2006 Toyota FJ Cruiser First Test: Off-Road IconJohn Kiewicz - MotorTrend[This story originally appeared in the February 2006 issue of MotorTrend with the headline "Retro on the Rocks."] In 1958, a no-nonsense, four-wheel-drive vehicle known as the Toyota FJ28V took a serendipitous boat ride from Japan to the United States. A late iteration of the Land Cruiser 20 Series, it marked the birth of a 25-year era of FJ utility vehicles in the U.S. From the Cascades to the Adirondacks, dirt roads were destined to know the name Toyota.Just that one FJ28V made it to the States back in 1958—giving new meaning to "tread lightly"—but two years later, Toyota introduced the Land Cruiser 40 Series, a line that launched with the original FJ40. The poster child of all FJs, the 40 featured a mesh grille and, when equipped with a hardtop, a white roof and wraparound rear windows. From 1961 to 1965, the 40 Series was Toyota's best-selling model in the U.S. It's no surprise, then, that when the brand decided to resurrect the FJ name, it turned to the most recognized, most popular example in its collection.Now, 23 years since the last 40 Series decorated a showroom, the FJ is back. Dubbed FJ Cruiser, the new version opens a fresh era of sturdy sport/utilities from Toyota. Stylistically, the new FJ is based heavily on the FJ Cruiser Concept that made its debut at the 2003 Detroit auto show. Thus, it utilizes ultrawide C-pillars, rear-hinged access doors, and, like the original FJ40, a near-flat windshield, a white roof, wraparound rear windows, and a mesh grille flanked by round headlamps.John Kiewicz - MotorTrendAccording to FJ exterior designer Jin Won Kim, the appearance is "a combination of ruggedness and functionality, with an honest look and modern surfaces." The overall facade is somewhat cartoonish, but it still successfully conveys uniqueness and heritage—two traits currently missing in the Toyota lineup. Inside, the industrial/ modern theme is carried over, but with more of a Tech/Spartan feel. The floor is covered in rubber, the seats are wrapped in water-resistant mesh cloth, and the dash is festooned with oversize HVAC and stereo knobs. Complemented by metallic-like trim that has a milled, extruded look, the basic cabin harmonizes nicely with the busier exterior.Mechanically, the FJ Cruiser is a 4Runner, which bodes well, considering Toyota's longstanding hauler is a stout, reliable, and strong-performing sport/ute. Accordingly, the FJ uses a modified version of the 4Runner's suspension and fully boxed ladder frame as well as the 4Runner's 4.0-liter V-6, five-speed automatic, four-wheel disc brakes, and differentials. Not only does the parts sharing allow for a big speedy concept-to-production cycle, but it also allows buyers to quickly customize their vehicles. "Because the FJ is predominantly 4Runner, there's already a vast catalog of aftermarket parts and accessories that'll bolt right on to the FJ," says FJ engineer David Lee.John Kiewicz - MotorTrendMost of those parts and accessories undoubtedly will be for off-road use. After traversing a formidable off-road course in the FJ, Mark Williams, editor of our sister publication Truck Trend, says, "The FJ is a serious four-wheeler. A locking rear diff, A-TRAC four-wheel traction control, and strong approach and departure angles will set this icon up against the Nissan Xterra, the Hummer H3, and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The hard-cores will appreciate the steel wheels on the base 4x4 and the manual transmission gearing. Toyota included a clutch interlock defeat with the manual to allow for starter crawling over serious obstacles." Toyota heralds that the FJ Cruiser is the most capable 4x4 in the U.S. lineup, and it lives up to the hype.So how does it perform in the real world? Much like a 4Runner, which is to say with surprising aplomb and minimal fuss. Aerodynamically, the FJ is a hair slicker than the 4Runner—0.397 coefficient of drag versus 0.398—so despite punching the atmosphere with a snub-nosed mug, the FJ is unexpectedly quiet inside. The ride is untrucklike, in that it comes across as soft, yet body motions seem well controlled. Rough roads will gently bounce passengers around, never aggressively toss them like in an Xterra or H3, which feel decidedly firmer. Visibility out of the FJ is nothing great, as it's akin to wearing a football helmet, with a wide, truncated slot straight ahead and two big blind spots in the periphery, thanks to the tree-trunk C-pillars. In the FJ, the sideview mirrors are your friends—best friends.John Kiewicz - MotorTrendThrough twisty roads, the FJ isn't averse to being hustled, but it doesn't exactly accept the invitation with a smile, either. Drive at 6/10ths, and the FJ is a peach, its communicative steering and beefy brakes feeling perfectly suited for the job. Take it to 7/10ths, however, and the stability-control nanny incessantly blinks and beeps her disapproval, as if to say, "Can you not hear the tires howling?" Registering 0.71 g on the skidpad and 55.7 mph through the slalom, it's clear the FJ is a truck.At the dragstrip, though, our four-wheel-drive, five-speed-automatic Cruiser displayed surprising levels of sportiness. From a standstill, the FJ's 239 horses needed just 7.