Toyota’s FJ Cruiser is a distinctive proposition in the 4×4 market thanks to a unique design and door layout, as well as its off-road capability.
On the majority of sealed surfaces, it rides well for such an off-road-biased vehicle, even though it’s somewhat cumbersome in the corners.
From behind the steering wheel, when peering through the upright windscreen that offers a letterbox view of the outside world, you can imagine you are piloting a military tank.
The FJ’s 4,0-litre V6 petrol engine (producing 200 kW and 380 N.m), is not frugal, but once you have planned your off-road excursion the idea of owning an FJ Cruiser starts to make sense. We decided to test the FJ on the dunes, a favourite playground for 4×4 enthusiasts.
It is no secret that you need outright power to overcome obstacles in a sandy environment and that’s where the FJ really came into its own.
Although you can charge up some dunes at speed, you can sometimes bank on using only 80 or 90% of the throttle travel in the FJ, leaving the final 10 or 20% for that last moment to help the vehicle summit a dune.
This is where the 200 kW makes its mark … For these situations, the 4H setting in the four-wheel-drive system did a fine job. Should the vehicle get stuck, low-range can be selected with the 4L setting.
It is not difficult to get stuck in heavy sand and fortunately there are two options available to the driver. First of all, the rear differential lock can be activated (it makes a noticeable difference in its own right), but then Toyota’s A-trac system is also available. Although a front mechanical diff-lock will always be better, the A-trac replicates the effect of a diff-lock by using the brakes to limit wheel spin on the front wheels (when the rear diff-lock is activated).
Predictably, this is what you need to crest that dune in those seconds before you realise you need to bail out and reverse back, or keep the throttle pinned and let the power combined with these systems carry you over to the other side.
TEST SUMMARY
The FJ is one of Toyota’s most capable off-road vehicles. The powerful engine, combined with the high approach and departure angles make off-roading a pleasure, while the additional 87-litre fuel tank (added to the 72-litre main tank) improves its range. And don’t forget the crawl function. The “suicide doors” might not be the most practical, and the FJ’s size will surely intimidate some, but as a specialised off-road vehicle, the FJ ticks most boxes.