2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Four Seasons Wrap-up
There was somewhat better news on the performance front. The FJ's acceleration is more than acceptable for a vehicle that has the aerodynamic profile of a Pizza Hut. Throttle response is excellent, and maintaining high-speed cruising is easy enough. All of us found, though, that the FJ is particularly susceptible to crosswinds. Combine that tendency with a dead spot in steering feel around the straight-ahead position, and you've got a truck that demands considerable driver input to cruise in a straight line. We did observe, however, that the FJ's ride quality is quite good, especially under a load.
The FJ's cabin comfort is compromised when the front windows are down (the rear windows don't open), because buffeting is a big issue at higher speeds. During hot weather, we ended up treating the FJ as a windows-closed, air-conditioning-only truck. That made the experience a bit less fun--the FJ's character somehow demands a windows-open driving style. Also, many drivers commented about excessive engine noise at highway cruising speeds.
So, is the FJ simply a style statement that demands painful compromises, like a tight pair of leather pants (a reference for those readers of a particular age)? Well, no, not really, since the Toyota acquitted itself rather well when it was called upon to haul.
"The ability to tow a 3000-pound trailer was superb," observed Sherman. "There is ample power, sure braking, and good stability."
The FJ also was, to no one's astonishment, a more than competent off-roader. Creative director Richard Eccleston subjected it to a real challenge: "To get to our vacation cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks, we had to drive ten miles along a soft sand beach and clamber up a sand dune. It was a hoot. The FJ goes anywhere without a fuss. Our friends struggled up the beach in their aged Chevy Tahoe, and they were amazed we'd found it to be so easy."
Other drivers found the FJ equally surefooted in snow, especially once we mounted a set of Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires. "For all the things the FJ doesn't do well, boy, it's awesome in the white stuff," enthused Web producer Stuart Fowle. "It's completely invincible." It's worth noting that his comments were made after he drove the FJ in deep snow at relatively low speeds with four-wheel drive engaged. Driving quickly over snow and ice without having the stability control engaged (which, as noted earlier, is deactivated in four-wheel-drive mode) is less confidence inspiring.
Not surprisingly, the FJ proved to be quite reliable, with nothing more to speak of in the way of quality issues than a rattling speaker grille and poor sound quality from the radio, which was replaced under warranty. The biggest issue was the upright windshield, which was susceptible to stone chips. We had the windshield replaced twice in the course of our year, and the second time, the FJ was off the road for more than a month while we waited for replacement glass. Not good.
But the ultimate question is this: is the FJ Cruiser's flamboyant style and the sense of occasion it engenders when you climb aboard enough to outweigh all of the compromises made in pursuit of that style? For most of us, the answer is no. But we also accept that the vast majority of trucks in the FJ's segment are outright dullards and that this Toyota has more personality and a greater sense of fun than any of them. As Smith says: "It reminds you of a time when everything--not just sports cars and sedans--was supposed to have an element of fun. And it reminds you that the definition of 'fun' wasn't held to any one constant."