Automobile Blog

2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser: Tripping the Plastic Nostalgic Fantastic
TOYOTA is now the mighty money-minting juggernaut of the automotive world. But while it may be the all-powerful Kong of carmakers, the company seems publicly ambivalent about its likely coronation as the world leader — “Oh, we’re going to pass G.M.? Really? Gosh, should we send them a bundt cake or something?”

You’d think that the company, with more cash than Scrooge McDuck, would have a few indulgent products in its portfolio, low-volume image cars to cast a glow on the mainstream Camrys and Corollas that pay the bills. But no; these days, when a Toyota test car shows up, I think: “Oh, my, I’m in for a very pleasant experience. This looks quite swell indeed.” Then I lose it in the parking lot at the mall.

I’d venture to bet that you’ll never lose the 2007 FJ Cruiser in a parking lot, in a jungle, on a remote mountaintop or at a tailgate party at a private liberal arts college. This is the freakiest thing to come out of Toyota since the engineers locked management in a broom closet and built the Previa, a supercharged egg-shaped midengined minivan.

As a reincarnation of a beloved original (the FJ40 Land Cruiser of 1960-83), the FJ Cruiser hews to the Mini Cooper school of retro styling — to a point. While the Mini looks like a bigger, smoother version of the original, the FJ Cruiser follows that formula only for its front half. From the front bumper up to the doors, the FJ picks up where the old rock-basher left off, with round headlamps, a simple rectangular grille and butch flared fenders.

But grafted to this familiar face is a rear end off a lunar exploration vehicle, complete with rear-opening back doors and a thick roof pillar that dwarfs the windows flanking it. To my eyes, this Nehru-jacket-and-spacesuit design somehow works. I wonder what the Fab Five would think of it.

The FJ’s interior takes a page out of the Nissan playbook — interesting shapes rendered in cheap plastics. Silly, fun touches abound, like a dashtop gauge pod that includes a compass, thermometer and inclinometer. (For once, I can leave my pocket inclinometer at home!)

Even the subwoofer of the FJammer stereo is styled to attract attention, its silver enclosure standing loud and proud against the black wall of the cargo area. A deactivation switch on the dash comes into play when there’s a different sort of woofer on board. If a dog is riding in the cargo area, the subwoofer cutout switch lets you listen to music at a reasonable volume without running afoul of the Humane Society.

There are also two NXT SurfaceSound transducers that turn the entire headliner into a sound source. While the vibrating roof is novel, I’ll bet most people would rather have a sunroof, which is not available.

The FJ’s back seat is easily accessible thanks to the clamshell doors, but once you’re seated the experience is akin to a flight on the Washington shuttle. The rear windows don’t open, there is scant legroom and that hulking pillar is next to your head.

All that’s missing is a surly lady tossing you a 0.5-ounce bag of pretzels and a salesman with a seat-belt extender and sleep apnea invading your personal space. But you know what they say about the people in the back seat: they didn’t pay for the car.

On the road, the FJ Cruiser is a wieldy piece. I haven’t driven the redesigned 2007 Jeep Wrangler yet, but the FJ embarrasses the outgoing Wrangler in just about any dynamic category you’d care to name.

The 4-liter V-6 (borrowed from the Tacoma pickup) produces 239 horsepower and, even better, 278 pound-feet of torque, endowing the FJ with surprising energy off the line. This stout motor is mated to either a five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual, and stability control is standard. The FJ may wear a white roof and other retro cosmetics, but under the skin it’s thoroughly modern.

Mileage ratings vary from 15 city/19 highway for the manual-transmission 4×4 to 18/22 for a rear-drive model with an automatic. Toyota recommends premium fuel.

When it comes to cornering, the sidewall giveth and the sidewall taketh away. Low-profile tires are the rage, even on S.U.V.’s where they make no sense at all, but the FJ goes the opposite route with 32-inch-tall