- Our illustration envisions a shorter two-door Toyota Land Cruiser FJ.
- The compact version would be larger and stronger than the Jimny.
- Toyota hasn’t confirmed plans to produce a smaller FJ despite interest.
The buzz around Toyota’s new Land Cruiser FJ has been hard to miss, which makes the company’s decision to skip a release in Europe and North America something of a mystery. Officially, Toyota hasn’t explained why, though we suspect it likely comes down to positioning and the fact that production is based in Thailand.
More: Suzuki’s Kei Class Jimny Keeps Evolving Without Selling Out
That positioning, with its smaller footprint and back-to-basics character, also places the baby FJ Cruiser closer to a familiar name in the compact 4×4 world, one that has defined the segment for years: the Suzuki Jimny.
What If Toyota Went Smaller?
Curious to see how closely the two could align, we took a creative approach. By digitally crafting a two-door version of the Toyota, shortening the wheelbase while keeping the front and rear sections untouched, we imagined how the FJ might look and perform as an even more compact, cost-effective rival that still supports existing accessories.
In a way, this is the exact opposite of Suzuki’s approach with the four-door Jimny Nomade, which stretched the original design for extra practicality in India and Japan.
Illustrations: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops
In our eyes, the Land Cruiser FJ looks great in pint-sized form, evoking memories of the short-wheelbase Prado models of the past that have become extinct.
Would It Work in Practice?
A smaller footprint would naturally sacrifice some interior space and luggage capacity. However, it would also make it more agile and capable off the beaten track.
The regular production model measures 4,575 mm (180.1 inches) long and has a 2,580 mm (101.6 inches) wheelbase – the same as the shortest version of the Hilux Champ pickup. Our fictional two-door variant could shrink to about 4,200 mm (165.4 inches) long, making it 375 mm (14.8 inches) shorter than its stablemate.
More: Toyota Won’t Let America Or Europe Have Its New FJ Cruiser
Despite the generous reduction in length, the smallest Land Cruiser would still dwarf the Jimny. The Suzuki measures just 3,550 mm (139.8 inches) long in two-door form and 3,890 mm (153.1 inches) in its four-door guise. The Toyota is also 210 mm (8.3 inches) wider and 240 mm (9.5 inches) taller.
What Would Power It?
Powertrain differences would further separate the two. The actual FJ packs a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine producing 161 hp (120 kW / 163 PS) and 246 Nm (181.4 lb-ft) of torque, while the Suzuki relies on a substantially smaller 1.5-liter four-cylinder generating 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS) and 130 Nm (95.9 lb-ft) of torque. Both come standard with 4WD systems, supporting their rugged credentials.
Ultimately, even if Toyota decided to shrink the Land Cruiser FJ, it would still remain in a different league compared to the Suzuki Jimny, being closer in size to the Jeep Wrangler.
That’s not necessarily a drawback, since few two-door off-roaders exist in its main markets across Asia and Japan.
The real question is whether there’s enough demand to justify the effort. Shortening the ladder-frame IMV platform and adjusting its components would require significant investment, something Toyota typically reserves for projects with guaranteed returns.
What do you think, would a smaller, two-door FJ find enough buyers to make it worthwhile?
