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
Once I realized this wasn’t an EV like the Compact Cruiser concept, or even an EREV or PHEV, I stopped being disappointed.
I like the idea, we need to bring back tiny off roaders, but it looks like it’s being swallowed by plastic cladding.
I’d bet decent money you can’t make it FMVSS legal without so many changes it becomes a functionally different vehicle.
I can’t make a personal use case for it. So, I’m not real mad. There are a lot of other vehicles I would like to see here (in the US) first. Or perhaps me not in the US.
I’m gonna go against the grain here – this thing doesn’t work. The proportions are all wrong, those wheels are comically undersized, and the acres of black plastic will look terrible as they bleach in the sun.
The powertrain is unacceptable in 2025. Plenty of modern powertrains are reliable, it’s pure laziness and cost cutting to sell a car with an engine from 2004.
The powertrain is totally appropriate for the southeast Asia market this little truck is built for: the Hilux is everywhere, and sharing engine parts means the mom and pop shops that keep those Toyotas running will be right at home working on these.
The styling kinda reminds me of the early 2000’s Tracker for some reason…
It’s fundamentally what it is, a small BOF SUV.
Someone had to eventually make something uglier than an Aztek.
I love the size, the specs, the ‘tude. But since I have eyes, I can’t look at it for too long. The rear is kinda cool but front and side sheesh. And mind you I absolutely loved to death my white roofed, bright blue 2008 FJ.
Annoying. I would buy one over anything else that size.
A Jimny designed by committee. Should be fun to see how people mod this. Just won’t be any of us.
The article mentions two front faces but only one is shown and there is no link to a larger gallery. I am in love with the writers and the writing across the Autopian but gimme the pictures and let me full-screen them!
Just look at the wheel size. You know it’s not for the US market because it doesn’t have huge donk wheels.
It looks like Toyota tried to redesign the Jeep Renegade. One of the worst designs I’ve seen in a while, and I love Toyota’s current SUV designs.
Thats exactly what I thought
I dig it, except for the wheels & tires. Hopefully that easily remedied. Assuming fender clearance allows.
This is going to come to America as a replacement for the Lexus UX. I’m not kidding.
The last thing to have pillars that large is on a hill in Athens.
The second I saw the right-hand-drive, I knew we were screwed in the US (you’d think I’d be used to that by now).
This would be a great upgrade from my 3rd gen 4Runner. We need more small BOF stuff.
God this thing is hideous. I don’t think I’ve seen such an awkward, ungainly profile since the Aztek. No anger here, whoever gets this can keep it.
Honestly though, I understand the design. If anyone here has had a chance to visit a developing country where this will be sold, you’ll know driving tends to be of the ‘offensive’ variety, with many older cars showing significant dents and evidence of panel mending. Think of this cladding and overhang as the “5mph bumpers” of today.
I assume they saw how popular the new Jimny is, they tried to design a similar car, but fucked it up.
That interior looks awful. I get it that this is supposed to be a cheap truck, but that doesn’t mean it has to look at terrible as this interior does. Ford proved you can put a fun and interesting interior in a low cost truck like the Maverick.
On the exterior design, it looks very cartoony in these images. The Suzuki Jimny does as well, but it comes off way better in photos.
Indeed.
And does it cost more to make the interior plastics, vinyl and carpets lighter shades of grey or tan?
Colors don’t cost anything (relatively speaking). FFS this is a sea of dark grey plastic. Awful. Maverick uses cheap plastics, but they are different colors, have a fun design and are still high-wear items.
And Toyota isn’t just doing these awful interiors in this cheap FJ. The interior of the new Taco as well as the Landcruiser are awful as well, and those are $40+k trucks.
If GM put in an interior this bad in a new vehicle, the media would rake them over the coals. Toyota does it, and the press will call it “functional” or “durable”.
The FJ Cruiser’s interior was like sitting in a dark cave, especially the back seats.
But even that one had fun options like paint matched interior bits, as well as a place to attach molle panels. Just doing a quick Google image search now and I see ones with blue door cards and center stacks. Yellow and silver ones as well. Ain’t looking great, but not looking worse than this new one.
It’s probably less claustrophobic in this new one though since it looks like it has more glass.
Lighter colors don’t cost more money, but they do cost longevity. If you want to keep your gray or tan dash from cracking in 5 years you have to make it thicker.
Oh, could it be that this is RWD when not in 4WD and Toyota does not think american’s can drive anything this small in RWD and they would get sued after accidents or get bad press when people think it is AWD?
No.
Toyota is just going to sell Americans The Big Stuff.
hecka chonky
I have had some fun off roading in 101 wheelbase jeeps. Is toyota worried that if they sold this here they would lose money on 4runner sales?
I wonder if you could fit 35’s on that with a 3-inch lift?
I am willing to try!