Toyota FJ Cruiser - this toy-like SUV cannot be bought for less than 2 million rubles

SUVs made in Japan are valued in Russia. This is especially true for models from Toyota. Unlike other brands from the Land of the Rising Sun, they rust less.


The popularity of Toyota SUVs determines their high cost in the Russian secondary market. How else to explain the price of the old pre-styling Land Cruiser 80 Series, released in the first half of the 90s, from 500 thousand rubles.

But today we will not consider the legendary "Kruzak" of any generation and discuss its pricing. Our target is the Toyota FJ Cruiser, a strange SUV that stands out from its classmates.


The model was launched in 2006. It looks like a Hummer H3, but with a characteristic Japanese flavor. As if it was designed specifically for cartoon fans.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser was not wildly popular, but the SUV is still being produced, although they promised to stop at the end of 2022, once again, by the way. But it all started with a concept created to attract attention. No one was going to make a serial model based on it, but the public appreciated it and pre-orders poured in.

By the way, Toyota FJ Cruiser was not officially imported to Russia, but these SUVs are periodically found on our roads. And there are dozens of them for sale.

And now we will figure out what nuances you need to pay attention to when buying a Toyota FJ Cruiser. It is not worth discussing the expediency of the acquisition, because if a person is ripe for an extraordinary model, it will still not be possible to dissuade him.

Body

The first thing you need to know about the Toyota FJ Cruiser is a frame SUV. Because of this, it is used in Russia in full, that is, they go to the very dirt.


Hence the problems with the body. Rust usually does not appear on it, except perhaps on the bottom, but since most owners love off-road trips, you can find traces of impacts on the body. Of course, they try to putty and paint over them - the car is expensive, but they usually do it not very carefully - “battle wounds” are on the bottom, and they rarely look there.

The frame for a real SUV is an undoubted blessing and the most trouble-free part of the body. Alas, not for the Toyota FJ Cruiser - on some specimens it cracks at the sections of the elements. Naturally, smart Japanese designers did this on purpose so that the car would be correctly deformed if it got into an accident.

Off-road potential

Since we have already touched on trips outside the asphalt, it is worth talking about them. The Toyota FJ Cruiser is more of a beach SUV than a full-fledged dirt-buster. In Russia, they like to decorate a car with snorkels, winches and power bumpers, but it is not intended for such operation.


Of course, if desired, the model can even be turned into a Monster Truck, but this is how any car is remade - there will still be one body in essence. But the base Toyota FJ Cruiser will definitely not stand up to off-road tests from time to time. Although, if the road suddenly ends, the car may surprise you with its cross-country ability.

It turns out that during an external examination of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, you need to choose cars that went off-road as rarely as possible.

It's easy to tell if you know what to look for:

✅ Minimum dents
✅ No bottom damage
✅ "Native" windshield
✅ No branches under the hood and dirt in the body cavities

It is better to take a car from a girl - they do not like off-road rides. Servicing the Toyota FJ Cruiser is not a problem, although it’s a little expensive now, and the ladies are unlikely to be able to leave it - it’s still Toyota.

Salon

Lovers of luxury inside the "cartoon" SUV will not like it - it is very simple, even compared to the much older Land Cruiser of the hundredth series. In the cabin of the Toyota FJ Cruiser, it is somehow brutal and simple in a military way. Design in the style of "square good".


In principle, there is nothing to break inside the SUV, the power package here is Japanese-style reliable.

Engine

The power unit of the Toyota FJ Cruiser has no alternative - this is 1GR-FE. The motor is considered one of the best from Toyota. For those who forgot or did not know - the working volume is 4 liters, gasoline, the power is different, depending on the year of manufacture, but in the range from 239 to 276 liters. With.

The engine does not have any serious design flaws and, with proper maintenance, calmly nurses from 500 thousand kilometers. If you simply do not interfere with the engine from working at all, that is, limit yourself to changing the oil according to the manual, it still comes out with its 300.


When inspecting, you need to look for the absence of smudges of oil and antifreeze. Close attention should be paid to the cooling system. He does not like this engine overheating, like any other in principle.

It doesn’t matter what power the Toyota FJ Cruiser will have, they are all structurally similar and reliable. The main thing is that the mileage should be no more than 300 thousand kilometers.

Gear boxes

The gearboxes of the Toyota FJ Cruiser are mostly automatic. But on all-wheel drive vehicles, which are the majority on the market, sometimes there are versions with manual gearboxes. The automatic transmission is combined with a plug-in all-wheel drive, and the manual transmission is combined with a permanent one.

The mechanical box is considered the most reliable, there are no problems with it with minimal maintenance.


A five-speed automatic transmission from Aisin, does not like low oil levels, otherwise there are no questions about this unit. Only it’s not so easy to check the technical fluid - no probes are provided. This can be done in the pit / lift through the cork in the pan.

Chassis

Suspensions for Toyota FJ Cruiser are simple - independent spring in front, dependent in back. No pneumatics, and even more so, hydraulics, are not provided here. Suspensions are distinguished by large moves, which provokes the conquest of off-road.


Problems with hodovke, as with most Toyota SUVs, the FJ Cruiser has a minimum. But wheel bearings do not differ in durability - they last for a maximum of 100 thousand km.

Purchase nuances

The most problematic node in the Toyota FJ Cruiser in terms of electrics is ABS. When buying this unit, you need to diagnose especially carefully. With other systems, such as stabilization and traction control, there are usually no questions.

You should not buy a "fancy" car with an off-road body kit. If you really want to conquer off-road on the Toyota FJ Cruiser, it is better to modify the car yourself. Yes, it will be expensive, but the initial resource of the car will be higher.

Although, if you need a car specifically for conquering mud, it is better to look at some other model. Toyota FJ Cruiser is more of a "beach" and city SUV.

The four-liter engine is reliable, but has a high fuel consumption. If the car is to be operated in the city, you need to be prepared for 20 liters of gasoline per 100 km.


Gas equipment that economical owners like to install is evil. It reduces the life of the engine, and the loss of power is felt.

Sometimes there are sellers of Toyota FJ Cruisers from the USA, where the mileage on the odometer is in miles. But they claim that these are kilometers, due to which the numbers seem small.

Toyota FJ Cruiser is rather a car for image and personal pleasure. Perhaps it is for this reason that it will not be possible to buy it cheaper than 2 million rubles, even in 2006. Whether it is worth giving that kind of money for an old SUV is up to the potential buyer to decide. But attention on the road will be provided to him - that's for sure.