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
Bring it to the US and the women will love it and buy it in droves.
My Wife would say “Hey, now wait a min……oh, ok, your right, I would buy that!” She’s a former Suzuki Sidekick owner who did take it offroad many times, but doesn’t like Jeeps or any of huge newer 4wds. She does like the Bronco, but it’s too big and the Jimny, but not sold here either.
I like it.
I’m not usually one to nitpick, but I’m not sure what this sentence is about. Is “body” supposed to be “bold,” or is there something I’m missing here? Is it “body-function-first,” which just brings to mind bodily functions instead?
I’m not going to try to argue with the “function-first,” even if I suspect the styling isn’t that way for any functional reasons.
It’s supposed to read “boxy.”
Autocorrupt strikes again.
Shoot, I didn’t even think about “boxy.” That makes perfect sense, thank you.
All I see is a blockier, uglier (if possible), Jeep Renegade.
I also see Jeep Renegade, but I also kinda liked the Renegade.
Are we sure this isn’t a Baby Passport?
https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2026-honda-passport-trailsport-126-68a5f85bb2923.jpg?crop=0.728xw:0.615xh;0.141xw,0.159xh&resize=1200:*
https://images-stag.jazelc.com/uploads/theautopian-m2en/Toyoda_Baby_Land_Cruiser_TS2.jpg
I think there should be an Autopian series on all of the great cars that aren’t sold in the U.S.. There is going to be an ever-growing selection from which to pull content.
Where is the Trump, I did that sticker?
I am not disappointed that I won’t have to see all that plastic cladding in the wild.
Wow, is that a Bronco sport?
No, there is not any hyper complicated failure prone rear drive system.
Ugh, why is the bumper two feet tall? Why is the hood a foot above the wheel arch? Why is the dash-axle ratio a FWD proportion (long front overhang)? I know there are valid (non-styling) reasons trucks these days are so vertical with such odd proportions, so anyone with actual knowledge on the reasons care to explain? The Tacoma and tundra, and big three trucks all have similar verticality with long front overhangs, and they are all ugly compared to the Toyota pickup of the 80s and 90s, or the Comanche, or the old Ranger, etc.
It’s a Jimny that needs to eat less and get some exercise..
Eaten all the Jimny pellets and is pretending to be innocent
MMMM Jimny chow.
Everything above the waistline is fine, a bit heavy on the chamfers but I guess that’s the current Toyota truck motif. I even like the C pillar and rear hatch/door.
Shame that below the waistline it looks like a John Deere Gator with all that black plastic and those little wheels.
It sounds capable but the production design has really awkward proportions compared to the concept version.
What’s with the insane front overhang?
It’s hideous. The wheels are comically too small for the proportion of the body, which is also tremendously out of proportion. The rear end, eww, what the hell is that? Why does it taper smaller at the back hatch?
Nice boxy style too bad the imv will never come to the us. But should be able to see it just about everywhere else Europe excluded.
Never understand when folks get excited for a locking center differential on a proper 4×4. I’d prefer standard selectable 4wd, though I know land cruisers tend to be full time.
I use to off road with a 95 grand cherokee that did not lock in the full time transfer case and it sucked. it was an issue off road.
I’ve had two vehicles with full time 4wd, an 80 Series Land Cruiser, and a 1977 Cherokee. Still have the Cherokee, it has a vacuum lock for the center diff. Not to be relied on for proper 4bying, but good for snow and whatnot. Somebody had put hubs on the land cruiser, so I ran it in 2wd with the center diff locked 90% of the time, as it already god abysmal fuel economy.
The style is old FJ with a bit of Jeep Renegade/Patriot and Honda Element mixed in. While the interior is monochrome black, it should be quite durable and functional. There is aftermarket potential for some contrasting pieces to liven it up a bit.
If you have your heart set on one, you’ll either have to move out of the country or wait twenty-five years to get a used one. (How many of us will still be alive in 25 years?!) Or maybe Toyota will come to their senses and sell it here, perhaps after the next election when (hopefully) all the tariff BS goes away.
My first thought seeing the title photo was, “Renegade.” Jeep has already tried the mini-ute here, and it wasn’t bad… but it didn’t thrive either. Toyota is probably smart to skip the US – not sure how many customers they’d find for a baby-sized hard-core off roader.
I saw what appeared to be a tiny buzzy jeep whiz through an intersection in my heavily jeepie town the other day.
Is there one actually out there?
Had the logo on the rear.
This looks fantastic. I get why it’s not coming here but dang are other countries lucky. Tires and true basic engine on a hilux frame. I’m not going to be sad for its omission here. I’m just going to be happy it gets to live out its little off roading dreams somewhere.
BTW, I love this trucklet, almost has me forgiving KIA for killing the Soul. I would so buy one of these when my Soul was having it’s last wheel fall off.
we can’t have nice things like that here. Thank the EPA. Unless the hood line is 6 foot tall and it doesn’t weigh 6 tons, it’s a no go. I still remember the Suzuki Samauri’s, geo trackers, and the original RAV4. I miss those little ute’s! Funny how the EPA was supposed to protect us from gas hogs, them made it to where only gas sucking utes were available. I won’t go on a government rant, though. Those that know, know.
This would still fall into the light truck category under CAFE, and would probably be at least a bit more fuel efficient than a larger non-hybrid light truck, which would potentially bring the average fuel economy calculation up, helping, not hurting Toyota’s regulatory numbers
Very primitive wood lego design. Love it. So, what it’s like for expats in Thailand?
I’m a pretty big Land Cruiser fan, and I’ve got mixed feelings about this. I like the smaller size idea, but I’d rather see something more Jimny sized. A 2.7L 4 seems a tad big; I’d rather have something a bit smaller with <2.0L, and lighter weight, for better fuel economy. I do love that it sticks with the BOF chassis, though. No mention of a manual transmission? I can’t imagine it’ll go on without one indefinitely, given the target markets. I’d assume there’s independent front suspension and a solid rear axle?
Styling is the question, though. I’m happy enough with everything from the rear doors forwards, but everything behind that feels pretty disastrous.
Eh, I’m glad to see it, at any rate!
The Hilux with the 2.7L gasoline engine has roughly the same fuel economy as the Jimny. So going with a smaller engine won’t do anything.
Wait, really? How did that happen? A significantly heavier truck, with over a liter of extra displacement, managed to be equivalent to a tiny Jimny? And I wouldn’t think a 2.7 Hilux is going to be a platform with a lot of complex modern fuel saving tech either.
Americans: We really want the the new Toyota FJ
Toyota: F*ck you, buy what we tell you to buy.
To me it looks like someone redesigned the Jeep Renegade using only a ruler. Considering I really liked and wanted a Honda Element and also an FJ Cruiser, I’m surprising myself with finding it ugly in proportions and design.