When I first saw the FJ I thought, "Interesting styling, but no substance to back it up." I simply assumed that such a highly styled vehicle would be based on a front-drive car platform. Nope. This one's based on the 4Runner SUV, and thus should be highly capable off-road. With this straight in my mind, I could now see the FJ for what it really is: Toyota's answer to the Hummer.

To find out how well the FJ actually works as transportation, I took one for a test drive. They're in short supply, so I drove what I could get my hands on. As luck would have it, the one the dealer had was equipped with my preferred powertrain: a six-speed manual with full-time all-wheel-drive. For some reason the automatic is available with either rear-wheel-drive or part-time four-wheel-drive, but not the more sophisticated system paired with the manual.

Styling

I'm not an SUV kind of guy, but the uniqueness of the Hummer appeals to me, and I find the FJ similarly interesting to look at. Like the Hummer H3, the FJ has blocky styling with an upright windshield, small windows, and fender flares. However, Toyota didn't simply knock off Hummer to get this look. Instead, it was able to borrow cues from its own classic FJ SUV. Which was itself based on old Land Rovers, so I guess the look still isn't entirely Toyota's own creation. One FJ cue that has been adopted is a white roof no matter what color the rest of the truck is. A tubular roof rack provides additional visual ruggedness.

The interior is a mix of H2-like plastic styled to look like exposed metal structural elements and Toyota parts bin items. The steering wheel in particular doesn't belong aeshetically. As in the H2, the end result seems overly contrived and more than a bit fake, but still fun. All the plastic is a bit easier to take at the FJ's much lower MSRP.

The Hummer H3's interior appears of higher quality but is also less unique.

Accommodations

This is a true SUV that in the usual fashion of Toyota's conventional SUVs sits well off the ground. So you must hoist yourself into the driver's seat. An A-pillar-mounted handle is supplied to faciliate the task. Once in the seat the view forward is much like that in the Hummers thanks to a distant, upright, short windshield. In fact, the windshield is so short and wide that three wipers are employed. The view takes a little getting used to, and can be inconvenient if you're the first car at a light, but adds to the unique character of the vehicle. You know you're not in a normal vehicle. The RAV4 I drove immediately afterwards seemed like a subcompact hatch in comparison.

The driver's seat is supportive and comfortable. Front and rear height are separately adjustable, a very welcome but increasingly rare feature in manual seats. The side bolsters are prominent, but are a bit widely spaced for a driver with a relatively slender build.

The rear seat is accessed via the sort of rear-hinged half-doors commonly found on extended cab pickups. Only the lack of a B-pillar keeps access from being an issue. The rear seat is wide enough for three people and reasonably high off the ground, but even more than in the already tight H3 knee room and legroom are in short supply.

Thanks to a wider body, cargo volume is a bit more plentiful than in the H3, especially with the rear seat folded. The floor is hard plastic with a raised pattern. If you don't want stuff sliding about, best secure it. As in many Toyotas, an A/C power outlet is available.

On the Road

Though not to the same extent as in a Hummer, in the FJ you instantly get the sense that you're piloting a serious hunk of machinery. Like the 4Runner on which it's based, the retro ute feels massive.

Unlike the 4700-pound H3, the 4300-pound FJ has a strong enough engine to easily motivate its mass, a 239-horsepower 4.0-liter V6. More importantly, the engine produces 278 foot-pounds of torque. The H3's five-cylinder produces nearly as much power, but only 225 foot-pounds of torque, indicating a significantly weaker midrange.

The FJ's acceleration still wouldn't suit a sports car, but it's more than sufficient for this sort of vehicle. In typical driving it's not necessary to work the engine hard.

The shifter is the long-throw type typically found in true trucks. That in the H3 is much the same.

The FJ doesn't feel as agile as the H3, and its vague steering lacks the meaty, direct feel present in the smallest (but still not small) Hummer. But the FJ's still not a difficult vehicle to drive. Wide pillars make for large blindspots, but large mirrors help compensate. The ride has the busyness typical of a truck, but here as well the FJ is more refined than its appearance suggests. You feel the live rear axle dancing about, but its isolated enough to not feel annoying. Road noise is lower than I expected given the off-road treads. Wind noise picks up at higher speeds courtesy of the upright windshield and large mirrors, but remains well within bearable limits.

I didn't venture off-road, but all the necessary hardware appears to be present: two-speed transfer case, locking center and rear differentials, hill start assist, and hill descent control.

Toyota FJ Cruiser Price Comparisons and Pricing

The FJ is very reasonably priced. After adjusting for features it costs a bit less than a Nissan Xterra, and about $4,000 less than an H3.

As a result, you'll be lucky to buy one at MSRP. The dealer where I took my test drive planned to equip every FJ it could get its hands on with every accessory, and then some. The unit I drove had just been fitted with heated leather upholstery. This and other dealer additions totaled over $4,000.

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the FJ Cruiser:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/FJ.php

Last Words

Like a Hummer, the FJ combines unique styling with a capable off-road chassis. Compared to an H3, it has more power and a lower price. Ride and handling are at best average for an SUV. But just as no one is going to buy an FJ because of how it rides and handles, no one who likes the look of the vehicle is going to reject it on these grounds, either. If you're drawn to the look, you'll like the rest well enough. But good luck finding one at a reasonable price.

A note on Toyota FJ Cruiser Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy an FJ Cruiser rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Toyota FJ Cruiser reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the FJ Cruiser--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. For non-participants, this access will cost $24.95.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

If you're a member, and you want to receive an email when I post a new review, click here.

Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Hummer H3 review
Nissan Xterra review