Cruise down the road with the Toyota FJ Cruiser
Looking at the Toyota FJ Cruiser takes you back to the good old days where you cruise down the weather beaten road with the wind in your hair and rock and roll blasting on your speakers. That’s the retro feel the FJ Cruiser is meant to give you.
Its traditional, boxed shape reeks of ruggedness and when you look at it you see not a sleek, slick vehicle but a rough and tough car. It went on sale in 2006 and the 2011 edition of the FJ Cruiser has a few changes to make it more comfortable than its predecessor.
It has a more developed audio system, wider access to the back seats and folding headrests for the rear seats but because it is only a few years old Toyota has more or less stuck to its introductory formula as far as its features are concerned.
Being a sport utility vehicle the Cruiser is designed to meet most off-road requirements and it does this job well. It rides easily along all kinds of terrain thanks to its rugged exterior and good safety measures. While it is essentially meant for off-road purposes it is a smooth drive even on levelled and concrete roads.
Its engine is powerful with a 4-litre V6 engine much like its sister car the 4Runner. The engine gives it a horsepower of 260 and when completely loaded and equipped the ability to tow 5000 pounds.
However it does have a few flaws. It design consisting of high hood and thick roof pillars make proper visibility difficult. Its boxed shape contributes to creating wind noise when going at high speeds causing interferences and distractions to the driver. Even though the access doors to the back have been increased in size the rear seats are still difficult to access and there are many cars in the market that give more comfortable access.
Only one trim is available of the FJ Cruiser but it is available as a rear wheel drive, a four-wheel drive and both manual and automatic transmission, with the starting price of $25,790 and going up to $27,380. The car is equipped with 17 inch black steel wheels, water resistant seats, a two-toned exterior colour, Bluetooth technology and advanced audio features.
Ruggedness, a good engine and a cool retro feel all contribute in making this car a great collectors item for an adventurous soul but its safety features make it a complete package. The FJ Cruiser 2011 is equipped with a driver and front passenger advanced airbag system, seatbelts with emergency and automatic retractors on all passenger belts and side impact door beams.
Making this cruise worthy car even more appealing is an exterior which is two toned with a body colour and a white roof. It is available in a range of colours that include; silver fresco metallic, black, brick, iceberg, army green, cavalry blue and quicksand. So if you want a wild ride, a good engine and a rainbow of colours to choose from this car is meant for you.
