2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Road Test

GREENVILLE, S.C. Toyota’s FJ Cruiser has morphed from a 2003 concept car to a 2007 production car with very little change.

This 07 FJ Cruiser is the modern reincarnation of the FJ40 Land Cruiser that dates back to the mid-1950s. Toyota expects to sell about 46,000 in 2006 when they go on sale in late March.  Prices were announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The base model with 2 wheel drive and automatic transmission will start at $21,710. The 4WD with a 6-speed manual comes in at $22,890 or with automatic transmission, $23,300.

The original FJ40 was built in Japan for use by the military and domestic law enforcement, but it won hearts and souls of trail enthusiasts on the back roads and rock trails of that country. As so often happens, the FJ 40 got bigger and bigger, and today’s Land Cruiser is a full-size luxury SUV.

A 4.0-liter, 239-horsepower V-6 powers the FJ, and it is coupled to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. I drove the six-speed.

The chassis is derived from the fully boxed frame of the Land Cruiser Prado that is sold in overseas markets. The wheelbase is a fairly long 105.9 inches, and overall length is 183.9 inches. That’s more than two feet longer than a Jeep Wrangler, but short overhangs and substantial ground clearance make it surprisingly adept at conquering rugged obstacles.

The FJ is available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive, with two locking differentials. Toyota predicts more than 90 percent of FJ Cruisers will be four-wheel drive.

The new FJ is a purpose-built off-roader but you’d never know it when you’re cruising on the highway. Most dedicated off-road vehicles have highway manners that are akin to riding in a blender, but the FJ is uncommonly smooth and quiet. Toyota’s penchant for quenching road noise is evident even in the FJ. The only fly in the ointment is some wind noise from the vertical outside mirrors. Vertical mirrors may ease overall width, but their reduced area of view is a negative for me. 

Toyota invited journalists to drive some pre-production FJs from Greenville, S.C., to the Michelin proving grounds near Laurens, S.C., where an off-road trail meandered through the woods and a four-wheel-drive demonstration course had been gouged into the earth.

The Cruiser can climb a 30-degree hill, ford 27.4 inches of water and traverse a 41-degree side hill.

The off-road trail was quite tame, but it demonstrated the FJs ability to traverse moderately rugged terrain without stress or strain. The off-road course demonstrated the vehicle’s ability to traverse steep sidehills, climb steep grades and crawl through potholes that alternately left one wheel or the other pawing the air. No sweat for any challenge. Granted, this course was pretty tame, but Toyota says the FJ has completed Californias famed Rubicon Trail.

The four-wheel-drive system has three modes, including a low-gear, low-range setting for rock climbing. A clutch-start cancel switch allows the vehicle to be started without depressing the clutch pedal, a feature that off-roaders treasure because a vehicle can be started on a hill without rolling backward. 

The optional Active Traction Control does wonders for pulling through muddy, slick conditions.

Stylewise, the FJ wears hints of the old FJ40 upright windshield, flat grille, white top yet it has a futuristic flavor, too. One fellow writer said it looked like a Mini on steroids, and it does.

The FJs cabin is mostly plastic and rubber, which is good for quick cleanup. The preproduction models we drove did not have final textures on the dash and door panels. The cloth upholstery is breathable and water-resistant.

The rear seat has precious little legroom, but it can be folded forward to increase cargo space. Seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags are optional.

The side-opening rear door is heavy because the spare tire is mounted there. The glass can be opened separately. Wheels are 17 inches, in steel or optional alloy. 

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Specifications (Preliminary)

2007 FJ Cruiser

Standard Equipment (Preliminary)

Standard Equipment Includes…

•     4.0 liter V6 24-valve DOHC Engine
•     Air conditioning
•     P265/70R 17-inch tires on black steel wheels
•     Front and rear disc brakes
•     Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
•     Traction control (TRAC)
•     Anti-lock Brakes System (ABS)
•     Auto Limited Slip Differential on 2WD models
•     Tilt steering wheel
•     Power windows
•     Power door locks
•     Manual aluminum brush outside rearview mirrors
•     White roof
•     Water-resistant seat fabric
•     Rubber-like floor and deck floor
•     Eight-way manually adjustable driver seat
•     Four-way manually adjustable passenger seat
•     Automatic disconnect differential (4WD only)
•     Color-keyed center cluster
•     Removable rear seat cushions
•     AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers, including two ceiling speakers

Major Available Options

•     P265/70R 17-inch tires on 17-inch alloy wheels (5)
•     Rear differential lock
•     Running boards
•     Rear parking sonar (2 sensors)
•     Front and rear side curtain airbags
•     Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags
•     Power aluminum brush outside rearview mirror with illumination lamp
•     Privacy rear door, quarter window and back window glass
•     A-TRAC (4WD only)
•     AM/FM/six-disc CD changer with EQ and eight-speakers
•     Multi-informational display (vehicle attitude, temperature gauge, and compass)
•     Subwoofer (eight-inch) with on-off switch
•     Aluminum brush automatic transmission lever and transfer lever
•     Color-keyed front and rear door inserts
•     Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio control switch
•     115V 100/400W inverter
•     Keyless entry
•     Cruise control