Toyota FJ Cruiser: Everything You Need To Know

Despite the original Toyota Land Cruiser being a certifiable workhorse, starting in the 1980s, it began its transition into premium family transport. And as capable as the legendary Land Cruiser was, its pricing and size put it out of reach of shoppers looking for a hardcore off-road SUV, especially as the similarly utilitarian Toyota 4Runner grew larger in the early 2000s.

Enter the new-for-2007 FJ Cruiser, Toyota’s retro-styled response to claims that its 4×4 offerings had become a bit too big for some. Bearing styling reminiscent of the second-generation Land Cruiser introduced in 1960, the retro off-roader took its name from its legendary forebear’s FJ40 model code in the United States. In Land Cruiser parlance, F represents the inline-six model family that appeared under the hood, and J stands for “jeep,” serving as a sort of generic term for a small, rugged off-roader before Willys trademarked the word.

History Repeating

More than four decades after the debut of the original FJ40 Land Cruiser, Toyota teased out the idea of a smallish, retro-styled SUV with the 2003 Rugged Youth Utility concept, appearing at that year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Like the FJ40, the concept featured round headlights bookending a rectangular grille, wraparound rear windows, a vertical windshield, and a white contrasting roof. The Rugged Youth Utility was a smash hit, and its miniscule overhangs, chunky tires, and massive ground clearance promised great things for off-road enthusiasts.

That positive response from the public led Toyota to develop the Rugged Youth Utility into a production vehicle, taking the name FJ Cruiser. A production-intent version of the concept appeared two years later at the 2005 Chicago Auto Show then went on sale the following year as a 2007 model. Based on the same platform as the contemporary 4Runner and Tacoma, the FJ Cruiser was higher and narrower than the 4Runner, and it rode on a shorter wheelbase for better maneuverability and had a steeper breakover angle.

Toyota built the FJ Cruiser, available as a 4×2 or a 4×4, for a single generation from the 2007 to the 2014 model years in the U.S., though some global markets got to enjoy the rugged small SUV until 2022. With lagging sales as a result of the financial recession of the late 2000s and early 2010s, the FJ Cruiser met its end in 2014 in the U.S. as Toyota pivoted its priorities to hot-selling hybrids and highly profitable Tacomas and Tundras.

The FJ Cruiser didn’t have a true predecessor, though its two-door, small-SUV format aped both the original Land Cruiser and the first-generation 4Runner. Toyota hasn’t introduced a successor to the FJ Cruiser, either, but the Compact Cruiser EV concept might presage a smallish, all-electric off-road crossover that would do battle with the Ford Bronco Sport, using retro styling cues to draw in those nostalgic for the old FJ.

Artistic License

Because Toyota’s 2007 lineup included vehicles like the RAV4 and Highlander crossovers and the four-door 4Runner SUV, that gave the FJ Cruiser license to be a bit less conservative. The concept’s exuberant styling made the jump to production very faithfully, including the swing-out rear cargo door and novel triple wipers for the flat windshield.

The FJ Cruiser’s 3.9-inch-shorter wheelbase and 5.3-inch-shorter overall length relative to the 4Runner meant it was less roomy inside but more maneuverable on off-road trails. Unlike its spiritual ancestors—and archrival Jeep Wrangler—the FJ Cruiser had a fixed roof, but it one-upped similarly sized SUVs by offering a pair of clamshell half-doors to ease access to the rear seats.

The FJ Cruiser had five seats arranged in two rows, and the dashboard and door panels had glossy accents in the exterior color to recall the sheetmetal-trimmed FJ40. The mostly flat dash face also had a very vintage vibe, especially when the Cruiser in question had the optional altimeter, compass, and tilt dials in the center. Chunky transmission and transfer case levers gave the FJ a satisfyingly mechanical feel, and the cargo area had integrated tie-downs and “diamond plate” plastic trim for added utility and wear resistance.

Go-Anywhere Grunt

The body-on-frame FJ Cruiser shared much of its underpinnings with the contemporary Tacoma and 4Runner. The only engine available was Toyota’s torquey 1GR 4.0-liter V-6, and it made 239 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, though later years it made 260 hp and 271 lb-ft on regular thanks to variable valve timing. A five-speed automatic was standard unless you went for the part-time four-wheel drive with a low range, in which case you got a six-speed manual gearbox with the auto optional.

