Arriving in
2007, the FJ Cruiser is a SUV made for handling the grim, dust, and dirt of both every day living around town or for weekends spent in the wilderness. The FJ gets its name and styling as a nod to the
classic Toyota Land Cruiser of the 1960's and 1970s but we're not sure if today's shoppers will resonate with the "love it or hate it" styling of the modern FJ Cruiser. Versatile and very capable of any off-roading adventure you take on, the 4.0 liter V6 engine has plenty of low-end torque to go around. Although the rear seats can fold down for additional storage, overall the room in the back is not great so your passengers might feel a bit cramped. The functional interior is water-proof and can be washed down with a hose so it can handle any abuse that you throw at it. With a towing capacity of up to 4,700 pounds, you'll be able to bring all the equipment you'll need for your camping or outdoor vacation. Our editor's main complaint with the FJ cruiser is the poor driver visibility and the fuel economy which will end up averaging between 15 - 20 miles per gallon. Toyota recommended you fill up with premium fuel for the 2007 - 2009 model years. Available as both a 5-speed automatic (4WD) or 6-speed manual, the FJ Cruiser is short on modern technology features so don't expect it to come equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto or other modern features drivers have become accustom to; a rear-view camera was offered as an option starting in
2009 and we would highly recommend you get a FJ with that. Other options include keyless entry, cruise control, 4WD with 2-speed transfer case, and A-TRAC active traction control. Out of all the model years, our editors would recommend a
2010 with 4X4 automatic transmission since it has the latest safety features and it runs on regular fuel.
2014 was the last model year of the FJ Cruiser. If you're consider a newer
Toyota SUV, we'd recommend the
Toyota 4Runner.
