The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ will be launched in Thailand at the end of March. According to Car lifethe smallest Land Cruiser will be subject to the PPV tax structure for truck-based SUVs like the Toyota Fortuner. The FJ – which stands for ‘Freedom & Joy’ – is made in Thailand and exports to Japan will start in mid-2026.
Built on the same IMV0 body-on-frame platform as the Hilux Champ, the five-seater FJ has strange proportions. At 4,575mm long, it’s 115mm longer than the Corolla Cross, and the LC is also 30mm wider. However, the wheelbase of 2,580 mm is 60 mm shorter than that of the Cross.
The most unusual dimension is its height: the FJ’s 1,960mm is a whopping 340mm taller than the Cross, and even 125mm taller than the much larger Fortuner. We’ve seen it in the metal and can’t think of another car with such proportions.
Design highlights include a grille with Toyota script and C-shaped daytime running lights, with optional retro-style round lamps. On the side there is a stepped window line and very thick C-shaped C-pillars, which house the octagonal, side-opening tailgate, which houses a spare wheel. The black bumpers and body cladding are very sturdy.
The dashboard follows the chunky theme and features bits of the Land Cruiser 250, including the angular three-spoke steering wheel, the tomb-like display panel with the touchscreen and digital instrument display (probably the same 12.3-inch units), digital air-con controls and a newer, flatter gear selector. The trunk features U.S. Army-style MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) panels for mounting outdoor gear, useful for camping.
Something else you might find unusual in today’s landscape is the FJ’s 2.7-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. The 2TR-FE petrol engine with 163 hp/246 Nm is mated to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission. Considering the Fortuner has this powertrain combination, and the larger Land Cruiser 250 in Japan also gets a 2.7 liter NA engine, maybe this will be enough for the FJ? No turbo diesel for the time being.
A Land Cruiser has to be capable off-road, so this baby LC can’t just look good. The FJ’s simpler part-time four-wheel drive system with low range and a user-selectable button comes from the Hilux. It also benefits from increased body rigidity and extra reinforcement under the floor to improve handling, and Toyota says the FJ has undergone extensive off-road testing to ensure reliability, durability and performance. The wheel articulation is said to be similar to that of the old-fashioned but still-living Land Cruiser 70.
Do you want to see the Land Cruiser FJ in Malaysia? With the Suzuki Jimny gaining popularity here as an urban lifestyle car with lots of customization/dressing options (I see a lot driven by ladies too), will the FJ be popular with the same crowd and camping enthusiasts? The serious off-road types might stick with their old 4x4s or pay a lot less for a pickup. Definitely something interesting for UMW Toyota Motor to consider.
GALLERY: Toyota Land Cruiser FJ at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show
GALLERY: Official Images of Toyota Land Cruiser FJ
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