Summary
While retro design cues have been prevalent in various automobiles since the mid-'90s, few have resulted in as successful an execution as the FJ. Why? Because this isn't some watered-down trucklet that's designed to merely bear a passing resemblance to an automotive icon. This is the real deal: a genuine sport-utility vehicle that pays proper homage to its predecessor.
The proof is in the numbers: 9.6 inches of ground clearance and a water fording depth of 27.5 inches elevate the FJ to serious off-roader status as affordable out-of-the-box packages go. Want to look for competition in this arena? The $44,900 Land Rover LR2 doesn't come close to those numbers. Hummer H2? It still costs $10,000 more than the FJ and doesn't have the ground clearance. The Jeep Liberty? It's two inches closer to the ground than the FJ, although buyers can equip it with more creature comforts.Lest you think the presence of a six-speed stick means this is a sporty truck, allow me to make this point clear: it's a trucky truck, and that's the way I like it. The manual gearbox works well in this context, though, with an action that's a little notchy accompanied by fairly long throws. The powertrain as a whole, though, is very refined and the engine-tranny combo works well enough such that smooth shifting becomes natural almost immediately.See the full content of this document
Extract
It's a Truck... And That's the Real Deal
FJ Cruiser forgoes creature comforts for functionality
By Haney LoukaWHEN it comes to exciting offerings in today's automotive market, a few brands immediately come to mind. And there's a pretty good chance Toyota isn't one of them.I must admit that, by and large, Toyota's vehicles don't do mu...See the full content of this document
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