New Toyota FJ Cruiser Secrets Emerge: How Will It Differ From 4Runner And Land Cruiser?

Likely engine for next FJ Cruiser revealed

Rumors of a Toyota FJ Cruiser return have been floating around for a few years now. Although not the most practical SUV, the original FJ Cruiser gained a loyal following that appreciated its retro style and exceptional off-road capabilities.

The return of the FJ Cruiser has once again gained momentum, thanks to Japanese outlet Creative Trend, known for its often-accurate information about new models. The publication has just shared insider information with the expected powertrain for this new SUV, so let’s look into the details.

Four-Cylinder Power For New FJ

Whereas the old FJ Cruiser used a robust but thirsty 4.0-liter V6, the new one is expected to come with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder mill. The only commonality between the new engine and the old V6 is that it’ll also be naturally aspirated, suggesting that Toyota is chasing durability over ultimate performance.

This is expected to be the same engine that’s used in the Land Cruiser 250 sold outside the United States. In the 250, this engine produces around 160 horsepower, which is rather low by American standards. If the revived FJ does make it here, we expect this engine to gain either turbocharging or electrification to boost its outputs. No diesel is expected.

Powertrains aside, the new FJ Cruiser is expected to ride on the same ladder-frame platform shared with the Hilux Champ, a rugged chassis-cab pickup that went on sale in Thailand. These tough underpinnings should be the perfect foundation for a new FJ Cruiser that is at least as capable as its predecessor.

Where Will The FJ Cruiser Fit Into Toyota’s Lineup?

There’s less room in Toyota’s SUV lineup than there was when the last FJ Cruiser was on sale. The 4Runner is still around as a rugged, primarily two-row SUV that starts at just over $40,000, now thoroughly modernized. However, Toyota also has the downsized, all-new Land Cruiser. Starting at $57,200, Toyota has already sold over 27,000 of them in the first half of the year.

If the new FJ Cruiser is once again a midsized model, that would give Toyota no less than three such SUVs, which seems a bit like overkill. However, the Compact Cruiser EV concept revealed a few years ago suggests that the next FJ Cruiser could go smaller, which makes more sense and would see less overlap with the 4Runner and Land Cruiser. It also makes a stronger case for the lower-power 2.7L engine.

All 4Runners have a 278-hp turbo-four, while all Land Cruisers get a 326-hp hybrid setup. This suggests that both will be more powerful than the new FJ’s naturally aspirated 2.7L.

Of course, the new FJ Cruiser is expected to once again distance itself from other Toyota SUVs with more expressive styling, which is exactly what we’ve seen in the Compact Cruiser. 

A reveal for the FJ is anticipated in late October in Japan, when we’ll likely get some more concrete answers about where the new SUV will slot in.