2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Review

Specifications

A New Adventure Awaits 

How do you turn a bunch of mature, responsible automotive journalists into a pack of silly, grinning teenage misfits? Easy, let them run loose in a massive mud-soaked gravel pit for a day with your newest toy. Thats exactly what Toyota Canada did when introducing the coolest 4×4 to hit the scene in decades, and together with a bevy of multi-colored FJ Cruisers, happy memories of pushing Tonkas through my childhood sandbox came to life.

Dirt bikers know exactly what I mean; there are few better ways to spend an afternoon than in a vacated gravel pit. Three pre-planned course were set out, the first easily being the most fun. More or less it was a high-speed romp through the backside of the property, starting off with a slippery wiggle through mud and muck, then after a few turns, well, some more mud and muck, followed up with some more turns, more brown stuff, up a hill that veered right as it crested, something unknown and foreboding looming below, and settled atop a small plateau filled with even more mud and muck. If done slowly the course was interesting, allowing opportunity to feel Toyotas sophisticated four-wheel drive mechanisms and electronic drivers aids feverishly working magic behind the scenes in an effort to keep traction at all four corners. If done quickly, however, there was no time to pay attention to such nuances, but amid all the flying mud, slip-sliding, point-and-shoot driving antics and serious tomfoolery, I was glad they were there.

Still, as much as I tried to use momentum to overpower any chance for adhesion, the FJ did a remarkable job of spoiling my efforts - a good thing. Its grip is just that persistent. And control, unlike the many wild and wooly experiences I enjoyed (and sometimes simply endured) during my totally reckless youth, that somehow, by the grace of God I managed to live through, makes what could otherwise have been a frantically harried experience, brilliantly fun.

The second off-road stint was purposely designed to slow us down, immediately starting with a steep hill made up of smart fortwo-sized boulders. Hmmm, the quintessential rock climb, designed to separate pretenders from real 4×4s… could the FJ jam with the lifted 4Runner and modified Land Cruiser BJ70 that stood nearby? No problem. A walk in a Kyoto rock garden for the mighty FJ. Of course, Toyota didnt set up the trail so that the FJ would fail, but in talking with the third-party course designer, he wasnt really sure what to expect because he didnt have any FJ Cruisers on hand to test out before it was too late to change anything. He was told to make it tough, but was literally crossing his fingers the entire time we were there.

But it wasnt the rock climb he was worried about, or the steep downward grade that did a good job of showing off the FJs fabulously short front and rear overhangs and resultant 34 degree approach angle and 31 degree departure angle, or for that matter the radical upward climb on loose sandy gravel that made use of all 239 horses and 278 lb-ft of torque while apportioning drive power each clamoring wheel when needed. No, it was the outrageous swamp buggy contest that ensued at the end of the day.

Now lets get one thing straight. Before I tell you about this exercise in silliness you have to promise not to head off to your local quarry on the weekend and do something as stupid with your SUV. First of all, nine out of ten sport utes couldnt handle it, so youd be replacing your engine faster than you can say “strap this winch cable around that tree over there” to your buddy, because the FJs we were thrashing around the gravel pit really shouldnt have stood up to the underwater activity they were being subjected to. But one after another they kept coming, entering fender-deep water, the next one quicker than the last, not waiting for a wake to form before charging into what seemed more like a manmade lake than a pool of standing water. The dirty liquid streaming up and over each FJs hood, lapping up on the windscreens and in some cases splashing up and over the roof as the SUVs blunt grille pushed its way into the water. At first, being an experienced off-roader, I stood smiling, taking photos and jumping out of the way when the waters wake rushed past, waiting for the first engine to seize and first journalist to be forced to wade, waist high out of the puddle. But it never came. What was I to do but join in the fun, so off I went with confidence, and barreled over the edge, into the water, windshield wipers working overtime to keep my view clear as my FJ trudged through the grime. Cool! Lets do it again! And so on… and so on…

Obviously Toyota sealed the engine and various ancillary components well, plus situated its air intake to the rear of the engine, facing backwards. I know of even less adventurous attempts at fording water by larger, off-road rated 4×4s which ended up much worse; in one recent case leaving the dumbfounded driver (who just happened to be the publisher of a magazine I write for) stranded in the middle of a swamp, and even worse, splattering yet more mud on the faces of those execs who OKd the under water experiment. Other aspects of the FJ Cruiser design that help it traverse rough terrain include its optional full-time four-wheel drive system (rear-wheel drive is standard), electronic stability control, two-speed transfer case, multiple steel skid plates to protect vital organs, and solid rear axle. A part-time four-wheel drive system is also available, and will be the mode of choice among off-road purists. This system also has the benefit of running in rear-wheel drive mode, which saves on fuel.

