2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER

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1 2007 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER The history of the FJ Cruiser dates back to 1958 when the first Land Cruiser arrived in America. The new FJ is in fact the ninth generation of the Land Cruiser family, which counts among its members the 4Runner and the Lexus GX 470. The current FJ traces its roots back to the celebrated FJ40 of the early sixties. The new FJ is based on the modified 4Runner structure. The primary design focus of the FJ is off-road driving. It comes in a single fourdoor version, with half-size suicide-type rear doors. Three option packages are available to outfit it as you wish. Interior and trunk The height of the vehicle can make it a bit of a task for smaller persons to get in. The seats proved comfortable, though seating is a bit low for this kind of vehicle. There is no adjustable lumbar support. Driving position is good but would be better with a telescoping steering column. Rear access can be difficult, especially if the front seat isn t moved forward, since the front seatback can barely be tilted forward and doesn t return to position. The rear bench seat is moderately comfortable, with adequate head and legroom. The seatback and cushion split 60/40. With the cushion up and the seatback folded, the storage space is not flat but tilts toward the front. The cushions can be removed using a special tool to increase cargo space. Trunk space is average. The wide door makes access easy and opens to the proper side, that is, to the left. The floor is flat up to the back of the bench, then rises slightly. Photo: Toyota

2 Convenience and safety The interior is well finished but not flawless. Materials are of good quality. Sound insulation is good except for the engine, which can always be heard. Storage space is good, though there are many shapes of drink containers that the cupholders can t handle. The instruments and controls are well positioned. As is unfortunately often the case with Toyota, only the driver s-side window control is lit at night. There is no Mist setting on the windshield wipers. The air conditioning proved effective. The resin-type flooring is easy to clean, and the seat covers are made of waterproof material. Safety features on the FJ include dual front airbags, two large exterior mirrors, five head restraints, good headlamps, and ABS brakes. But the front head restraints aren t high enough for taller people, while those at the rear are insufficient for passengers even of average height. Visibility is poor in several directions because of the wide roof pillars, the big blind spot created by the inside rearview mirror, the high beltline, and the spare tire bolted to the rear door, which makes backing up perilous. Side impact and curtain air bags are only available with option package C at a cost of about $6,000. In U.S. government tests the FJ received five stars out of five for driver protection and four for front seat passenger protection in a head-on collision. Without side-impact and curtain air bags it earned five stars for the protection of all occupants in a side collision. Engine and transmission The 4.0-litre V6 generates 239 horsepower and 278 pounds of torque, allowing the FJ to manoeuvre easily. The engine is lively and works effortlessly, though engine noise is virtually constant. It runs on premium unleaded and meets the LEV 2 (Low Emissions Vehicle 2) standard. The automatic five-speed transmission is so smooth that gear changes are barely noticeable. Gear spacing is good, and the FJ won t start in second gear. The six-speed manual is easy and fun to use. The manual transmission version features fulltime FWD that distributes torque 40/60 between the front and rear wheels. There s a special low gear which comes in handy during serious offroading. There s even a mechanism that allows for starting the motor without depressing the accelerator when

3 the gearbox is in Low. The automatic transmission version has a shift-onthe-fly 4X4 system, meaning that the driver has to engage the transfer case in order to transfer torque to the front wheels in either low or high gear. In either case the gearbox is easy to use. On the road The handling is a pleasant surprise for a sport utility vehicle, firm but free of stiffness or unruly bounces. The suspension absorbs rough terrain well. Stability is good although the 70-profile tires are none too slalom friendly. Off road, the FJ can venture into difficult terrain despite a rather timid clearance of 17.7 cm at the lower anchor of the rear shocks. Although it s equipped with three skid plates (engine, gearbox, and gas tank), only the plate protecting the transfer case could be described as adequate. The power steering is well calibrated but imprecise in the centre, forcing the driver to make frequent adjustments in crosswinds or on rough roads. It transmits some feel of the road and the turning radius is tight. The four disc brakes are powerful and resist fading. However, in emergency stops at high speed there was a tendency to weave. At a CAA-Quebec Technical Inspection Centre, we noted that the FJ was very well built with an extremely solid underbody. However, we discovered a source of potential problems common to several Toyota 4X4s: the placement of the ventilation valve hose on the rear differential. It should be positioned at the end of a hose further up, as it is with the front differential. On this model it s located right on the differential, where it would be in danger of going under if water reached that level. And which differential is more likely to be submerged when you back up to put a boat into the water? Lastly, we noted the absence of rustproofing, though the joints are sealed. The camshaft is powered by a chain. Conclusion The FJ Cruiser is a roughhousing explorer that can still mind its manners on the beaten path. Those who aren t afraid to get dirty in hard-to-reach places will appreciate its rugged construction and practical passenger compartment materials. On the other hand they ll have to put up with inadequate visibility, engine noise, and a fairly stingy allotment of standard equipment.

4 PROS: lively engine, very smooth automatic transmission, ruggedness, offroad capabilities, smooth ride, powerful brakes. CONS: inadequate visibility, noisy engine, difficult rear seat access, uneven floor, vague steering in the centre, limited standard equipment TOYOTA FJ CRUISER Engine: 24-valve, 4.0-litre, V6 Horsepower: 239 hp at rpm Torque: 278 lb-ft at rpm Transmission: 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic Suspension: independent/solid axle Brakes: disc/disc Wheelbase: 269 cm Length: 467 cm Width: cm Height: 183 cm Weight: 1,946 to 1,948 kg Tires: P265/70R17 Maximum towing capacity: kg Airbags: dual front. Two side and two curtain airbags in option Fuel consumption with automatic transmission: Transport Canada rating: City 13.6 L/100 km (21 mpg) Highway 10.3 L/100 km (27 mpg) Test result: 13 L/100 km (22mpg) Test temperature: 8 C to 25 C Fuel tank capacity: 72 litres Fuel requirement: premium grade Acceleration: km/h: 8.2 seconds km/h: 5.5 seconds Competition: Hummer H3, Nissan Xterra

5 Warranty: Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module, onboard diagnostic system) Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $325 Front brake disc: $107 Brake pads: $92 Muffler: $251 Front fender: $240 Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $948 to $1,487 Price according to trim level: $29,990 Main options: Automatic transmission: $1,000 Options packages: $3,450 to $5,995 Price as tested: $30,990 Freight and preparation: $1,390 Dealers: Quebec: 71 Canada: 251 June All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec