Toyota Land Cruiser FJ has global premiere in Thailand

Quick look

• Following the FJ Cruiser with retro elements that recalled the legendary FJ40, the Land Cruiser FJ is a compact SUV for markets in ASEAN and Latin America (but not North America).

• Its appearance is timely as Chinese brands like GWM and JETOUR are introducing their more rugged off-road models.

The Land Cruiser is legendary among Toyota models, one of the oldest nameplates still in production after 7 decades. It was with the Land Cruiser that Toyota first entered many markets – the USA, Brazil and Malaysia, among them. Its toughness ensured that the brand gained acceptance and the model itself became a global symbol of strength, durability, and reliability.

The model, which was around long before ‘SUVs’ came into existence, has always been a midsized to large vehicle. There were short-wheelbase variants which were smaller but generally, the Land Cruiser was a large 4×4 off-road vehicle.

At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, Toyota previewed a new vision for this legend. It was smaller and generated a lot of excitement. It was even expected to be known as the ‘FJ’, recalling the retro styled version that was sold between 2006 and 2022.

Successor to the FJ Cruiser
That model had been developed as a follow-up to the original FJ40 which had been produced in the 1960s. Its development had been supported by Akio Toyoda before he ascended to the Toyota board and was designed by Calty, Toyota’s advanced design studio in California. It was aimed at a younger group whom Toyota felt it had been losing and the retro styling hit the right note.

Four years after the FJ Cruiser ended production, Toyota has unveiled an all-new Land Cruiser FJ (which stands for ‘Freedom and Joy’) which starts off in Southeast Asia. It is positioned as the new entry point to the Land Cruiser range, adding one more SUV to Toyota’s already wide range.

Tough Land Cruiser Standards
With the heritage that the name has, Toyota has made sure that it meets the demanding ‘Land Cruiser Standards’ – especially rigidity – so it’s not a typical modern SUV with a monocoque structure.

IMV platform
It has the same traditional body-on-frame construction of every Land Cruiser, using an evolved platform developed 20 years ago for the IMV – Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle – which supports models like the Hilux, Innova and Fortuner.

The exterior design evolved from the Compact Cruiser EV shown in 2021. Koji Inoue and his team have created the boxy form that is associated with the classic off-road vehicles, incorporating some elements of the original FJ like bevelled edges and trimmed corners.

Retro modern design
The front end is very much a classic look with TOYOTA block lettering on the grille. This is flanked by eye-catching LED projector headlights and daytime running lights that bridge the gap between retro charm and modern tech.

The retro-modern design is very functional too, engineered with off-road use in mind. The front and rear bumpers are constructed in 3 separate pieces, a modular approach which allows for cheaper and easier repairs if a corner gets damaged.

Measuring 4610 mm in length, 1855 mm width and 2580 mm wheelbase, the FJ is notably more compact than the 250-series or 300-series. Its 5.5-metre turning radius takes advantage of this, making it very manoeuvrable in tight situations.

One engine choice – for now
For now, there’s only one engine – the proven 2TR-FE 4-cylinder petrol unit – that has been in use in other models for many years. This powerplant is well known for bulletproof reliability (it uses a cast iron block) and service life of over 400,000 kms.

The engine has a 2.7-litre displacement and with efficiency-improving features like 16 valves and Dual VVT-i (but no turbocharger), its output is 166 ps/245 Nm. No manual transmission is mentioned and the only one is a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift.

It is likely that the 2TR-FE engine will eventually be joined by other powertrains when Toyota gets data on demand. There are a number of proven engines used in the Fortuner and Hilux which should fit in the FJ easily.

Traditional 4×4 system
The 4×4 system also follows the traditional type which hardcore off-roaders respect more than the modern electronically-managed systems. The drivetrain is a part-time, on-demand 4×4 system with High and Low ranges, with a differential lock and limited-slip differential at the rear to maintain traction in slippery conditions.

The suspension is also a familiar arrangement, with independent double wishbones at the front and a 4-link system at the rear. Both ends use coil springs and anti-roll bars, with shock absorbers tuned to minimize body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride.

Off-road enthusiasts will appreciate the 245 mm of ground clearance and a water-crossing depth of 700 mm. The short overhangs and intelligent underbody design allow it to climb steep terrain without the risk of underbody contact.

Inside the modern FJ
Climbing inside, the ‘Functional Fun Cockpit’ concept focuses on ergonomics. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is positioned for easy reach, and has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for connectivity with smartphones.

The driver gets a 7-inch digital multi-info display that provides essential data, including vehicle pitch and tilt angles — a vital tool for those venturing into more challenging terrain.

Apart from the short wheelbase variants, Land Cruiser cabins have typically been large to carry many people. But the FJ is a 5-seater with cargo-carrying versatility as a strong point. The standard volume with the rear seats in use is 765 litres of space, expandable to 1,522 litres by folding the backrests down.

Tough and safer
Though tough enough to keep you protected if you rolled the vehicle, earlier Land Cruisers had less attention to highway safety. The thinking then would have been that such vehicles were being used off-road most of the time and didn’t go very fast anyway. Today, it’s different as SUVs like the FJ will spend more time on the highway so active safety is important.

For this, there’s Toyota Safety Sense, the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) which is used in virtually all the latest Toyota models. This has a number of active safety systems to keep the driver aware of conditions around the vehicle and to act when necessary, including braking to avoid a collision. There are up to 7 airbags around the cabin to reduce or prevent injuries in a violet crash.

FJ for Malaysia?
The Land Cruiser was the very first Toyota model to be sold in Malaysia (in Sabah). It was assembled in Sarawak initially and then at ASSB in Selangor from the mid-1980s. Although a change in the tax structure for 4×4 vehicles at the end of the 1990s bumped up prices considerably, demand for larger SUVs was declining by the late 1990s. Furthermore, later generations became more expensive as they gained more sophisticated electronic systems.

The last model that was assembled locally was the Land Cruiser Prado which was launched with a manual transmission. Although UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had made a request for an automatic, the particular drivetrain for the Malaysian market did not have such a combination and Toyota was busy with other development work. By the time an automatic did come, it was already late and eventually UMWT decided to end Land Cruiser production.

Now that the new FJ is launched, perhaps we could see the nameplate returning. Having a similar platform as the Hilux, which is assembled in Malaysia, would make it easier to also assemble locally. This would help to keep the price close to the introductory price in Thailand of 1,269,000 baht (around RM152,000).

The timing would be right to introduce the FJ with the Chinese brands now introducing off-road models like the GWM TANK and JETOUR T2. These would be direct rivals to the FJ and given its heritage and proven capabilities, it is a model that can seriously challenge the Chinese off-roaders.

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