The FJ Cruiser is a tribute to the Toyota FJ 40 Land Cruiser.
That original Cruiser was rugged old-style 4WD, whereas the new one that was introduced in March 2011 is much easier to live with.
So, it’s the one we are covering in the Used Car Checkout.
Unlike the old FJ 40 Land Cruisers, the Toyota FJ Cruiser has four doors.
But the rear doors are tiny and have their handles on the inside.
To get to the rear seats you have to open the front door, then squeeze though a rather small slot.
Underneath that fascinating retro body there’s plenty of Toyota Prado, but it’s built on a shorter chassis to keep the price of the FJ way down.
Like most fad cars sales of the FJ Cruiser tailed off and eventually it was withdrawn from the Australian market midway through 2016.
There are plenty of other Toyota 4WDs on offer – but none have the flair of the FJ Cruiser.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is powered by the 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine as used in Prado and Hilux.
It is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels by way of a dual-range transfer case.
It’s a thirsty beast, particularly off-road due to having a petrol engine rather than a diesel.
A major update in March 2013 saw an additional petrol tank introduced which doubled its range.
At the same time electronics were added to the traction control to further improved off-road ability and on-road safety.
The FJ is fine on the open road, cruising easily at more than 110km/h and has good road feel for its class.
That’s because the suspension is tuned for Australian conditions.
On fast gravel roads the Toyota points well and corners well with not too much body roll.
Toyota FJ Cruiser’s off-road ability is underlined by the clearance necessities: 224 mm of ground clearance under the vital components, the differential housings.
There’s a departure angle of 31 degrees, ramp-over of 29 degrees and the all-important approach angle of 36 degrees.
As we said, this Toyota is no toy.
Infotainment includes an eight-speaker, six-CD sound system.
It has Bluetooth capability and steering wheel controls.
The FJ Cruiser gets the Vehicle Stability Control, active traction control, ABS brakes, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution.
It has six airbags, active head rests for the front seats.
Preventing minor crashes are reversing camera and rear parking sensors.
The reversing camera isn’t just for city-slicker parking, we find it very useful in tricky off-road situations where you have to reverse on steep, narrow tracks.
Toyota has been a major player in Australia for many years and has been number one for longer than competitors care to think about.
So is well established in the suburbs as well as out back of beyond.
There are many Toyota dealers in Oz even in areas where other so-called SUVs fear to tread.
Spare parts may not be in stock in the small, remote areas, but can usually be shipped out within a few business days.
There’s plenty of underbody and underbonnet space so you can do quite a lot of the work yourself.
Insurance charges are generally moderate but as always it pays to shop around for the best deal.
Make sure that you are comparing like for like, though.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Most FJ Cruisers are only used as tough-looking on-road machines, others take on the Aussie bush and beaches in the hand of enthusiastic off-roaders.
Look for scratches in the doors and sills, as well as bits missing on the bumper corners.
Do an extensive check underneath for signs that the FJ Cruiser has hit the ground in off-road areas.
Scars in the luggage area may be another sign the ‘Cruiser has spent a lot of time roaming this great country.
Open the tailgate and see if it sags, even by a small amount – the weight of the spare wheel puts a lot of strain on the door hinges.
Make sure that the engine starts easily, the automatic transmission acts smoothly and accurately and the ABS brakes stop you quickly and in a straight line.
HOW MUCH?
Expect to pay from $15,000 to $22,000 for a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser; $18,000 to $25,000 for 2014 model; $20,000 to $28,000 for a 2015; and $23,000 to $31,000 for a 2016.
CAR BUYING TIPS
Take a friend with you when shopping for a used car.
That way they can keep the chattering sales person at bay while you check out the car without interruptions.
Used car prices have generally increased during the period of new car stock shortages.
Start looking at adverts for used vehicles several months before you intend buying.
That way you can get a feel for the price being asked and whether they are rising and falling, as dealers need to clear stock due to overcrowding.
Keep an eye on adverts for new cars that say there are specials on particular models.
This can lead to a lot of traded-ins taking up too much space in yards and they will be discounted to get rid of them.
Keep an eye open for ads of unpopular cars, as there can vary greatly in price.
Owners struggling to find a buyers may be forced to grit their teeth and drop their asking price.
If checking a used car at a dealership look at other cars on the lot.
This can provide an insight into the quality of the vehicles in which the dealer specialises.
If buying privately ask for proof of ownership and make sure the insurance covers you for taking a test drive.
Take a slow walk around any car you’re considering, looking for obvious defects.
It amuses us how many people dive into tiny details, only to discover later a major ding somewhere on the other side of the car.
Ideally any road test of a car you’re getting serious about should be done with the engine stone cold. Early morning is best.
If you’re serious about buying a vehicle, tell the seller you would like to take it for a good long test drive.
If they insist on coming that’s understandable, but try to avoid them “selling” the car to you.
Put bluntly, ask them to shut up,
In their later years, cars with a reputation for being long lived and trouble free sometimes attract buyers who have no intention of ever servicing them.
The next owner may suffer as a result.
RECALLS
To browse recalls on all vehicles go to the ACCC at: www.productsafety.gov.au/products/transport/cars/