Toyota Land Cruiser FJ’s beauty is skin deep

THE rumours were true – Toyota has unveiled a retro-styled successor to the FJ Cruiser off-roader, this time in a RAV4-sized package bestowed with the LandCruiser brand promise of serious off-road chops and durability.

However, a Toyota Australia spokesperson said the car-maker has “no current plans to introduce the Land Cruiser FJ to our market”, although the local importer “continuously explores opportunities to evolve our vehicle line up”.

The chunky-looking compact off-roader – to make its public debut at the upcoming Tokyo motor show – is not the battery electric FJ previewed by a concept in 2021, instead deploying the 2.7-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that has done duty in the base-spec HiLux Workmate since time immemorial.

It also shares Toyota’s IMV platform with the HiLux ute and Fortuner large SUV.

Scheduled to launch in Japan around mid-2026, the FJ is smaller than its predecessor at 4575mm long, 1855mm wide and 1960mm tall, while its 2580mm wheelbase is 270mm shorter than that of a Prado.

Compared with similarly capable off-roaders, the LandCruiser FJ is larger than a Suzuki Jimny XL or two-door Jeep Wrangler but smaller than a GWM Tank 300 or five-door Wrangler. Like those models, the Toyota has a rear-mounted spare wheel.

More than 500mm longer than another spiritual predecessor, the Toyota Bundera from the 1980s and 1990s, the LandCruiser FJ comes within a whisker of sharing dimensions with three-door versions of the 150-Series LandCruiser Prado.

A six-speed automatic transmission and part-time four-wheel-drive system distribute the engine’s modest 120kW and 246Nm to the road (2kW less and 1Nm more than the Australian-spec HiLux Workmate).

In similar vein to the bush-mechanic-friendly use of legacy driveline and platform components, Toyota has designed the FJ’s front and rear bumpers to be removable in segments so that only damaged areas need replacing – and to make customisation easier.

Toyota says the FJ achieves outstanding off-road performance through wheel articulation equivalent to the 70 Series, while extra underfloor bracing and high body rigidity promise stability on sealed surfaces.

During development, extensive off-road testing identified points for improvement to ensure true “LandCruiser-ness” in terms of reliability, durability and off-road performance.

Inside, the simple dashboard has been designed for ease-of-use across a wide range of driving conditions, with a traditional gear selector and combinations of touchscreens and physical switches said to minimise eye movement for the driver.

A low-set cowl and instrument panel should provide good forward visibility, along with a low beltline to help the driver place their FJ accurately on challenging terrain – although the huge C-pillars and rear windscreen partially obscured by the spare wheel could make reversing tricky.

Factory customisation options tailored for each region in which the LandCruiser FJ will be sold are to be rolled out during its lifecycle.

Already announced are retro round headlights, Molle panels for securing items, and a range of functional exterior accessories – such as snorkels, rock sliders, bash plates, mud flaps and recovery points – designed to complement the FJ’s boxy styling.

Toyota used the LandCruiser FJ unveiling to introduce the Land Hopper, an under-development folding e-trike designed to fit inside the FJ’s boot and able to carry people and cargo on trails too narrow or too rough for even a LandCruiser to navigate.