Cruisin’ in the Toyota FJ Cruiser

I have been a big fan of the Toyota FJ Cruiser since it was first introduced in 2007. I remember seeing a Cruiser parked in the village where I live, and remember how I had to stop and take a good look at the vehicle because it was a dream car come true: everything I wanted — and still want — in an SUV.

At that time, I thought that it was great that Toyota had decided to add the FJ Cruiser to its lineup.  I did some research and also discovered that the FJ Cruiser is a throwback to the FJ40, which was sold in the US from 1960 to 1983. But more than that, what makes the FJ Cruiser truly a vehicle of beauty is that it is a throwback to when trucks were built like trucks, yet it is equipped with all things modern so it runs perfectly on the busy streets of Metro Manila.  

So, I just knew that I had to take the FJ Cruiser on a road trip, something that I had not done in a long time. I loaded my two little doggies, Vodka the Bichon and Dimitri the Schnauzer, in the Cruiser and off we went to a place where the roads never end and there are always fun times to be had.

FUNKY DESIGN

The FJ was created to serve a purpose away from the road and is modeled after the original FJ, both of which led to its controversial styling.

The love-it-or-hate-it look of the exterior carries over inside. The build quality is decent and there are plenty of storage cubbies. And I found it simply perfect that the temperature-control knobs look like they belong on a Lego Duplo play table. The handle for the rear half-doors is hidden on the inside of the door panel, making it fun to discover just where it’s at. Once you access the rear, the seats are comfortable during short trips and can be folded down to provide 67 cubic feet of cargo space. The front seats provide good support for extended jaunts, but we wish the steering column would telescope for a bit more comfort. On the plus side, if your journey should take a muddy route, the plastic floor coverings are a breeze to clean up.

I had chosen to take the FJ to Laguna, driving south instead of north for a change. Also, I felt that there are a few off-road conditions in the south that might be good for the FJ.  After all, as far as I am concerned, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is the most capable of all Toyotas when the pavement gives way to gravel, sand and rocks. 

We started out early so as not to get caught in morning traffic, the dogs tucked in the backseat and me comfy, sitting where the pilot does. As I caught the sunrise from the front of the Cruiser, I said a silent prayer in gratitude for the great day ahead.

As I picked up speed on the SLEX, I was pleasantly surprised by just how easy it was to stay in full control of the FJ Cruiser. One would think that driving a Cruiser would be a little difficult, but that was not the case. 

As I drove, I looked around at the Cruiser and fell more in love with its beauty. The FJ Cruiser seats five. The front doors are front-hinged. Rear-hinged rear side doors provide access to the backseat. Main access to the cargo area is through a door hinged on the driver’s side of the vehicle instead of a typical roof-hinged hatch-style closure. Having the hinge on the driver’s side makes curbside loading and unloading easier.

Retro styling gives the FJ Cruiser presence. Designed in California, the FJ Cruiser recalls the Toyota FJ40, known in North America as the original Land Cruiser. Short overhangs aid capability for traversing ditches and other terrain that challenge ground clearance. The rugged, minimalist interior is easy to clean. No leather here, the rugged fabric is designed to resist dirt and water — perfect interiors when you are traveling with dogs who like to romp in the mud and then some.

The Toyota’s 4.0-liter V6 engine makes 260 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. It has dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), which means variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust.  I loved it that the FJ Cruiser was superb on rugged terrain yet comfortable on the road, even if I was only able to drive it on a short stretch of dirt road.  I guess that is because of the V6 engine, which delivers ample power and torque for any foreseeable situation.

A race-inspired Toyota Racing Development (TRD) off-road suspension was developed and tuned for the Trail Teams Ultimate Edition. This new suspension includes TRD Bilstein shocks with increased articulation and high-speed stability, while the rear shocks are equipped with remote oil reservoirs to decrease damping fade. That’s one rugged setup.

A friend of mine who owns a Cruiser told me that I should try to cross a creek if I found one because FJ’s elevated air intake and protected electrical components can, under certain conditions, defy currents up to 28 inches deep, helping you cross safely to dry land.

Sadly, I did not find a creek to cross and I was getting hungry because it was already after noon when we arrived in Pagsanjan.  Good thing I had packed kibble and boiled chicken for the dogs and I stopped by my fave buko pie place in Laguna for my lunch. I parked the FJ Cruiser under a tree, set out the lunch bowls for the dogs and bit into my first slice of buko pie. 

We ate and rested for a bit. I was a happy camper: I had my favorite doggy companions and I was driving one of my first dream SUVs.  Happy days are made of these.