In a 2014 comparison between the final-year FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the auto-equipped Toyota hit 60 mph in 8.0 seconds and cornered the skidpad at 0.66 g. Even given its off-road predilections, we weren’t enamored with the FJ Cruiser’s performance.

“Though it accelerates well enough, dipping into the gas pedal leaves the driver with the impression that you’re asking the FJ to do something it really doesn’t want to do, with the engine emitting an awful-sounding bellow as it gets up to speed. When it comes to corners, the FJ Cruiser’s steering rack feels quicker but less-precise than the Wrangler’s.”

However, we found the on-road ride comfort to be beyond reproach, calling it sublime thanks to the abundant wheel travel and supple Bilstein dampers fit to our test vehicle.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser has also proven resistant to the ravages of age and time. Its powertrain is nearly bulletproof if scrupulously maintained, but even when neglected, the V-6 and both available transmissions can take some abuse. Issues with the FJ Cruiser are largely age- and wear-related, and tired suspension bushings, steering components, and front CV axles can sometimes cause a front-end shimmy. A weekend’s worth of maintenance will solve the problem right away.

Some 2007–2009 models also suffer from “fender bulge,” which is when the sheetmetal on the inner fender swells and tears. Heavy off-road use can exacerbate the problem, and Toyota’s response was to weld in reinforcement plates on the affected areas for 2010-plus models. These reinforcement plates are available from Toyota and aftermarket manufacturers, so folks with an early FJ can carry out the repair themselves either preventively or after a bulge has appeared. The automaker didn’t carry out a recall on the bulging fenders, so prospective owners will want to inspect the area to make sure the fix has been carried out.

FJ Cruiser Trim Levels and Special Editions

Technically, Toyota offered the FJ Cruiser in a single trim level for its entire run, though the automaker blurred the lines a bit with some special editions that were option packages but might as well have been stand-alone models. Among them was the TRD Special Edition, offered in 2007, which included a distinct Bilstein suspension intended for high-speed off-roading, special BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, a locking rear differential with active traction control (A-TRAC), a monochromatic black appearance that did away with the white roof, and special badging.

In 2008, Toyota introduced the Trail Teams Special Edition, which incorporated many of the mechanical and rolling stock upgrades of the TRD but added a roof rack, blacked-out grille and bumper trim, and a specially tuned Bilstein suspension. The 2008 Trail Teams was available in a monochromatic Iceberg white color scheme.

For 2009, the Trail Teams went away and the TRD upgrade package returned, except this time it was offered only on the 4×2. Using the same Iceberg single-tone paint as the 2008 Trail Teams, the TRD had regular bright-finished exterior accents to contrast it from its predecessor.

From 2010 to 2013, the Trail Teams package returned on 4WD models, differing from year to year primarily by color scheme. The 2010 came in Sandstorm, a tan color that also accented the seats and interior, and it had beadlock-style TRD wheels. 2011 and 2012 marked a return to the old six-spoke wheel style, offered in Army Green and Radiant Red, respectively. For 2013, the Trail Teams came in the muted Cement Gray color and rolled on beadlock-style wheels, and it also offered Toyota’s groundbreaking CRAWL low-speed cruise control for the first time.

Because 2014 would be the final model year for the FJ Cruiser, the automaker threw even more equipment at the so-called Trail Teams Ultimate Edition. Painted in Heritage Blue and featuring a white grille surround, the Ultimate paid homage to the FJ40, and in addition to the mechanical and tuning upgrades found on all Trail Teams models, it also got larger, remote-reservoir rear shocks and a front-end leveling kit to improve off-road performance.

FJ Cruiser Competitors

The most obvious competitor to the Toyota FJ Cruiser is the JK-generation Jeep Wrangler, a similarly retro off-road SUV that was sold from 2007 to 2018. Unlike the FJ Cruiser, the Wrangler was offered in short-wheelbase two-door JK and long-wheelbase four-door JK Unlimited forms, with a removable roof and doors for al fresco four-wheeling. The Wrangler was narrower, good for maneuverability but a bit taxing for cabin space.

The 2007 to 2011 Wrangler also had quite a bit less grunt, with 207 hp and 237 lb-ft coming from its 3.8-liter V-6. The 2012 version got a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which gave it 285 hp and 260 lb-ft. The Wrangler had a variety of option packages and trim levels, including a light-duty Willys off-road trim and a hardcore, trail-conquering Rubicon model.

