FJ Cruiser Turns Heads

When buying a car today, Toyota's 2007 FJ Cruiser is perhaps one of the most unique cars on the market. Maybe that's because this vehicle is part SUV, part off-road vehicle, part truck and mostly a whole lot of fun.

Heads turned all week as we drove the FJ because this car's retro design has real contemporary appeal. The FJ's design history harkens back to Toyota's rugged FJ40s and Land Cruisers, which are some of the world's most popular and reliable off-road vehicles.

Specifically built for a young buyer with an "active outdoor lifestyle," Toyota has kept the price down at just over $21,000 base. The model we drove with the "convenience package" (remote keyless entry, cruise control, power outside mirror, rear parking sonar, privacy glass, rear wiper, daytime running lights), floor mats, towing hitch and wire harness cost $26,293.

Yes, you can see yourself driving through jungles and over mountains in this royal blue FJ with white top, black overfenders, black bumpers, skid plates, tow hooks and mudguards. But you also feel like you can pull up to a five-star hotel because of the FJ's classy silver-toned highlights, especially in the door handles and mirrors.

Inside, the styling gets even more interesting. The dashboard design has chunky, rounded elements as well as an off-road simplicity. The controls are sparse, but easy to use and there's lots of built-in spots for cups, water bottles and other gear.

As for driving, the FJ gives you that confident, yet bumpy 4X4 feel with its 239 hp 4 liter V6. While suspension, acceleration, maneuverability and braking are all above average, the vehicle's size makes for some strange design tricks.

With the sun visor down, for example, the sloping roof and far-away windshield cut your view considerably, making it difficult to see signs and signals. The spare tire looms in your rear view mirror, as well. And although the port hole-like side windows seem to completely wipe out your side and back views, the FJ's giant side mirrors make up for any potential blind spots.

Everyday practicality is a serious consideration for off roaders. So, the FJ Cruiser is built with things like water repellent seats, rubber-like cabin and cargo area flooring and split second row seats with removable bottom cushions. For those whose active lifestyles include roughing it, all of the FJ's seats can fold down to a horizontal position, making the cabin big enough for two persons in sleeping bags.

The week we drove the FJ Cruiser, gas prices hit $3 a gallon. So, it's rather unfortunate the FJ doesn't come in a hybrid model because at an estimated 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, driving around town can cost a small fortune.

Here are more notes on the FJ Cruiser from the male, female, family and senior perspectives:

Men: Attention getter, smoothness, and acceleration sum up my male viewpoint. There is no question that heads turned as I drove by, and if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about this hip-looking new truck, I could almost buy a half tank of gas. However, I was impressed with the less rugged ride of the FJ Cruiser. In my work, I do regular drives from Orange County to Los Angeles, which is about a 120-mile round trip, involving lots of darting in and out of lanes and traditional stop-and-go traffic. The FJ Cruiser handled the changes of speed with ease and with a quickness that surprised me. The shifting from to side to side (a necessity if you want to get anywhere in hurry on LA freeways), took place without much shake, and at times I would forget I was riding so high. - Derick Alexander

Women: The FJ Cruiser is obviously built with guys in mind, but that doesn't mean girls can't have fun driving it too. And although the FJ is easy to drive, this 4X4 is one bumpy ride. In fact, I stopped putting my head on the back headrest because I was tired of my head bobbing all around. Also, the driver and passenger seats are adequate, but certainly not supremely comfortable for long rides.

Family: At first, I wasn't sure about how the FJ would fare with the family. The rear "access" doors didn't look like doors at all without windows or handles on the outside. I was also quite reluctant about how to deal with the toddler and her rather bulky car seat. But I was pleasantly surprised when, with both doors open, our two-year-old daughter was able to climb right up into her seat. And because the FJ Cruiser is so wide, our teenager and her friend could sit in the back with the baby without the car seat poking them in the shoulders. The back cargo area is also easily accessible and rather large for shopping bags and packages.

Seniors: This is a good off-road vehicle for adventurous seniors who still want to explore those out-of-the-way spots where others are afraid to venture, especially on windy mountain roads or during rough weather. I liked the roominess of the front seats and the way the back ones folded down. It's perfect for taking the grandkids on a trip because you don't have to worry about soda spills and chocolate finger prints ruining the upholstery -- just hose it down and traces of those messy little ones is completely erased. But don't expect the seats to be those comfy, cushy ones like in most luxury cars. These seats shake, rattle and roll with the vehicle. Still, the ride is worth the price at both the pump and the dealership. - Rev. Joanne Tucker

If you are interested in meeting some real FJ Cruiser fanatics and reading real stories about this vehicle, visit www.fjcruiserforums.com.

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