LIFESIZE TONKA TOY

Retro and tough, the FJ Cruiser is mostly for play THE EXPERTS SAY

The FJ Cruiser’s light burned brightly and briefly. The retro-looking 4WD was very much at the fun end of Toyota’s line-up between 2011 and 2016. Owners loved their FJs, its mechanicals were borrowed from the Prado so it was a gun off-road and Toyota Australia sold more than 12,000 examples.

The fact it only ever came with a thirsty 4.0-litre petrol V6 rather than a more economical diesel didn’t help.

As it was solidly targeting the US, there wasn’t a sufficient business case to fit the Prado’s diesel under the FJ’s shapely bonnet.

If you want one today, don’t expect many modern niceties. The dashboard looks and feels as if it’s from a child’s toy, rear vision is terrible and rear passengers would feel less claustrophobic in a cave — it’s roomy back there but is dark and a pain to get in to.

Given the good stuff, it’s easy to forgive such sins. FJ Cruisers take their classic frontal styling from the Toyota FJ40 LandCruiser, the rear suicide doors open 90 degrees in a clamshell fashion and the side-hinged tailgate has a swing-up glass hatch and has the spare wheel attached.

Despite the truck-like body-on-frame chassis, FJs have decent enough on-road manners to justify running one as a daily driver. The body rolls when cornering and the turning circle is large but thanks to local tuning for the all-coil suspension and steering it absorbs

bumps well and live up to its name — it’s an enjoyable cruiser.

The ace up the FJ’s sleeve is proper hardcore off-road talent. There’s part-time 4WD with low-range, electric locking rear differential and switchable active traction control tech to assist off-road climbing.

The handy clearance angles and 224mm ground clearance endow go-anywhere clout and there’s handy towing capacity of 2250kg.

Find one bought after March 2013 and you get off-road cruise control; a “feet-off” set-up that on severe or slippery terrain enables the driver to concentrate solely on steering.

These post-March 2013 FJs also came with an extra 87L fuel tank, backing up the 72L main tank and enabling almost 1400km range with the claimed 11.4L/100km economy. It’s an expensive fill, not least as Toyota recommends 95 octane fuel.

The V6, a blunt instrument full of character and good for 200kW/380Nm of non-turbo might, was mated exclusively to a five-speed automatic gearbox.

With only one specification of FJ Cruiser, the hardest choice was which of the 13 colours to buy.

Standard were 17-inch alloys with 70-profile tyres, water-repellent seat fabric, washable floor, six airbags, reversing camera in the rearview mirror, rear parking sensors, rear fog lamps, cruise control, aircon, multiinformation display, USB port, Bluetooth and CD stacker. Satnav was fitted from early 2012.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Expect impressive durability from the combination of Toyota’s rugged, reliable reputation and a reasonably simple V6.

Transmission dramas have soured things for some owners. If there’s shuddering when accelerating, jerky gearshifts or a clunking from the rear end, best look elsewhere.

A recall was issued in March 2013 for potential cracks in the lower inner panel of the rear doors where the seat belt is anchored. Check for cracks and ensure the car was returned to Toyota for inspection.

Other recalls were June 2011 for an airbag sensor and February 2014 for a breather tube being too close to the exhaust.

Services are required every six months or 10,000km, so ensure the owner has stayed on top of this, preferably at a Toyota dealer.

Be aware bigger services (about $700) are at four years/80,000km and six years/120,000km.

FJ Cruiser owners typically fall into two camps: retro-loving city dwellers or off-road enthusiasts. Clearly, cars owned by the former lead easier lives, making them more desirable.

If your weekends are spent getting up to the axles in mud or sand, there are plenty of FJs out there with attractive off-road accessories fitted.

This means you’ll be bush-bash ready. FJs fitted with lift kits, winches, snorkels and rock sliders won’t have these for show.

Check the underside for serious dents and Toyota Australia sold more than 12,000 examples of the FJ Cruiser here and stopped imports when the parent company announced it would end production because sales in North America had slowed to a trickle.

The FJ Cruiser from 2011 ($44,990 new) is now valued at $28,950.

For the last of the series, the 2016 ($46,990 new) is still worth $43,350.

With its compact dimensions and retro styling, the FJ Cruiser has no direct competitor. The larger Jeep Grand Cherokee, the mechanically similar Toyota LandCruiser Prado and soft-roaders including the Toyota Kluger, Holden Captiva and Ford Territory can be cross shopped.

Fans of the niche FJ Cruiser ensure there is an enthusiastic pool of used buyers and its resale values are far better than for the other vehicles mentioned.

For 2011 models, retained value is better than 64 per cent; for 2016,

92 per cent.

bashes to the chassis, bash plates and exhaust. The body may have copped bumps and scratches in the wilds but be particularly vigilant for signs of rust, especially around doors and the tailgate.

If you have kids, check they can tolerate the rear seats. Don’t be blinded by their “It looks so cool!” first impressions, make sure they can get in and out and don’t get sick or whingey about the lack of light in the back.

FJ Cruisers don’t have an ANCAP safety rating. Heavy fuel use around town highlights these aren’t ideal family SUVs.

A good online resource for information and advice is the FJ Cruiser Club of Australia (fjcc.com.au).

IAIN SAYS

Looks great, it’s rock-solid reliable and accomplished off-road but the FJ Cruiser isn’t for everyone. Plastic cabin and rear seat claustrophobia mean it’s not a good family SUV and the thirsty V6 makes long trips expensive. A second car plaything? Sweet.

OWNER SAYS DERYCK:

I have a 2016 FJ and I absolutely love it. I got it brand new and we take it as a family everywhere as long as it’s not a three-hour road trip. Riding in the FJ is like a ship on the ocean. So comfortable and smooth. As for off-road it is unstoppable. I see no reason why I would need to sell it in the next few years. I have not had a stitch of trouble with it. The back seats are a little tight but I have two girls and they seem to be OK. There’s certainly not the same room as in our Prado (but that was the worst car Toyota ever made). I have not done any modifications and I’m not sure I will. The FJs seem to be holding their value since Toyota stopped making them.

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER 2011-16

PRICE NEW $44,990-$46,990 ENGINE 4.0-litre V6, 200kW/380Nm SAFETY Not rated

THIRST 11.4L/100km

TOWING 2250kg TELL US ABOUT YOUR WRITE TO

CARS@NEWS.COM.AU MOTORING, PO BOX 4245, SYDNEY, 2010

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