In our 2014 comparison between a FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition and a Wrangler Unlimited Willys, we gave the nod to the Jeep, citing its lower price and characterful driving experience. Legions of Toyota 4×4 fanatics would disagree with our assessment.

The FJ’s less obvious rival is the 2005–2015 Nissan Xterra, which has a more conventional four-door body style but still offers loads of off-road capability. The 261-hp, 281-lb-ft 4.0-liter V-6 is a torque monster, perfect for low-speed 4×4 adventures, and NISMO and Pro-4X models offered locking rear differentials, Bilstein shocks, and underbody armor to keep the fun going deep into the wilderness.

Fame and Fortune

Borne of the retro-themed craze of the 2000s that also brought the 2002 Car of the Year Ford Thunderbird, the FJ Cruiser transcended mere trendiness thanks to its genuinely impressive off-road capability. And although it doesn’t have the star power of the instantly recognizable Hummer or Jeep brands, it still made a few choice appearances, serving as the main character’s transport in the short film Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Alpha.

In later years, the Toyota off-roader has achieved further fame thanks to its dedicated owners, who organized the massive FJ Summit in Ouray, Colorado. Other tastemakers include photography hero Larry Chen, whose FJ is built to get him to some pretty remote, choice photo locations.

How Much Should I Pay for an FJ Cruiser?

With only a few mechanical and cosmetic tweaks over the course of its eight model years, values of the FJ Cruiser are relatively stable. Base two-wheel-drive examples from the earliest model years command the lowest premiums, selling for about $10,000 in good running condition with reasonable miles. Go for a four-wheel-drive automatic, and you’ll add a couple grand to the price, with a manual being more valuable yet. Later model years have higher average asking prices—likely due to their lower miles on average rather than any hardware reason. Very low-mileage, late-model examples of base-model FJ Cruisers command $30,000 or more.

Most TRD and Trail Teams Special Edition listings are quite a bit pricier. A 2007 TRD recently sold for well over $30,000 with 63,000 miles, but even high-mileage examples command $15,000 or so. The newer you get, the higher the prices rise, peaking with the limited-edition 2014 Trail Teams Ultimate, which trades for between $25,000 and $45,000 depending on mileage and transmission. One example even recently sold for over $100,000, though it had delivery miles and had never been titled before.

Those limited editions are valuable not only because of the added off-road equipment but also because of their constricted production runs. From 2007 to 2014, Toyota built more than 238,000 FJ Cruisers for the U.S. and Canadian markets, of which just 20,300 were TRD and Trail Teams Special Editions. Because they got unique colorways and fancy badging relative to their lesser siblings—to say nothing of the extra off-road kit—the specials are very valuable among Toyota fans.

Will There Be a New FJ Cruiser?

Toyota hasn’t admitted directly there’s another FJ Cruiser on the way, but it has hinted. The Compact Cruiser EV concept might presage a future all-electric crossover built for rough roads and weekend adventures. It’s also possible that Toyota will build a family of off-road SUVs, as the company has trademarked the Land Cruiser FJ model name.

Toyota FJ Cruiser Highlights

  • The Toyota FJ Cruiser was sold from the 2007 to 2014 model years in the United States, but other markets received the retro-styled off-road SUV until 2022.
  • Every FJ Cruiser came with a 4.0-liter V-6 engine, which made 239 hp in its early years and eventually grew to 260 hp by 2014.
  • Four-wheel drive was an option on the FJ Cruiser. Two-wheel-drive versions all had a five-speed automatic gearbox, while the 4×4 offered either the auto or a six-speed manual.
  • Toyota offered either a TRD Special Edition or Trail Teams Special Edition for each year the FJ Cruiser was produced—the TRD in 2007 and 2009 and the Trail Teams for 2008 and 2010 through 2014. Oddly, the 2009 TRD was available only as a 4×2.
  • Initial sales for the FJ Cruiser were strong, peaking in the first year at more than 56,000 units, but the 2009 recession and financial crisis tempered demand significantly. Toyota sold less than 12,000 units that year before a slight rebound from 2010 to 2014.
  • The Toyota FJ Cruiser retains a lot of its value, with even high-mileage 4×4 examples selling for $15,000 or more. Well-optioned models and limited editions can cost upward of $30,000, with very low-mileage examples demanding double that.
  • Toyota never made a successor to the FJ Cruiser after discontinuing it in 2014, but that might change if the fully electric Compact Cruiser EV concept makes it to production in 2026.

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