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Testdrive Toyota FJ Cruiser TRD SE

Saturday, 02 June 2007

We got the opportunity to test-drive the brand-new Toyota FJ Cruiser TRD Special Edition. Driving the FJ makes heads turn - not because of its speed, but
due to its odd shape and its rarity over here in Europe. In total, only 3200 TRD SE's were produced for the North American market, and even a much smaller
number made it over the big sea. Let us take you out for a test-drive and join us when checking out Toyotas new joy machine!

Toyota FJ Cruiser TRD SE

Introduction

The Toyota FJ Cruiser, first shown as a concept car at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show, is based on the legendary FJ 40, which was built from 1960-1984. The vertical

windshield, the white roof as well as the grill with its big TOYOTA letters instead of the current Toyota label are clear references to its predecessor. Today's FJ

Cruiser is based on the Land Cruiser 120 frame with which it also shares (among other parts) the engine. The automatic transmission with its part-time 4x4

system however stems from the current Toyota 4-Runner. When first approaching the vehicle, a lot of people think "Is this the new Hummer?". Its odd shape and

rough appearance certainly contributes to the fact that some people call it the 'Japanese Hummer' in the States. In the US, the FJ's  bold looks combined with

Toyota reliability and experience in building great off-road vehicles proved to be a big success! So what makes the TRD Special Edition different from the ordinary

stock models? Well, besides being fully loaded one would have to name a few TRD badges, the key-colored roof (the TRD only comes black in black), the special

16'' TRD alloy rims as well as the BF Goodrich All Terrain tires and specially tuned Bilstein offroad shock dampers. Only 3200 TRD's where built, whereof around

30% were equipped with a 6-speed manual stick shift combined with a full-time 4wd system, the remaining 70% (including our test drive model) feature a

5-speed automatic transmission and part-time 4-wheel drive.

Engine and transmission

As mentioned earlier, the 4,0l V6 engine also sits in the Landcruiser 120. It is powerfull and handles the 2-ton FJ Cruiser with ease. Stunningly, the FJ Cruiser

does 0-100km/h in less than 8 seconds and feels surprisingly agile for an SUV of that size. The 5-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and although

the 4-litre engine delivers at any gear. Its short reaction time during a kick-down makes overtaking a sheer pleasure. The advantage of the auto compared

to the manual transmission is that the former is equipped with a part-time 4-wheel drive system whereas the latter is only available with a full-time 4x4

system. We call it an advantage for two reasons:

1) When going off-road, there is one thing less to think of (especially for beginners) and the Toyota auto transmission does a perfect job both on and off the

road.

2) The better gas mileage of the auto compared to the manual transmission. Although you probably won't buy such a car for environmental reasons or to save

you some extra bucks on fuel, the second point is still worth to consider, as even with the auto transmission in 2-wheel drive mode, the gas consumption gets

up to about 16-18l/100km in city traffic conditions (about 11-13l/100km on highways). It first didn't seem like a big deal to us, as it is apparent that an engine

of that size is not really known as a fuel-saver. But it made us think when pulling over to refuel the FJ after only 330km - and that with a tank volume of 72l.

For all the offroad freaks out there, the FJ Cruiser is also equipped with a rear differential locker and a so called A-Trac system (similar system for the front

axle, but leaves the differential open; instead, the brakes keep the wheels from spinning) which both can be applied at the same time. When engaging in 4

wheel drive, the center differential is automatically locked (this is why it is not recommended to use the 4wd-mode on asphalt or other dry surfaces).

Needless to say, the FJ Cruiser is also equipped with a low range gear.

The TRD Special Edition also comes with the TRD exhaust pipe (otherwise available as an option). It delivers a steady deep growl and makes the engine sound

a little like a V8 - that is if you keep it above 2000 rpm. When driving on the freeway between 80-110km/h (1400-1800rpm), the exhaust sounds in fact a little

annoying, as there is always a little whining growl coming from the back of the car, just enough to disturb the conversation with your passenger, but far from

delivering an enjoyable sporty sound. Luckily, you can somewhat circumvent that problem by using the cruise control. Otherwise, the TRD exhaust sounds

great, especially when turning the keys or after pushing the pedal to the metal.

