- Designed in California, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is a fun and capable SUV.
- The FJ Cruiser successfully picked up the styling thread of the early Land Cruiser.
- This example, up for auction on Bring a Trailer until October 18, has 96,000 miles on the odometer.
With Toyota’s Calty design studio in California celebrating its 50th anniversary, what better time to go poking through the Calty back catalog to find some modern collectibles? The studio’s aim was to marry sunny SoCal car culture with pragmatic Toyota underpinnings, and sometimes it got the recipe exactly right. So it was with the FJ Cruiser, a retro-themed mid-size SUV that was basically a 4Runner with more fun baked in.
This FJ Cruiser, up for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is from the last model year available in North America, 2014. With 94,000 miles on the odometer, it’s just broken in by Toyota standards, and the Quicksand beige paint contrasts nicely with the white roof. A shorter wheelbase than the related 4Runner gives the 17-inch wheels an even chunkier look, and the friendly round-headlight face captures the spirit of the original FJ40 perfectly.
When it first debuted for the 2007 model year, the FJ Cruiser gave Toyota’s image a much-needed shot in the arm. The brand’s reputation for reliability and pragmatism was well established, but the FJ Cruiser helped put the fun back in functional. Look! Three windshield wipers! Weird rear-opening half doors! Retro side mirrors!
And underneath, the FJ Cruiser was basically just a shortened 4Runner, which made it great off-road. On the road, however, the combination of a thirsty 260-hp 4.0-liter V-6 and ponderous handling drew some complaints from the critics. In a review of a 2009 model, we summed things up by writing, “Driving the FJ is like piloting a boat.”
However, the FJ Cruiser was at least a far better-behaved on-road companion than the contemporary Jeep Wrangler with its twin live axles. And besides, a trucklike driving feel is part of the Tonka Toy charm. If you want a RAV4, buy a RAV4. The FJ Cruiser is built to turn everyday chores into expeditions.
This example is claimed to have an accident-free history and has lived in New Mexico, Nevada, and now Washington—all natural habitats for Toyota’s off-road species. The charcoal cloth interior looks well preserved and should stand up to plenty of camping-related abuse. The mileage is also in the sweet spot of being low for a Toyota but not so low that you won’t want to get out and drive.
With 67 cubic feet of cargo space when the back seat is folded down, and a roof rack and optional tow hitch for any extras, this FJ Cruiser is ready for outdoor activities. Even better, since the discontinuation of these trucks, demand has remained high. Toyota could easily sell a new FJ Cruiser if it wanted to, but until then, the FJ Cruiser remains sought after. It’s a modern collectible, one that’s ready for adventure.
This auction ends on October 18.
Contributing Editor
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.