In one line…

A brand new body for the Toyota Prado but it’s affordable enough that you won’t feel nervous about actually taking it off-road.

Engine
The FJ Cruiser has the Prado’s 200kW, 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine that is mated to a five-speed auto box. No word of manual in the pipelines, but don’t judge it on that. The saddest part about this SUV is that most of the people who buy it won’t ever actually experience what it’s truly capable of.

Competitors include that useless American Hummer and Jeep’s pretty decent but not nearly as eye-catching Cherokee.

Price
The FJ bridges the gap between the Fortuner and higher-end Prado model range, and while mostly it is a Prado, it is 20mm wider, 50mm lower and 260mm shorter and is 25mm higher from the gournd than the Prado.

The shortened length means a greater approach and departure angle. If neither of these make sense to you, you’ll fall into the unfortunate group above. Or you’ll get your money’s worth and learn how to offroad.

Styling, Design and Interior
The FJ has a boxy, stocky design that gives you confidence when manoeuvring tricky situations. The windshield is also exceptionally short (from base to top) and is quite upright which leads to a noisy ride when at speed. That being said though, how often are you actually going to be driving this thing at speed?

Styling wins are found all over the car, especially the suicide door layout to gain access to the rear. And when you’re inside there’ll be none of this poncy bicep curl handle nonsense. No soldier! You’ll be holding on for dear life to the right angled handle attached to the back of the front seats.

Inside things are tough and uncomplicated too. Seats aren’t leather but breathable water-repellent upholstery with a urethane undercoat, surfaces are plastic and won’t scratch easily and the buttons that make things work are un-missable even with wekker gloves on.

Its bottom of mind features like this that make you feel like you’re driving the kind of off-roader that you wouldn’t mind lending to mate for his trip to Zambia next year Feb “once the Joburg ous have gotten back from their holidays”. And picture it with some surfboards strapped to the roof…forget about it!

Special features
Mostly bragging rights! Brag because you’re driving the one car modelled on the original and classic FJ40 series of the 1960’s. Brag because yours is the only Toyota to come with the word “Toyota” written across the braai grill in the front. And brag because every 18-30 year old will want to be you and every 30-60 will wish they had your car when you’re pulling them out of Mozambican mud.

The drive
I got the awesome opportunity to drive this thing in almost every environment you can think of: tar, soft sand, wet sand, swamp and Highveld mountain.

When off-road cars look this good you assume (often correctly) that they’re only good for impressing the soccer moms at the nursery school. The FJ Cruiser is not a one-trick pony though. If you buy this vehicle and never take it properly off-road, you’re a fool and bad things will happen to you.

Consumption
I wish they would make a 3-litre version!!! If you’re considering this car over its bigger brother the Prado, then it’s more than likely because you don’t have the cash for the Prado. Since this is the case, 4-litres, 278g/km CO2 and consumption of 11.9ℓ/100km doesn’t make sense. It’s thirsty.
Safety
six airbags (two in front, two for side impacts for front passengers and two full length curtain bags)
Price
R435 500 – R457 300
After sales
5 year / 90 000 km service plan and a 3year / 100 000 km warranty

Visit the Toyota website now to choose your derivative