruiser, which means it’ll really be able to handle the craggy stuff, and I even spot a button for a locking differential in the center console. Sure, 161 horsepower and 181 lb.-ft. of torque aren’t huge figures, but I have a feeling this rig will make those figures forever. It’s a Land Cruiser, that’s generally what they do.
Sadly, Toyota has no plans to bring the Land Cruiser FJ stateside, which feels like a huge miss. There’s a legion of Toyota truck and SUV fans still looking for something old-school, and this baby Cruiser seems to hit the nail on the head. Sure, with 161 horsepower, this isn’t a vehicle for everyone, but I’ll be damned if it wouldn’t start a movement. While Japanese-market pricing isn’t out yet, this thing almost certainly won’t be anywhere near as expensive as a Prado. Come on, Toyota. Give North Americans what they really want. I dare you.
Top graphic image: Toyota
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I’m going to be REALLY unpopular here, and say that the reason we’re not getting this is because it’s based off the hilux champ, and because of that, it’ll probably drive like a brand new 1997 Kia Sportage. From what I understand, the Hilux Champ platform is to offer a new option in continents where safety, handling, braking, and passing power take a backseat to affordability.
I’m not sure it would actually be better in any regard than a used Honda Element/Bronco Sport/Jeep Renegade save for reliability or resale value.
On the other hand, to be fair, that’s why you buy a Toyota.
I nominate it for a Bishop redesign. First two suggestions would be to make the entire hood as low as the center section (redesign fenders to suit that) and give it Rules of Wagonhood-compliant rear quarter windows. Maybe even make those lower than the door window line to reference the ’80s Tercel wagon.
This just triggered sad face and sad trombone from selling our Element… Of course not for the US. Oh the humanity, or the huge manatee from certain angles…
I really don’t think that the styling is as successful as the article is trying to sell it as. Kind of all scrunched up. The last FJ here in the USA had more successful styling, IMO.
I liked it until I saw that the C-pillar was the side of Rhode Island and that the rear window was taken from a Camaro’s door. It’s gotta feel like a bunker in the back of that thing.
I got excited there for a moment as the steering wheel is on the correct side! Sadly dashed as apparently the 20-year-old 2.7 won’t meet Euro 6d emissions regulations we are getting here…. bugger. Meanwhile we can get a Tundra for for $US100K that somehow is OK…
Not shocking. I’m not as down on it as others here, I would much rather something of this size than a full Land Cruiser or 4Runner but God forbid something BOF be reasonably sized.
The only way Toyota brings us something like this is if the market crashes and they’re left holding the bag with a pile of expensive SUVs they can’t move a la 2008. And then they’d have to tool an American factory to avoid the chicken tax and whatever Trump’s tariff of the day is on special.
I’ve sort of moved on from the hope that any manufacturer will ever bring us an interesting new car or form factor ever again. We’re probably stuck with the same format forever.
Jumping giant Jimny, they’d sell like hotcakes. How about a 2 door?
Somebody doesn’t get it, margins, US only standards and not to forget tariffs,
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME TOYOTA
This does not sound cautiously optimistic of you
Any plans they might have had to test the US market probably got scrapped with tariff stuff.
The chicken tax probably made it impossible but yeah extra tarrifs didn’t help either
Chicken tax doesn’t affect non-commercial ladder frame vehicles. The 4Runner is made in Japan.
Yawn, let me know when they make a proper FJ with a removable roof/cabrio roof to take on Jeep and the Bronco. This is just another wasted opportunity to create something worthy of the FJ name and print money.
I dont understand the apeal of takingthe roof off your truck. Just because jeep does it doesnt mean every “off road” suv should too
It’s not for everyone, but it definitely expands the appeal. I’m the owner of a Wrangler unlimited, which admittedly is a mall crawler. Why get a Wrangler if you’re not gonna off-road? There’s a bunch of reasons…
But for me: I’ve got a wife, two young boys, a dog… And I love convertibles. If you want top down+family hauling, Wrangler and Broncos are basically the only games in town.
Add on the fact that all of these off-roaders have hard tops as well; and the top-off option just becomes an additional way to print more money.
Looks like it was designed with a ruler, then someone else came along and erased the corners…
Honestly Toyota has done FAR worse in the past this looks suprisingly decent!
AutoCAD was stuck on chamfer for a few minutes there.
