Initially introduced to the public as a concept car in 2003, the FJ Cruiser received the green flag to initiate production subsequently garnering lots of positive feedback. Toyota promised to produce this unique SUV only as a ane-generation model. With the now halted production, simply a few FJ Cruisers, tin be found for sale, and they're hot and pricey.

During its production years, the quirky-looking FJ Cruiser was a low-book seller. On average, Toyota sold xx,000 units a yr, but in total over 200,000 FJ Cruisers were sold in the USA lone. Today, finding an FJ Cruiser for sale is quite rare - for a 2014 model, i would have to fork over more than $xxx,000. There's a reason lovers of the FJ Cruiser want information technology to make a improvement ASAP. Here is everything y'all demand to know before spending a buck on the FJ Cruiser.

x Origin Of The Name FJ Cruiser

2007 FJ Cruiser TRD Special Edition
via Pinterest

Information technology'due south a question asked by many, but the FJ Cruiser has its roots in the legendary Toyota FJ Serial. "F" stands for the engine type, while the "J" means Jeep. Some of the earlier FJs were recognized as BJs since they ran on the B-type engine and not an F-type engine like the one in the FJ Cruiser. The Cruiser part of its proper name was derived from the FJ40 Land Cruiser - a '60s off-road model which ranked every bit the all-time-seller for Toyota in the United states of america (1961-1965).

A Red Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV
via Pinterest

Don't exist mistaken though, the looks are non anywhere close between the two previous FJ Series models from Toyota. The FJ Cruiser is a modified version with improved mod features, comfort, and technical excellence. Information technology'south besides more drivable compared to its vintage counterpart. Nonetheless, it remains 1 of the nearly reliable and durable vehicles.

9 Made Of Sterner Stuff

A Blue 2007 FJ Cruiser
via Reddit

Toyota's rugged dependability and reliability have been proven over the years. Up to engagement, nearly FJ Cruiser owners adjure how piece of cake one can maintain and run the Cruiser. Looking at Toyota FJ Series cars, they are pop for not breaking down, explaining why accurate and antic FJs are yet in working condition today.

Toyota FJ_Cruiser_2007
via Wikipedia

When it comes to the FJ's transmission and suspension, their quality is legendary. Its electric organisation is made to survive anything you throw at it. The FJ Cruiser durability is unmatched because the chirapsia and harsh off-road conditions they've endured at the hands of their owners.

viii Engine Configurations

Toyota-FJ-Cruiser
via toyota

While most automakers love to go for turbo-diesel fuel and gasoline engines that differ in size and layouts (4-cylinder, V6, and V8 engines), Toyota played it straight with the FJ Cruiser. They offered ane pick, i.e. a 4.0-liter V6 gas engine. For such an engine, the specs aren't that impressive. It delivered only 260 hp. The surreptitious lies in how the engine delivered 200kW power and 380Nm of torque.

A V6 FJ Cruiser Engine
via Wikipedia

The FJ Cruiser's engine had an impressive reputation, and it used a timing concatenation that improved the FJ Cruiser engine's life. Most FJ Cruiser owners tuned their engines and fitted them with LPG conversions fifty-fifty though several experts discourage such conversions on the Toyota V6 engine.

7 Models & Series

Toyota-FJ-Cruiser
via mecum

Toyota killed production of the FJ Cruiser afterward simply one generation. To marker Toyota's final production year of the FJ Cruiser, they announced the FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, which was a limited product model — only two,500 units got built.

SideView FJ Cruiser -
via Pinterest

Despite having only 1 model, Toyota offered the FJ Cruiser in a range of unlike colors with some former schoolhouse blue, red, orange, yellow, black, gray, and green shades. All these came with a white roof. Toyota may have stopped production of the FJ Cruiser, but they left the mandate of production to specific countries.

half-dozen Highly Customizable

Toyota_FJ_Cruiser Xtreme
via Wikipedia

The choice of customization all depends on the possessor, merely it's always practiced to know major tweaks and tuning are possible. The FJ Cruiser is an easily customizable SUV through either custom accessories or aftermarket custom kits. For buyers, an FJ Cruiser with dealer-fitted manufactory accessories costs more than the standard ane.

