New Toyota Land Cruiser FJ

SUVs don’t get better than the Land Cruiser. Toyota has proudly used this brand for its flagship SUVs worldwide. But the Land Cruiser did not start its life as a luxurious 7-seater. It began its life as an alternative to the Jeep. The original Land Cruiser was a short-wheelbase, 2-door vehicle designed to provide transport during the war. It missed out on all the luxuries possible and came equipped with only 2 things as standard- an engine and a 4WD powertrain. These cars were categorised as the J-series and, since they used the Toyota FJ engine, were later referred to as the Land Cruiser FJ. The FJ was also sold in 4-door, pickup, and station wagon configurations.

It wasn’t until 1984 that Toyota finally transitioned the Land Cruiser from a hardcore off-roader into a more comfortable 7-seater. Toyota tried to reintroduce the FJ (as the FJ Cruiser) in global markets back in 2006, but failed to garner the same love as the original. The Japanese manufacturer has now made another attempt at the FJ Cruiser, showcasing it at the Japanese mobility show.

This time around, Toyota plans to launch the FJ in Indian markets, as it has noticed rising demand for rugged SUVs. Here is all the information you need about the upcoming Land Cruiser FJ.

Read More: 3 New Japanese SUVs Launching Next Year!

Looks

You usually expect a Land Cruiser to be a stretched-out 5m long SUV, but that is not the case with the FJ . With a length of 4575mm, it is almost 200mm shorter than the outgoing Fortuner. Despite its smaller dimensions, the FJ looks intimidating.

Toyota has used a cube as a design reference. From the outside, you barely notice any rounded edges or features. It is all sharp cuts, creases and 90-degree angles. To make you feel like you are stepping into a serious off-road vehicle, the FJ sports dramatic cladding throughout its body. And like with all no-nonsense off-roaders, you get a tail-mounted spare wheel and sturdy roof rails.

You can personalise your own FJ however you like. You can equip the FJ with a snorkel, roof rails, MOLLE panels, etc., and even switch out the rectangular LED headlights for circular ones, reminiscent of the original FJ40.

Interiors

The FJ has a cabin identical to the recently unveiled next-gen Hilux. The cabins of newer Toyota models are a perfect mix of practicality and modern features. You get luxury amenities like a 12.5″ touch screen, a fully-digital driver’s display and mobile connectivity, while all the features are laid out ergonomically. You get a ton of physical buttons and knobs, and no touch-sensitive controls.

Toyota has yet to unveil the feature list for the FJ. The display unit at the Japanese mobility show missed out on features like a sunroof and rear AC vents, but it seems unlikely that the production models will miss out on these features.

Powertrain

Here’s a big shocker: the FJ won’t be offered as a Diesel. You get a 2.7L petrol engine capable of 160 horsepower and 246 Nm of torque. These numbers seem rather frail for a rugged SUV. Toyota is planning to offer this with strong-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, where we could see a potential boost to the power figures.

Toyota has a reputation for having robust build quality. This does not necessarily mean that you get the luxuries of soft-touch materials. Overall, the cabin is made of rugged yet reliable plastics since leather would easily get ruined by dirt and mud during off-road adventures.

As of now, Toyota has announced just one gearbox option- the 6-speed ECT. The Indian-spec model may get a manual gearbox on lower variants. As for the drivetrain options, the FJ would be available only as a 4WD.

Rivals

Its potential rivals include the Thar Roxx, the Scorpio N, and the Tata Safari. The competition could get tougher with the upcoming launches of the Renault Bigster. SUVs that sit in a price bracket above include the Fortuner, MG Gloster, Jeep Meridian, and the forthcoming Hyundai Palisade.

Read More: New Hyundai Palisade – What to Expect?

Intrig, the FJ was showcased as a 5-seater. At the expected price point of the FJ, its main competitors are 7-seater SUVs. It will be interesting to see how the FJ would fare against its 7-seater rivals.

Read More: New Renault Bigster – What to Expect?

Expected Price and Launch

Toyota have confirmed that the FJ will be coming to India. But the bad news is that the launch is scheduled for 2028. That is a long way away, and the competition could change completely in the coming years. The global market will get the FJ next year, but Indian customers will have to hold their horses a bit longer.

The FJ is not expected to be cheap and affordable to the general public. While it may not cost as much as the flagship Land, the price is likely to start at 30 lakh rupees, with top models reaching 45 lakh rupees (on-road, Mumbai).

Read More: Rs 20 Lakh Toyota Land Cruiser Coming To Rival Creta?