Good to know its relatively big, it looks kei sized from the 1st photo.
Comparing the wheel articulation to a 70 series isn’t much a flex. (pause for laughter).
True story! Though with much, much less payload capability.
Can I order my 70-series now? Troopy pease!
As soon as I saw the photo, I knew this thing wasn’t coming to the US. I love Toyota trucks, and am a serial 4Runner owner, but this thing? No thanks. Like, it looks kinda cool I guess, if you like the Renegade and/or really miss your Element, but it would almost certainly be too expensive because people will cross shop it with stuff like the Renegade and other car-based small crossovers. The market for this thing would be impossibly small in my opinion, and Toyota is right to not send it to us.
It’s adorable and appealing, though knowing Toyota, it’ll cost a pretty penny wherever they sell it, plus another $10K on top of that for dealer markups. And I know it’s hypocrisy, but if they offered a FWD-only version with the Corolla Hybrid’s excellent drivetrain for folks who just like the looks but only travel as far as Trader Joe’s, they’d sell twice as many. If there was a base hybrid for $30-32Kish, they’d have to beat the customers off with a stick, myself included.
I’m particularly amused by how the grill resembles their $17K (in Thailand) Hilux Champ, and the general blocky flavor of the ’25 Series 70 (in Mexico).
I can testify that there are dealerships that do no additional Mark up.
I want to believe you. My experience doesn’t match, though. At least not with Tacos, 4Runners, RAV4s, and Tundras.
I was able to get a dealer to discount my ‘24 4Runner in January of 2024 (and remove all the BS fees) so they exist out there!
In my limited experience you have to find one that is a volume dealer and go the last day of the month. Toyota allocates future models based on sales of current ones (tracked on a monthly basis I believe) so if you can find a motivated dealer they’ll make deals.
It also helped that there was a “used” ‘23 4Runner with less than 10k miles for sale for $10k less a mile down the road so I was able to use that at a negotiation comp.
Negotiating your way out of additional fees for one vehicle is not the same as a dealer that that does no do additional markups
I’m not sure what your comment means in relation to what I posted.
The Toyota dealership I purchased my vehicle from did not have any markups.
I also was able to get them to remove the additional fees.
Both things are true.
So can I and on one of the first GR86s in the country near the height of shortages.
The FWD version of this exists and it’s called a Jeep Renegade. Dunno if there’s a hybrid version though.
Shape this thing more like a 2005 Mercedes Bionic, add rear wheel skirts and full underbody paneling, keep the ground clearance, put in a Corolla 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual transmission with a transfer case set up for AWD operation, get rid of all of the bells and whistles to keep it basic, and you might have the basis for a 40+ mpg offroad machine for under $25k MSRP with enough room for a desperate American to sleep out of if they are homeless, as well as a platform for a 200+ mile range EV mini-SUV with a smallish 40 kWh battery.
It won’t look the same, but who cares, other than the C-suite assholes?
I’d rather have the Suzuki Jimny
I’m living in South America right now and every time I see one I wonder about the trouble to get one to the states when I go back…
So long as it’s at least 25 years old, there’s no trouble at all.
It’s a Cube out of its Element.
So good.
But it’s got no Soul
So it became a Renegade
….which was a Flex – until a Scion came along.
while it was on Patrol
Searching for a Coolbear, somewhere in the Greatwall region
It’s funky for sure but honestly, not digging it. That c-pillar, oh god. And from the side it looks like it it a curb, the frame stopped but the body kept going.
Well, nobody likely thinks of it as beautiful, but funky/different is welcome (by me at least). It looks like a lower-rez, butch version of Jeep’s Renegade.
It’s not just a c-pillar, it’s an ocean-pillar. It’s so big it’s also a d thru z pillar. If the pillar were any larger, it would be doric, ionic, or corninthian.
Tuscan. Not much ornamentation there.
The side pic makes it look as if it was hit in the rear and the whole body shifted forward on the chassis. That being said, it is still a vast improvement over the garden-variety crossovers cluttering the roads.
Kinda looks like it could dock with the International Space Station.
FIFY.
Of course, aesthetics are the real reason
many people buy Land Cruisers.
That is the chunkiest C-pillar ever.
Chunky and eye-catching (good or bad), but does hearken back to the FJ Cruiser for sure. I would hope the visibility out of the driver’s seat is better.