The FJ Cruiser stems from the 4Runner platform, albeit with some alterations. The FJ Cruiser 2011 model comes with the DOHC 4.6 Liter V-6 churning out 259 horsepower. The FJ Cruiser is offered with full time rear wheel or four wheel drive too. The FJ Cruiser is offered with a list of niceties as well. For off road options, the 4WD offering is ideal.
Don’t expect much in the way of on-road handling when driving the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser; however, its ability off-road and style give reviewers plenty of reason to like the FJ.
The 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser continues into 2011 mostly unchanged save for some minor trim changes. This means the FJ Cruiser continues to offer style in spades. Arguably cruder than the FJ Cruiser, the Wrangler is the original off-road SUV. The Wrangler also starts out over $3,000 less than the FJ Cruiser.
The "FJ Cruiser" is available in a single trim; though a new for 2011 Trail Teams special edition model brings more off-road kit to the FJ Cruiser as well as army green paint.
The FJ Cruiser hasn't changed much since its introduction four years ago. Rear-seat ingress and egress is also awkward. As midsize SUVs go, the 2011 FJ Cruiser has formidable competition.
The "2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser" is a midsize SUV with standard-size front doors and smaller, rear-hinge half doors. Options include a Convenience package that offers keyless entry, power side mirrors, cruise control, rear privacy glass, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a rearview camera. The TRD package includes 16-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires and off-road-biased suspension tuning. The All Terrain package (available on 4WD models) includes Bilstein shocks, a locking rear differential, active traction control and the additional gauges of the Upgrade package. Both a five-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission are offered. FJs with manual transmissions are only available with a full-time four-wheel-drive system; models with automatic transmissions come with either two-wheel drive or a part-time 4WD system.
Standard safety features include stability control, traction control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and rollover-sensing side curtain airbags. The Toyota FJ Cruiser has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures. In side-impact testing, front and rear passenger protection received five stars.
The FJ's retro-themed dash is color-keyed to match the exterior. Wide roof pillars, small rear windows and a tailgate-mounted spare tire all contribute to poor rearward visibility. Front visibility is also less than optimal due to the FJ's high hood line.
The rear-access doors, like those on most extended-cab pickups, open rearward. Though this configuration offers a wide portal with both front and rear doors open, it's tiresome if you're frequently carting rear passengers, as the rear doors won't open with the front doors closed. With the rear seats folded, 67 cubic feet of cargo space is created.
The 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser is in its element when off-road. The FJ is also surprisingly good on pavement, offering precise steering and a smooth ride. Notably, the FJ does not require premium fuel.
