Celine Nolan

Whereas Toyota Australia has no longer confirmed we will seemingly be getting the 2026 LandCruiser FJ, it’s loyal to bellow the quiz is there for a smaller, more within your ability four-wheel power with loyal off-toll road capabilities. Not everyone desires or desires a corpulent-size Tundra at the tip of the day.

When the distinctive FJ Cruiser launched in Australia abet in 2011, it moreover bought out of the ordinary hype. Sadly, this used to be in an period when diesel-powered 4x4s had been gaining big standing in Australia, which implies the FJ Cruiser used to be loyal now polarising thanks to its petrol-simplest powertrain.

Whereas these nods to the past are cold for Toyota fanatics, on the varied facet of that coin, others merely didn’t gel with the appears to be of the retro FJ Cruiser. Combined with the perceived unfavorable blow of petrol strength simplest, and heaps disregarded what has confirmed to be a fun, sturdy and reliable 4×4 globally.

With essentially the most contemporary announcement of the fresh 2026 LandCruiser FJ, we belief it would possibly per chance well even be simplest fitting to sit down down down and review specifications on paper between these two off-roaders brooding about the amount of hype and ardour that surrounds it.

As soon as but again, folks are divided on what now we have seen to this level – but which one comes out on high when compared specs wise?

What non-public these two 4x4s fee?

This one is somewhat varied, as one automobile is now simplest offered on the extinct market, and one doesn’t exist but. But let’s race thru some scenarios to color a image.

When released in 2011, a brand fresh FJ Cruiser would fee $44,990 before on-roads. Taking into fable inflation, that figure would enlighten between $62,000- $68,000 at the moment. In 2025, that identical automobile on the extinct market costs roughly $24,000 to $31,500.

If we demand at the more tremendous 2013 and up objects, which have twin-gasoline tanks and CRAWL Regulate (works as off-toll road Cruise Regulate) usual, these began at $47,990 when fresh and now sell for between $31,000 and $42,000 on the extinct market.

That’s insanely intellectual resale worth, proving there would possibly be quiz for the FJ mark in Australia.

It’s anticipated the LandCruiser FJ would possibly per chance well be priced at approximately $60,000 if it lands on local soil in step with our most contemporary document. The closest logical competitor to this automobile, the Suzuki Jimny XL, begins at nearly $40,000 power-away.

Right here is simplest hypothesis, and essentially the most elementary recordsdata we would supply at the time of e-newsletter. But it indubitably’s sure that the fresh model will seemingly be more costly than the basic FJ Cruiser.

That’s a win for the extinct FJ Cruiser, then but again, as already talked about, the solid resale worth will simplest continue to climb.

Engines, drivetrains and 4×4 hardware

The 1GR-FE 4.0L V6 naturally aspirated engine camouflage within the FJ Cruiser is a solid reliable unit. Doubtlessly the most elementary loyal plan back to them is that they like a drink. Finances around 12-15L/100km of premium gasoline (or E10 in that case inclined) and also you’ll be on the money.

On the plus facet, 2013 objects and up reach with twin-gasoline-tanks totaling 159L gasoline capacity, you’ll be in a put to commute no longer lower than 1000-1200km with out refuelling (Editorial Display camouflage: I’ve examined this and made it 1250km before refuelling when stock – now modified and I dare no longer establish fable anymore).

Energy wise, later objects of the FJ Cruiser produced 200kW and 380Nm. All came with a 5-velocity automated transmission, and rear-wheel power when on-toll road with shift-on-the-flee 4×4 with low-vary reduction gearing in Australia.

Fun truth, the American market moreover bought the choice of a handbook transmission that extinct the corpulent-time 4×4 machine from the Prado. Why we didn’t receive corpulent-time 4×4 right here’s a mystery.

The fresh FJ LandCruiser is down on strength compared to the FJ Cruiser, coming in with 120kW and 246Nm. It moreover doesn’t consume a six-cylinder engine, which is traditionally camouflage in anything FJ.

