Toyota just announced the return of the FJ Cruiser, at least in a spiritual sense. While it’s been just over a decade since the previous FJ Cruiser left the States, it was only discontinued in the Middle East a couple of years ago. However, if you’re waiting to head out into the North American wilderness in a brand new Land Cruiser “FJ,” you’ll have to wait at least a bit longer since this new model will only be available in Asian markets.
The new FJ obviously takes some design cues from the Land Cruiser 250, and while it may look small, it’s not exactly in the realm of the Kei trucks or Jimny. It’s surprisingly close to a 4-door Jeep Wrangler JL in most respects. Namely, its rather short wheelbase of 101.5 inches is 10.5 inches shorter than the Land Cruiser 250. This provides a tight turning radius of 18 feet.
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The squared-off styling is designed to maximize the cargo capacity and general habitability of the rig. Much like the Land Cruiser 250, customers will have the option for square or round headlights, continuing the throwbacks to previous models of the legendary Land Cruiser. The new FJ will be powered by a 2.7-liter inline four-cylinder.
This new FJ has several off-road-focused features, and the most interesting is that the front and rear bumper corners are removable, allowing damaged parts to be easily replaced. To further maximize storage space, Toyota will offer MOLLE panels for interior organization. Based on one of the prototypes, Toyota will also offer a snorkel and a factory roof rack for the new FJ. And while there aren’t specific stats available for ground clearance and articulation, Toyota has said the FJ’s wheel articulation will be equivalent to the 70 series.
While the design won’t be for everyone, it’s cool to see a relatively compact off-roader in other markets. It’s not unusual for Toyota to offer different models abroad. Just take a look at the 300 series Land Cruiser, the Hilux, and the aforementioned 70 series. On the other hand, the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia models are only available in North America. After so many US models getting updates in the last few years, it’s hard to complain about a lack of choices. Now that we know that the Land Cruiser FJ isn’t currently heading to the North American market, we’ll keep an eye out for any updates on rumored models, including the compact truck that’s reportedly hitting the market in the next couple of years.
