G’bye, Toyota FJ Cruiser.

August 22nd, 2008

Automotive News reported last week the eventual demise of Toyota’s FJ Cruiser SUV.

On the surface, the move makes sense. Today, Toyota sells six SUVs. Four of them achieve less than 17 MPG. The FJ is one of them — and it gulps expensive premium fuel to boot. Some FJ owners have reported frame-and-body stress fractures and a fragile front windshield design. Issues aside, the FJ Cruiser isn’t all bad. I reviewed a 2007 model almost two years ago — I was new to video, so forgive the elementary production quality. I did my best to cover the good and the bad, but two years of hindsight and experience can humble even the most confident reviewer. I have a few comments to add.

On my “personal” off-road course as seen in the video, the FJ held its own against the Nissan Xterra and Hummer H3. During multi-manufacturer testing at a second course in Dallas, it felt more fun offroad than Land Rover’s antiseptic LR2. But the FJ Cruiser’s size obviously kept it from diving into places that a Jeep Wrangler would fit through, and the FJ’s nannying electronics can’t be completely turned off. Sometimes, that’s no fun.

On-road, you could pitch the FJ’s weight around and it never seemed to mind. There was actual steering weight and feedback, and just enough tire-generated road noise to lend the thing a sense of life. The thematic interior was actually styled, unlike every other Toyota. Its rear visibility never bothered me much, though I did have to learn to use (and trust) the oversized side mirrors. Poor premium MPG wouldn’t win it any friends today, but man… it looked cool and it was kinda fun to drive. Nothing else in a Toyota dealer looks cool. And trust me, nothing else in that dealer today is even… kinda… fun.

That’s why the FJ’s death is a loss.

Many happy miles,
Adam

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