What Toyota has within the starting up offered globally is their 2.7L four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine with a six-velocity automated transmission. This has been around for a decade, and extinct within the neighborhood in entry level Toyota Hilux objects.

Whereas each and each are confirmed engines, the FJ Cruiser gets the win by manner of the engine and strength output. That 4.0L V6 has loads of insist, with many owners reporting hitting effectively over 500,000km with out inform.

Which FJ is more healthy off-toll road?

The FJ Cruiser is undoubtedly one of essentially the most succesful four-wheel drives to roll off the Toyota manufacturing line. With a shorter wheelbase than the Prado chassis it is fixed with, as well to excellent manner and departure angles, it used to be constructed for off-toll road adventure.

Then there’s the rear-selectable electronically activated differential lock and mighty traction establish a watch on machine called A-TRAC.

This indubitably operates like a front diff lock that doesn’t obstruct the driver’s steering in actuality feel or operation like a locked front diff does. Wise stuff certainly, that truly works within the particular world.

Neatly, the intellectual news is that abilities has trickled all the manner down to all contemporary Toyota 4x4s. All the pieces from the LandCruiser, to Hilux and Fortuner has what many would call class-main traction establish a watch on programs, which support ship strength to tyres with grip, and kill spinning tyres the consume of the auto’s braking machine.

First observations seek a rear differential lock suited to the LandCruiser FJ, as well to a low-vary transfer case, indicating this certainly will seemingly be a succesful off-roader.

Toyota says the LandCruiser FJ has the identical quantity of suspension commute as a Seventy nine Sequence LandCruiser, which is no longer the flex they think it is (pun absolutely meant). 70 Sequence ‘Cruisers have the suspension commute of a home brick.

With nimble dimensions, a lighter footprint and contemporary abilities though, there’s no motive to think it obtained’t sustain off-toll road. Let’s call this a tie between the two for fairness.

How loyal are the FJ Cruiser and LandCruiser FJ?

Whereas experiences from householders camouflage the FJ Cruiser is a solid automobile being indubitably an egg fashioned body, there’s no manner to match this. The FJ Cruiser used to be never examined at ANCAP, nor given an decent security ranking.

Security sides incorporated are sparse compared to contemporary vehicles, with simplest front-and-facet airbags. There’s indubitably nothing like lane preserving support or self driving, which brings a refreshing lack of beeps and bongs to the driving abilities on the flip facet.

The FJ Cruiser did receive Anti-Lock Brakes, Balance Regulate, Traction Regulate and Electronic Brake Power Distribution though, so it’s no longer a total dinosaur.

It’s a loyal bet to receive that the 2026 LandCruiser FJ would possibly per chance well be aiming to receive a 5-star ANCAP ranking, if it had been to be examined within the neighborhood. And would have some distance more security programs, and airbags.

In the decent press birth, Toyota mentions the LandCruiser FJ will receive their Security Sense energetic security equipment with functions akin to Pre-collision Security Machine.

The beginner gets the nod within the security department.

Closing verdict: which specification is simplest?

Right here’s a elaborate one to acknowledge as we will’t review the pair on equal ground, and eventually we’re excellent taking a have a look at specs, for now no longer lower than.

On one hand it’s big to stare a brand fresh, smaller four-wheel power enter the market with Toyota’s loyal off-toll road skill. Even when it’s no longer confirmed the least bit if Australia can even seek the component. But, it’s in actuality a scaled-down model of the FJ Cruiser. It’s the FJ Cruiser-lite whenever you are going to.

We non-public hope that Toyota Australia does carry the LandCruiser FJ to local markets, then but again, and particularly demand forward to seeing what our clear aftermarket change does to the platform.

Unless that second, it’s loyal to bellow the excessive resale worth the FJ Cruiser experiences is decided to loiter around. And for intellectual motive.

(Stout disclosure, the author owns a 2013 FJ Cruiser – but he used to be told to protect up his biased opinions to himself… he has tried).

