The FJ Cruiser…

Just another soft 4X4 or Something special?

So the new FJ cruiser hits the spotlight. Other than wanting a 4×4 that looks a bit different to the others, I ask myself why would I want to buy one. Looks? top shelf 4×4 ability? Space? Seating capacity? Power? Towing capacity? Comfort? Strength? just because its Toyota? Let’s face it as an old friend said “there is no accounting for taste” so I guess there is a market for it. I’ve certainly seen a lot of them getting around considering its new release in Aussie. I don’t think from what I can see there is a stand out feature that it has or a combination of features that make me say it’s a special vehicle and I just have to have one… Maybe the retro looks if you like them.

If you look around amongst the all ready well established 4×4 market there is already everything you could ever want. Sadly I think Australia is lacking in choices in “real” 4×4′s. I can see plenty of choice in all those features right across the range of available 4×4′s the only area suffering to the 4×4 enthusiast is more choice in hardcore 4×4′s.

So what’s available in Tough 4×4′s?

Nissan make a great vehicle that is a little let down in the power department in the 3lt and a gas guzzler in the 4.8 but never the less a tough 4×4. Toyota make the wagon and Ute that is overall a pretty mighty 4×4 but lacking a bit in features like auto, safety features, and coil rear end for comfort, Land Rover have a tough 4×4 but some reliability issues. Jeep only have the SWB Wrangler and a few reliability problems I hear and let’s face it it’s too small to do a decent trip in, Then there is the Mercedes Benz, of which the new one the G55 is a gas guzzler, pretty ugly and who the hell can afford $185,000 dollars let alone the service and fuel bills.

So what do we get if we want a great quality 4×4 that has room for the whole family, comfortable for week day driving, tough as nails in the bush, reasonably economical, nice looking, a good following in after market accessories and reasonable service costs? For my money if I had to buy new today I would get the Toyota Wagon even though it’s still a compromise… Not a great ride in the back, no auto, lacking in some safety features etc. Let’s face it everything is a bit of a compromise in size, toughness, comfort, fuel usage, price, available after market accessories etc. I think Aussie still needs a bit more choice I reckon with a midsized Hardcore 4×4 about the Prado or FJ size.

Although the new FJ Cruiser is probably a great car, its essentially a retro Prado running on all its gear, only has 2 doors plus 2 small suicide doors and some blind spot issues, the last thing I would have thought as a 4×4 enthusiast is the need for (as good as it is) another IFS 4×4. U.S. Have some really cool big lift kits etc but there is still an IFS running under there and who knows how much work that will take with big lift kits, big wheels and some hard stick in the outback.