The tall final drive of the FJs six-speed manual is beneficial for reducing fuel consumption too, although most will probably opt for the smooth-shifting five-speed automatic. This transmission is ideally suited to the big four-liter engine, and even makes 4×4ing a great deal easier - especially for novices. Can you imagine a five-speed automatic in an original FJ40? How far weve come?

Somewhere between my sandbox with Tonka truck in hand and playtime with the FJ Cruiser in the gravel pit, my Dad bought an FJ40. What a cool SUV. Heck, it was a sport utility before sport utilities existed. We used to take off for the weekend, on our way northwest towards our family cabin that sat on a quarter acre lakeshore lot, and along the way wed get hopelessly sidetracked. Actually, our ability to get distracted became such a problem that it would take hours longer to reach our destination with each trip. Wed take any excuse for a side road that we could find, and often stick to it all the way to its end before turning around, making our way back to the main highway and then continuing our journey north… unless another intriguing off-road adventure beckoned us off the highway again. Funny thing is, while I look back fondly at our weekends and weeks at the family cabin, it was such offshoot adventures that are now the dearest memories to me. Id say, “Lets check out that river down there…” and he respond with an, “OK…” and wed be making our way down an embankment as far as it was possible to travel by FJ, and then walk the rest of the way on foot.

And driving down the highway in the new FJ Cruiser, I cant help to think what having a vehicle like this around all the time could do for my relationship with my son, not to mention my two daughters. Certainly the new FJ is a great deal more civilized than the 70s era version we had. But while its cabin sports such standard amenities as climate control with air filtration, multiple-adjustment front seats, power windows, power door locks, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3/WMA compatibility and an auxiliary audio jack, not to mention rear seats that are comfortable to sit in, its the go-anywhere attitude that intrigues me most.

And compared to the old FJ, the new one is a feast for the eyes inside. It uses body-color accents very well, but other than a number of retro touches is all modern SUV under the skin. A full load of airbags can be had, as can traction control, while four-wheel discs with ABS, EBD and BA come standard, as does electronic stability control.

While important off-road, these safety features are especially critical when traveling at highway speeds, when tall 4×4s, with their inherently high centers of gravity, are more likely to tip over than lower slung cars. While its impossible to get around general laws of physics, the new FJ was surprisingly nimble on pavement, even when purposely jerked around while testing. Even more surprising is its ride comfort, complemented by an interior roominess that makes the original FJ40s narrow cabin seem claustrophobic. Rear seat room is a bit on the abbreviated side, not from side-to-side mind you, but legroom is a tad on the short side. Cargo capacity, however, is way up, and Toyota deserves major points for putting the handle of its swinging rear door on the passengers side, optimal for loading and unloading when parallel parked. Normally Japanese-branded vehicles do it the other way, so that those who drive on the opposite side of the road can enjoy safer, easier access to the cargo area, but the FJ Cruiser will only be sold in left-hand drive markets - at least for now. Arent we the lucky ones?

I certainly think so. Just think about it. Only a small number of off-road alternatives in this class are available, including Jeeps legendary Wrangler (previously called the TJ in Canada) and new five-door Wrangler Unlimited, the same brands Liberty and larger Grand Cherokee, Nissans Xterra, Kias Sorento, and of course, the new Hummer H3. The FJ Cruiser bests most on this list with regards to power and handling performance, while delivering impressive off-road prowess and Toyotas renowned reliability and predominantly high resale values. The fact that it looks so cool is just another added benefit.

And it certainly is good to see Toyota stretching its styling legs, isnt it? Even some of its mainstream cars, like the new Yaris and Camry, are sporting a more appealing design language, but with the FJ Toyota has really gone all out. Of course, to Land Cruiser FJ40 fans the look of the new FJ Cruiser will be familiar. Sure its stance is more Hummer-like than the old SUVs Jeep Wrangler-proportions, but theres no mistaking its impudent smirk. Yes, its twin circular headlamps surrounded with a thick oval grille give it a cocky boldness, and substantial looking body panels make it seem almost indestructible.

And whats wrong with it? Not a heck of a lot. Some taller drivers complained of compromised headroom, clearly not a problem for my five-foot, eight-inch frame, although I did find seeing past its thick C-pillars a bit of a challenge - the price of style.

And speaking of price, its $21,710 base MSRP might be its strongest suit. Although only equipped with rear-wheel drive and therefore not as capable off-road, the FJ 4×4 only costs $22,890. Certainly there are some SUVs that cost less and offer more features, but few deliver the FJs tremendous off-road performance, or for that matter its day-in, day-out road and highway performance, for the same money. And when fully loaded at $28,755, it still undercuts a number of compact SUVs when outfitted with all the trimmings. This is a very livable sport utility, one that I could even see myself owning.

I can hear them now… “Dad, lets go up that trail?” “OK kids…”