FJ vs FJ at a opinion

As Mazda Motor Corporation continues to stunning-tune the dynamics and total calibration of its Chinese language-made, all-electrical Mazda 6e sedan in preparation for gross sales growth into extra markets (including Australia in Q2 2026), a European engineering supervisor has admitted that the emblem won’t repeat the error of speeding its products to market worship it did with its Colossal Product Group autos in 2022.

The manager model in quiz is Mazda’s famous CX-60 top rate-medium SUV, which has obtained two engineering revisions in two years – primarily the most comprehensive of which regarded in Might possibly well well additionally 2025, extra overhauling the suspension tune and tweaking drivetrain instrument – but the criticism also pertains to the robotically connected CX-90 top rate astronomical SUV, and its CX-70 5-seat twin.

Responding to a quiz about the rate of Chinese language automotive construction, Mazda Motor Europe’s senior supervisor product construction and engineering, Alexander Fritsche, mentioned that he feels that many producers were introducing autos to market sooner than they’re prepared, leaving many R&D free ends to be sorted once the autos are already with possibilities – and that involves some Mazdas.

“In China, they like got a astronomical pool of workers who can straight toughen if famous. Here is limited in Europe and Japan, and we like got to address the resources we like got. Additionally … the western kind or Japanese kind seems calm linked to very strategic and prolonged-term planning. The Chinese language act quicker on adjustments,” he mentioned.

Fritsche admitted that Mazda Motor Corporation is reconsidering how it would be extra dynamic and efficient in its automotive construction – “[there’s] a necessity worldwide to like our products snappy but correct in the market” – but now not at the expense of engineering quality and finesse, or indeed sturdiness.

“I deem in most novel years, this for me is the topic – what I’ve seen in lots of, many areas [with] all automotive makers is that the autos are too snappy [to] market, and the total sturdiness processes were reduced by many, many producers, so the leisure tuning is then achieved in the market.

“And right here’s fundamentally what Mazda never wanted. So I am hoping we can obtain a technique to like the staunch steadiness in future,” he mentioned, referencing automotive developments beyond the Colossal Product Group structure, as well to ongoing tuning of the Mazda 6e electrical sedan.

“Our historical past, in case you glimpse abet into the autos [of previous generations] we had fabulous products, neatly-engineered. Additionally the [pre-Covid] abilities, shrimp, very correct product. And then we like got some, let me impart, ‘snappy open’ with one product [the CX-60] – I admit that truly changed into now not 100 percent [when it launched],” mentioned Fritsche.

“We had also in Europe a couple of points with this automotive in the market [the plug-in hybrid CX-60], that the total resources available in Mazda primarily tried exhausting to transform. And now the automotive is, I deem, neatly achieved. Additionally the simpler automotive we like got also in Europe right here [the CX-80]. So there were plentiful, plentiful, plentiful learnings,” he mentioned.

The points Fritsche changed into relating to integrated refining the smoothness of the CX-60’s four-cylinder stagger-in-hybrid powertrain – the preliminary offering in Europe – which obtained take dangle of-adjust improvements for the eight-bustle auto in the 2025 update to fabricate “smoother and extra responsive combustion-engine-to-electrical-motor transitions and a noteworthy wider gear fluctuate for the staunch steadiness of nice riding dynamics and environmental efficiency.”

Yet inner sources like hinted that the eight-bustle auto’s tendency to every now and then thump gearchanges all the way in which through kickdown – namely when the whole lot is warm or sizzling – pertains to the negligible space between the transmission and its housing, so as the bushings warmth up and change into squidgier, it’s the sound of the 2 making contact that passengers can hear. And it would’t be fastened with out costly re-engineering – the instrument tweaking being merely a band-inspire answer.

“There were some assorted things going down about the drivetrains, where it changed into sophisticated to enforce measures swiftly as the capability came from the market to like the product in the market,” mentioned Fritsche. “So learnings were achieved, judge me.”

“There were heavy, heavy discussions and heavy consequences to discover particular [Mazda] products satisfy the customer from the principle one [delivered],” he mentioned.