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and only 15.9 ticks at 86.1 mph to eclipse the quarter mile—times nearly identical to the Xterra's (7.7, 15.8 at 87.4) and figures that smoke the H3's (11.3, 17.7 at 77.6). The 1GRE-FE 4.0-liter V-6 feels well matched to the FJ's 4350 pounds. That said, the 4Runner's available 260-horsepower V-8 would certainly turn the FJ into Jenny Craig's latest spokesperson. Asked if Toyota plans to drop the V-8 into the FJ, David Lee responds, "I think it could be done, but the clearance would be tight.John Kiewicz - MotorTrendAt this time, I haven't heard of any plans to do the V-8." Fortunately, "at this time" doesn't translate to "the future." Toyota's vice president of marketing Jim Farley tells us, "The FJ offers potential for special editions, and we're already exploring those possibilities."Toyota hopes to sell 46,000 Japan-built FJs in 2006, with over 90 percent equipped with four-wheel drive. Two-wheel-drive versions will come only with the five-speed automatic, while four-wheelers will offer the automatic or a six-speed manual. Expect a well-equipped 4x4/automatic to fetch around $27,000, with a base 4x2 commanding roughly $24,000.In light of its performance and price, the FJ is a dead-on match to our Sport/Utility of the Year, the Nissan Xterra, on which we praised: "Whether it's touring the back country, hauling gear, or just getting from A to B, the Xterra is the right tool for the job." To that the FJ adds funkier styling, a name with even more cachet, and more headroom, albeit with less legroom.What's more important, style or substance? The good news is that the FJ offers both.ToyotaIconic FJ: TLC's Interpretation of the Classic FJ40Bashing an old Toyota FJ on the rocks of the Rubicon Trail isn't for the faint of heart—while this sport/utility icon is durable and reliable, parts become harder to find every year. Caring for an FJ40 doesn't have to be expensive, but it'll get more difficult as time goes on. TLC, a company that specializes in restoring and modifying classic Land Cruisers, has designed and built a new-age FJ that could solve this problem and also takes the platform way beyond what was possible when it was new. Its Icon embodies the classic styling of the FJ40 and uses durable, modern components, with readily available parts.Initially, all Icons will be based on pre-1975 FJ40 chassis, keeping them 50-state legal and smog exempt. The all-new steel and aluminum body was made to emulate the 1965 Land Cruiser. It's powder-coated, not painted, and the floor and underside have polyurethane coating for protection from the elements. Inside, the front seats are available with heaters and hinge forward to allow easy entry into the back, and there are three-point seatbelts at all four seating positions. It also features a modern HVAC system, power port, and locking center console.The Icon's 5.7-liter GM Ram Jet 350 V-8 cranks out 350 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque and is backed by New Venture's NV4500 five-speed manual trans. The transfer case, a dual-stick Atlas II, has a standard 3.8:1 low range (87:1 crawl ratio); 5.0:1 is available, providing a 115:1 crawl. Front and rear axles are custom-built, based on Dana assemblies, with a standard 4.09:1 limited-slip. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard; ARB front and rear locking diffs optional. Soon, buyers will be able to order the Icon with a biodiesel-burning engine—an Iveco 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel, which TLC estimates will get an average of 35 mpg.For now, every Icon is custom-built, and no two are identical. Pricing starts at $88,000, about what you'd expect for a high-quality, handbuilt specialty machine. In its first year, about 20 are planned (as of this writing, five are already spoken for), with deliveries ready as early as May.TLC has even bigger plans. Most states allow exempt status for vehicles manufactured to resemble those from 30 or more years ago, but a few still don't—which keeps the company from using a new dedicated frame. That may change and could allow the Icon line to expand to include a stretched SUV and a pickup—and maybe more. And, believe it or not, the fact that the Icon is going on sale at the same time as the FJ Cruiser is purely a coincidence. —Allyson HarwoodPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrendPhoto credit: John Kiewicz - MotorTrend