Fully Custom 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser
via Youtube

Some of the FJ Cruiser'due south customization accessories include badges and emblems, bumpers, camping gear, grille guards and inserts, exhaust systems, light mounts and kits, and other off-road accessories.

5 Cabin & Interior Space

The Toyota FJ Cruiser Interior
via Cnet

Compared to other modern off-route Toyotas, the FJ Cruiser isn't quite as big. Its exterior dimensions are shorter and lower than, say, a Prado. This contributes to the FJ Cruiser's smaller cargo storage capacity and boot space. However, it has folding seats behind the front seats, making it possible to squeeze in extra cargo. Most FJ owners fit their cars with drawers, roof track, and racks for actress cargo hauling to counter this.

Inside The Toyota FJ Cruiser
via Cnet

The FJ Cruiser was fitted with seats covered with durable and semi-waterproof fabric in place of the typical leather seats. Sound system? It'south merely eight speakers with a radio and CD player - forget nearly having a subwoofer, Android streaming, or Apple tree CarPlay. Other interior accessories and features include cupholders, Bluetooth, keyless entry, air conditioner, ability window, and mirrors. From 2012, the FJ Cruiser was fitted with GPS-based navigation.

4 Driving

A Toyota_FJ_Cruiser
via Reddit

An off-roader will often plow out to be a gas guzzler, specially when compared to a conventional car. Powered by a gasoline V6 engine, its consumption is a rather scary 18 mpg. Only it makes upwards for that thirst with exceptional off-roading performance made possible by its impressive 224mm ground clearance (700mm wading depth). The more recent models came with an extra fuel tank and a CRAWL off-route system for extreme off-roaders.

Gray Toyota_FJ_Cruiser
via Reddit

On the highway, the FJ Cruiser is kind of a mixed bag. Its curb weight translates to good functioning, but it'due south a disadvantage when it comes to speed every bit it takes more than 15 seconds to accelerate to the quarter mile. In terms of comfort, the FJ Cruiser ticks off all the boxes thanks to its independent forepart suspension and rear ringlet-sprung suspension.

three Condom Features

Toyota-FJ-Cruiser
via pinterest

The FJ Cruiser doesn't make the list of ANCAP's rubber rating, only other Toyota brands like Prado are on the listing. This explains the structural difference betwixt these two units. Nonetheless, the FJ was not left behind since information technology came equipped with front and side airbags plus additional curtain numberless to protect all passengers.

Toyota-FJ-Cruiser
via youtube

Safety is also enhanced past a contrary camera, front caput restraints, electronic stability and traction control, ABS, brake assist, and brake forcefulness distribution.

2 Towing Capacity

Toyota FJ_Cruiser_2007
via Wikipedia

This off-road monster had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, short of tow ratings for today's trucks. This is considering the FJ is lighter. Even so, the Cruiser'due south pulling capacity remains decent, as tin be explained past the number of FJ Cruisers fitted with tow bars.

Toyota FJ_Cruiser_2007
via Pinterest

For better off-road capabilities, the FJ Cruiser was fitted with a 4WD system, unlike other soft-roaders that come up with an AWD system. Enough of FJ Cruisers up for sale came with a dual battery feature, a handy feature when going camping.

1 FJ Cruiser Common Issues

A Toyota FJ Cruiser SUV
via Wikimedia Eatables

Toyotas are famous for their immovability and reliability. The FJ Cruiser is no different since it was built based on the already proven Prado platform. There are no severe problems with the Cruiser, but Toyota did consequence several recalls to fix issues like cracks at the B-pillar acquired by opening the doors.

Toyota-FJ-Cruiser
via fjcruiserforums

Other recalls were for wrongly-wired airbag sensors, fuel breather bolted closely to the Cruiser's frazzle, and the 2013 FJ Cruisers built within iii weeks (for steering cavalcade flaw checkup). Being an off-roader, the Cruiser is prone to fixable problems like stone fries, cladding under the trunk, and scraped bumpers.

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