Handling characteristics

Considering that the FJ Cruiser was primarily designed for the North American market, one would expect a soft suspension setting. On the contrary, the FJ's

suspension is hard enough to even satisfy European customers. The TRD Version is equipped with special Bilstein shock absorbers, which are claimed to

improve handling on- and off-road compared to the stock dampers. According to our assessment, the suspension system is set hard enough for sporty

street use and comfortable enough for rough off-road use - Toyota found a good middle-ground. On the other hand, the steering is not as direct as you

might wish for, and neither is the turning radius among the best of its class. The BF Goodrich All-Terrain wheels with its 16'' TRD alloy rims (standard on

TRD models) do not improve street handling either, but they are a much better choice for those who actually want to take their car off-road. While providing

slightly better road characteristics, the ordinary stock tires with its 17'' rims are not suitable at all for rough terrain or even snow. But with its strong and

smoothly running engine in combination with the well-trimmed 5-speed automatic transmission and the good suspension set up, the FJ drives more like a

sporty station wagon than a heavy SUV. At the same time, the FJ provides a very comfortable ride on the motorway, literally living up to its name and

proving its qualities as a real Cruiser. If anyone wonders about stock off-road capabilities and characteristics - well, let the specifications speak for t

hemselves: With a maximum wading depth of 700mm, 245mm running ground clearance and an approach angle of 34 degrees, the FJ is indeed a great

off-road vehicle straight from the lot.

Interior and exterior design, versatility

With its vertical wind shield as well as the old school Toyota grill and head light positioning, Toyota came up with a very successfull interpretation of a 21st

century FJ 40. The square-cut shape combined with the spare tire on the back door, the rock rails as well as the 16'' TRD alloy rims make it an eye-catcher

wherever you go. Although not too practical, the "suicide" back doors make a b-pillar obsolete and contribute even more to the bold looks of the car. The

back seat is spacious enough to room adults, although getting there turns out to be a little tricky - we do not recommend offering your prom date or your

grandma a ride in the back seat. Due to the vertical wind shield, the car seems extremely spacious in the front row.

 
The fabric seats are comfortable and water-resistant, which makes them easy to clean after a trip in the dirt. The whole interior is in fact not built to 
appear luxurious but rather to be functional, solid and easy to clean - which goes well in line with the exterior design. The downside is that heated seats, 
automatic AC, a navigation system or leather seats are not even available as an option. What we did like though were the little storage spaces between 
the seats, in the doors as well as 2 glove compartments in the dash board - plenty of space for your cans, mobile phones, coins, road maps etc.  The 
3-gauge multi-information display "floating ball type" (inclinometer, compass, temperature) is also a nice gadget which perfectly fits the style of the car 
and its intended use. Toyota also put in a great stereo system featuring a 6-disc in-dash CD changer, MP3/WMA playback capability, eight speakers and 
a GREAT sound. Moreover, the FJ Cruiser is equipped with a 100/400V power outlet in the back of the truck.

The visibility is not as bad as you might think, although we were thankful for the rear parking assist system which comes standard on the TRD (otherwise
part of the convenience package). The cargo volume is sufficiently large (790/1892 litres), although not as large as you might expect from a car of that size 
- moreover, it is a shame that the cargo area does not get entirely flat when flipping the back seats.

The verdict

Toyota did it once again! It surprised us with a genious combination of retro looks, solid off-road capabilities and great on-road performance. With a price tag 
between 40.000-50.000 Euros (private importers) the FJ Cruiser is not a bargain in most European countries - but it's worth every cent! On our scale from 
1-10 it scores 9 well-earned points - thumbs up! May the engineer gods at Toyota praise us with more great off-road vehicles in the future!