Toyota FJ Cruiser (GSJ15W) (Japan Spec)

2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser

First appeared as a concept car at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show, then it made its official sale in North America in 2006, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is a remarkable off-road behemoth and was dubbed the Japanese Hummer because of a similar look. Most of them think that the FJ Cruiser is a copy of the Hummer H2, except for the doors. Even Filipinos rarely bought an FJ Cruiser from a grey market import just so they can enjoy their off-road adventures throughout the toughest terrains in the Philippines. At the end of 2010, the FJ Cruiser is finally at the place where it was born, Japan.

Why Japan? Some Japanese off-road enthusiasts bought the Toyota FJ Cruiser (the North America-spec) from grey market imports, for example, is BUBU, a Mitsuoka Motor-owned specialty for grey market cars from North America., and why Toyota did not sell the FJ Cruiser officially even when this was built by Hino Motors. For after four years in North America and a few countries such as China, Toyota officially start selling the FJ Cruiser starting this early December, under the chassis code GSJ15W.

On its outer appearance, try to even think that the FJ Cruiser is the carbon copy of the deceased Hummer, but the grille wears a literal Toyota badge spelled it out, paying homage to the legendary Toyota FJ40. What surprises them is the suicide half doors at the rear.

The interior is also a copy from a Hummer, however, the JDM-spec FJ Cruiser doesn't have some dashboard peripherals in the middle like the North American spec has. Unfortunately, the legroom for the driver is simply too tight to get through. Getting through the FJ Cruiser's driver's seat can be frustrating. I wonder how did someone fit in the FJ Cruiser's driver's seat? Well, many dream to have the FJ Cruiser but only a few can fit in the driver's seat of the FJ Cruiser.

The FJ Cruiser is powered by the 1GR-FE (4.0-litre V6 DOHC Dual VVT-i engine) that powers up to 276PS/5,600r.p.m. at the torque of 38.8kg-m/4,400r.p.m. This spartan engine was not spartan enough to tackle various distances because the fuel economy of the FJ Cruiser goes to a frugal 8.4km/L. The Part-Time 4WD System allows the user to switch various modes at the shift of the lever. It looks similar to the Mitsubishi Pajero Field Master, but experimenting with various modes depending on the terrain can be somewhat of a challenge. To get a grip through the rocky roads, the FJ Cruiser is armed with the X-REAS (Relative Absorber System) supplied by Yamaha.

My thoughts about the FJ Cruiser:
Not possibly a good SUV for the aficionado, but this makes a good partner in the eyes of politicians, celebrities (especially rappers), gangsters (Mafia, Triads, Yakuzas, Vory, whatever these criminals were), and adventurers. The forte of the FJ Cruiser is to deliver off-road excitement from the deserts, rocky roads, muddy pavements, and city streets. From the Arabian desert, the Grand Canyon of the USA, and now cruising through Hokkaido with the Japanese debut of the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Now, most Japanese will never come looking for a grey market FJ Cruiser anymore because all Japanese Toyota dealerships will start selling the rugged joy of the FJ Cruiser this December. Remember, FJ stands for Fun and Joy!

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation