Robert Ackers
Summary
- The new FJ is a compact off-roader designed to attract a younger, wider audience.
- Customisation options include removable bumpers, retro headlights, cargo panels, and engine snorkels for off-road use.
Toyota has turned the FJ nameplate back into a proper, pint-sized Land Cruiser. Revealed in production form and headed for Japan in mid-2026, the new FJ is a Defender-90-sized off-roader that aims to bring Land Cruiser toughness and modular practicality to a wider, younger audience.
Built on the same underpinnings as the larger Land Cruiser 250 but cut down by 270 mm of wheelbase, the FJ measures 4,575 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,960 mm tall — close in footprint to the Defender 90 but with distinctly Toyota proportions. Despite the shorter body, Toyota says the FJ keeps a similar ground clearance and approach angle to the 250 (the 250’s reference figures are 215.3 mm and 31°) and promises a tight 5.5 m turning circle for easy town manoeuvres.
Under the bonnet sits a 2.7-litre petrol four putting out 161 bhp and 181 lb ft, sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic. Toyota’s messaging is clear: this is meant to be an honest, simple, capable 4×4 rather than a high-tech halo model — a go-anywhere machine you can personalise and use, not just admire on Instagram.
Customisation is central to the FJ’s pitch. Both front and rear bumpers are removable and replaceable to speed repairs and allow owners to kit the car for different duties; Toyota will also offer options such as round retro headlights, cargo panels and even an engine snorkel for serious off-road use. The bodywork’s chunky arches and bumpers underline a “lean but strong” visual direction that’s rugged rather than glossy.
Inside, the FJ follows the 250’s functional approach. A 12.5-inch infotainment touchscreen sits in a cabin that mixes modern tech with plenty of physical buttons and switches — a layout clearly intended to survive muddy gloves and easy, intuitive use off-road. Seats, storage and ergonomics look designed for practicality rather than luxury theatre.
Toyota confirmed the FJ will go on sale in Japan in mid-2026; other markets are expected to follow but not all will get the petrol version. To meet European and UK emissions rules it’s likely Toyota will offer a hybridised or diesel alternative for those regions — the 250 is already sold in Europe with a 2.8-litre turbodiesel, and Toyota is planning mild-hybrid updates there.
The FJ is positioned as the newest, smaller member of the Land Cruiser family — a compact option that aims to preserve the model line’s rugged DNA while being easier to park, cheaper to run and simpler to personalise. Toyota says the new car is about opening the Land Cruiser to a “new generation” of buyers: if it delivers on durability, customisability and genuine off-road ability, it may well do exactly that.
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