Right on cue, Toyota has revealed the Land Cruiser FJ ahead of the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) at the end of the month. Built on the same Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform as the Hilux pick-up, the entry-level off-roader is aimed at delivering the Land Cruiser experience to a new audience, with the “FJ” suffix – referencing the classic FJ40 and the retro FJ Cruiser – standing for “Freedom & Joy”.
Affordability starts by keeping the dimensions modest. The FJ’s scant 2,580 mm wheelbase means it takes the super-short ladder frame from the budget-friendly Hilux Champ, although it is slightly longer (4,575 mm) and much wider (1,855 mm) and taller (1,960 mm, making it the tallest of the IMV-based vehicles).
The chunky design inside and out also borrows a surprising amount of DNA from the Champ, albeit with a naturally higher level of refinement. This is most apparent in the octagonal front mask, which houses the Toyota script and C-shaped daytime running lights, with retro round lamps optional. The fascia is set within a chamfered section reminiscent of dice.
This motif continues in the distinctive rectangular body that features a stepped window line and thick C-shaped C-pillars, framing the also-octagonal side-opening tailgate housing the external spare tyre. Completing the look are the beefy black plastic fender flares and bumpers, the latter being split into sections and allowing only the damaged sections to be replaced – similar to the approach taken by the facelifted GR Yaris and Corolla.
Inside, the FJ’s layered dashboard and flat door panels are again reminiscent of those in the Champ, likely made using nicer materials. There are also bits of the Land Cruiser Prado in here, including the three-spoke steering wheel with an angular design, tomb-like display panel housing the touchscreen and digital instrument display (likely the same 12.3-inch units), digital air-con controls and newer, flatter gearlever.
Unlike the related Fortuner, the FJ is a strict five-seater; it also differs from the Champ in offering the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assists. The boot features US Army-style MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) panels for attaching outdoor equipment, handy for camping.
Adding to the FJ’s more cost-effective nature are the mechanicals, with the FJ lifting its simpler part-time four-wheel-drive system (replete with low range and a user-selectable knob) from the Hilux. The car also benefits from increased body rigidity and additional underfloor bracing to improve handling, and Toyota claims it has undergone extensive off-road testing to ensure reliability, durability and performance.
One area where the FJ disappoints is under the bonnet, where you’ll find the 2TR-FE 2.7 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine and six-speed automatic gearbox from the Fortuner, producing just 163 PS and 246 Nm of torque. This is specific to the Japanese market, however, and it’s possible that other markets will offer the Hilux’s more muscular turbodiesels.
Although Toyota will claim the FJ stands on its own in the marketplace, its most obvious rival is the five-door Suzuki Jimny; hopefully using the Hilux as the base means the FJ will be considerably cheaper. The car was likely also created as a response to the wave of Chinese SUVs entering ASEAN markets, many of which use the FJ40 Land Cruiser (and, by extension, the FJ Cruiser) as “creative inspiration”.
While the carmaker has not confirmed where the FJ will be built, its IMV underpinnings mean that, as previously reported, it will almost certainly be built in Thailand. This raises the possibility for it to be offered in Malaysia, which would make it the first LC to be made available through official means in decades – perhaps even CKD locally assembled on the same line as the Hilux and Fortuner. It will probably take a while, however, as even Japan will only get the car in mid-2026.
What do you think – would you like to see the Land Cruiser FJ in Malaysia? Sound off in the comments.
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