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01/08/2011, 02:38
REVIEW By MURRAY HUBBARD
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There’s no doubt the great looking FJ Cruiser meets a major marketing need for Toyota. In Australia it’s keen to get away from the perception it only produces unexciting vehicles with limited appeal to the younger generation. Hence the importation of the FJ Cruiser and the Rukus.
After the dreadful tsunami that hit Japan earlier this year, Toyota has the waiting list for new FJ Cruiser down to about a month. Dealers are putting pressure on Toyota for a diesel variant, with many customers test driving the 4.0-litre petrol and leaving with the comment ‘call me when you get a diesel.’ That’s not a reflection on the 4.0-litre petrol engine in any negative sense, other than it is petrol.
Unfortunately, as a right-hand drive market, Australia is small fish compared to the US which is left-hand drive with a preference for ‘gas’ engines, and the market for which the FJ Cruiser was designed.
There is no mistaking the front of the new FJ Cruiser for anything but an off-road Tojo. It’s aggressive with short overhangs and good ramp angles.
During our week-long road test of the Toyota FJ Cruiser we enjoyed the grunt of the Prado-sourced petrol engine. An all-alloy, 24-valve DOHC with dual VVT-i this engine is a proven performer. It is hooked up to a smooth five-speed automatic transmission.
For a vehicle that sits so high, 224 mm off the ground, the FJ Cruiser is remarkably car-like for a serious 4WD. However, we felt it was a little too soft in its suspension and wallowed a bit at times on sealed roads.
The old Toyota FJ LandCruiser was a two-door, so the addition of the back front-opening ‘suicide’ doors is a modern - yet at the same time traditional – method of overcoming a problem: access to the rear seats. The FJ Cruiser excels, with easy access both ways, as long as the front seat passenger is not wearing a seatbelt and the back of the front seat is well forward. Toyota admits not everyone will be suited to the FJ Cruiser because of this. The rear doors cannot be opened unless the front door is open, so some parents of young children might even see this as an advantage.
The first impression is that you are sitting in the pilot’s seat of a light aircraft. The vertical dash conveys the cockpit feel about it, particularly with the windscreen well forward. It’s so far forward that Toyota has included a roof-mounted side sunshade just above the grab handles on either side of the front seats.
Like the exterior, the Toyota’s dash is a new take on the old simple dash that you would see in an FJ or even a Land Rover. We like the large controls for air conditioning and audio, also the remote controls for audio and Bluetooth on the steering wheel. The cruise control stalk is on the steering column.
The front seats are of the semi-sport variety, finished in cloth, supportive and comfortable. The rear pew which takes three passengers can be a little tight for anyone who suffers claustrophobia, particularly with the front seats pushed back. The large bodywork panels impede on the side window view. This also in some circumstances impedes the driver’s left-rear view when turning right into traffic.
The FJ Cruiser’s back seats have a 60/40 split and, with the rear seat base easily folded up and forward, the seat backs fold flat to create an enormous cargo space ideal for camping gear and so on. This fits in with what we implied earlier: a serious off-roader for adventurous young people.
Another sign of the FJ Cruiser having been designed for America is that the tailgate is hinged on the wrong side for Australia. So you have to stop well onto the road to load cargo.
FJ Cruiser’s engine has 200 kW on tap at 5600 rpm and 380 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. The bottom line is the FJ Cruiser is smooth and quiet. The vehicle’s off-road credentials come from a two-speed transfer case and a rear electrically-actuated diff lock. The FJ Cruiser is an impressive package.
It was not that long ago SUVs and 4WDs were the poor cousins when it came to safety technology. All that has changed and the FJ Cruiser has vehicle stability control, active traction control, ABS brakes, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. Add to that six airbags, reversing camera, rear parking sensors and active head restraints for the front seats.
There is no doubt this Toyota is the best genuine 4WD wagon to come to Australia for years. Driving the FJ Cruiser is like putting on your favourite pair of slippers. It feels just right. Outside the exterior and interior design cues, the FJ is straight-forward mechanically.
The FJ Cruiser is quite at home in the suburbs and sneaks easily into shopping centre parking spaces and takes off at the lights with the rest of the traffic. Rear vision is not perfect with the wide side panels, but the rear-view camera is excellent for reversing whether out of a car park or off-road down a hill when things get rough.
Despite the lack of a door pillar between the doors the FJ Cruiser feels remarkably solid and is surprisingly quiet at highway speed. Our litmus test for all cars is simple: could we live with it? In the case of the FJ Cruiser that answer is easy. Yes.
We will wait with some anticipation (tell us we’re dreaming!) for a diesel with a six-speed manual gearbox.
MODEL RANGE
Toyota FJ Cruiser 4.0-litre petrol five-door wagon: $44,990 (automatic)
Note: These prices do not include dealer or government charges. Contact your nearest Toyota dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard
Air Conditioning: Standard
Automatic Transmission: Standard
CD Player: Standard
Central Locking: Standard
Cruise Control: Standard
Dual Front Airbags: Standard
Front Side Airbags: Standard
Stability Control: Standard
Traction Control: Standard
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE:
Capacity: 3.956 litres
Configuration: V6
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.4:1
Bore/Stroke: 94.0 mm x 96.0 mm
Maximum Power: 200 kW @ 5600 rpm
Maximum Torque: 380 Nm @ 4400 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Part time 2WD/4WD. Two speed transfer.
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Five-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.727:1
Electrically actuated rear diff lock
CLEARANCES
Ground: 224 mm
Approach angle: 36 degrees
Departure angle: 31 degrees
Ramp over angle: 29 degrees
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4670 mm
Wheelbase: 2690 mm
Width: 1905 mm
Height: 1830 mm
Turning Circle: 12.7 metres
Kerb Mass: 2510 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 72 litres
Towing Ability: 2250 kg with braked trailer
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Double wishbone, coil springs
Rear Suspension: Five-link, coil springs
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated Disc
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 11.4 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 4.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5.5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years or 100,000 km |
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