How capable is the FJ Cruiser?

Traded in my 5th gen 4Runner for the Tundra because I needed more towing capacity, more road trip comfort, and my dog in a separate space due to crazy shedding.

My current run-around rig and commuter to work is a 2007 Chevy HHR with 220k miles and on it's last legs.

I'm looking for something that I can use to commute to work in, gets better mpg than the Tundra, and can be built into a capable off-roader.

Every year, I do a 3500-mile road trip from Washington to Yuma, AZ to spend a couple of weeks at my parent's winter home. They have a lifted 2dr Jeep Wrangler and belong to a Jeep club.

I would go down in my 5th Gen 4Runner and have a blast exploring the desert with them and their friends. My 4Runner was lifted and on 33's, and was just barely adequate to get where they would go.

No way my Tundra can make it.

Thinking about buying a clean FJ Cruiser and doing some minor mods to make it capable of keeping up with the Jeeps and using it as a daily driver. I would tow the FJ down there with the Tundra.

I know nothing about them. Are they basically a shortened 4Runner?

 

I’d go the FJ route if you can find a decent low mileage one and you need the extra seating capacity and self contained storage. Otherwise I’d look at a Tacoma

 

We're a Tundra/FJ Cruiser family and they're both our dailies. If you're looking for better MPGs, then I would suspect it to be about the same as the 4Runner. As far as offroad capabilities, it is definitely capable. I have included a couple of videos that might interest you:

I know people have their feelings about TFL but they included one of the well known guys in the FJ forums for people looking to purchase an FJ.


Another YTer who has a wealth of knowledge of the FJ. So, if you decide to buy one, he at least helps with which one you should go with.


And, another YTer who compares an FJ to the Jeep. He also has a wealth of knowledge on Toyotas if you decide to check him out.

 

Not likely to happen. If you start building it to be as capable or more capable than your 4Runner, then the mileage is going to tank. You really can't have both.

 

What did you end up doing? I just got a completely stock FJ and really like it. Its a manual and the mpgs have been averaging 16.5 rural hill driving. My 4runner I think is closer to 17.5/18 so the 4x4 all the time in the manual definitely hits the mpgs. I would imagine a lifted/larger tire FJ manual would be worse than my Tundra haha. But the FJ has been a great daily driver, fun to drive, “small” to park, looks cool etc.

 

Aside from having the visibility of a football helmet, the FJ is awesome. I almost bought one several years ago when we had baby #3 on the way. Decided on a 3-row 4Runner instead.

 

I have a tundra and a 6MT FJ. The FJ is lifted and on 35's - the tundra gets considerably better gas mileage. But you don't buy the FJ for miles per gallon; you buy it for smiles per mile

 

My tundra gets better milage than my FJ did for sure. But the FJ carries a bit of a novelty badge in my book. There's 4Runner aplenty all over the country, but the FJ's are unique in their own right.

 

I ended up buying a $1200 Subaru Outback beater for commuting to work in, then threw away $4k in repairs to get 22mpg, lol. Currently on the market for $5k and hoping to get $4k to put towards a better choice. Selling my Subaru, the HHR, older ATV, and 2022 KLR 650 for a total amount of $18k in cash to put towards either an FJ Cruiser, 2dr Jeep Wrangler, or some other capable and cool off-road toy.

 

FJ's are very capable off road. Not quite a Jeep Rubicon. But they are way better on road than any wrangler. Also. MPG is going to be about where your Tundra is. FJ's are fun daily drivers. My Tundra sits in the garage while my FJ is my Daily.

 

Dang! I’ve been following the western washington FJ market and there’s alot of junk in the mid teens, but sometimes a few good ones. Lots of good options in the upper teens/low 20s that are 100k miles. The big price difference seems to be if you want a 2007/2008 or a 2013/2014, the 2014 sellers seem to think they can get crazy money even with 150k-200k miles. I found mine on Craigslist, which I think is the best to find a private seller in more rural areas (one owner, lots of miles, but pretty mint condition). Offerup/autotrader seems to be much higher priced and many more dealers.

 

I think the used market is cooling a bit. I let my dad sell all my vehicles, because he loves to haggle and can get some crazy prices, lol. He thinks he can get $6k for that old Subaru, and $3k for the HHR. I told him to take any offer over $4k for the Subaru and $1500 for the HHR.

He found a super clean `95 4Runner a couple of blocks away from his Arizona winter home with 150k miles and $5k or best offer. I told him to buy it ASAP if he could get it for $4k or less and I would fly down and drive it home. He didn't see my message and it was gone a day later. There are some good deals still out there.

I'm hoping to sell all my toys within a month, then sit on the cash and find a clean vehicle in the Fall.

 

FJ's are great! Easy to mod yourself and I was getting around 16mpg after the lift/tires. As reliable as the Tundra, but slow.. Good luck with the search!

 

I sold my 2014 FJ in November to get the Tundra and wish I could've kept it. Truly a reliable vehicle, but like most will attest to, underpowered by today's standards. You can beat it up, skip maintenance, and bounce it off rocks and still have the confidence of being able to drive it home. My MPG was the same as I get from the Tundra now, but my commutes have been about 90% city diving. I also had 37's on the FJ but re-geared to 4.88.