Thoughts on the discontinuation of the FJ Cruiser & how it could have been improved

SURF RUNNER

Senior Member
Thoughts on the discontinuation of the FJ Cruiser & how it could have been improved

I know there is probably multiple threads on the death of the FJ Cruiser, but I wanted to start one with a specific discussion. The discontinuation of the FJ Cruiser (and the Xterra) will no doubt help new 4Runner sales in the future.

Despite being good for the 4Runner it is sad to see the FJ Cruiser go. I was initially interested in FJ Cruisers before I discovered 3rd Gen 4Runners. I know it is almost always about sales and corporate strategy, but the reason I am disappointed is because the FJ Cruiser could have been a much better vehicle. I didn't see much improvement in the model line over the years. Correct me if I am wrong, but there was just one generation of the FJ Cruiser. The FJ Cruiser lasted for 9 years (2006-2014). How many other vehicles can go 9 years without a restyle?

I see FJ Cruisers everywhere in Texas. Obviously the sales weren't where Toyota wanted them, but they sold enough to make seeing them on a daily basis routine (at least here in Texas).

Here are some of my thoughts on how the FJ Cruiser could have been better:

- The 2nd Generation should have been started around 2010
- The FJ Cruiser needed a Limited Edition. Some consumers want leather and luxury no matter what style of vehicle they are buying
- Certainly there was a way to restyle the FJ Cruiser without those little half doors
- Overall the colors weren't so great in my opinion. Voodoo Blue, Sun Fusion and some of these colors may have been cute to girls, but why not offer many of the same colors we see on the current 4Runner?
- Make the white roof optional on all models. I know it goes back to the old FJ40s, but not everyone wants a white roof.
- Offer a basic, stripped down model that was more affordable. FJ Cruisers were not cheap.

These are some of my initial thoughts... there are many more that you can post on this thread. Toyota could have done so much more with the FJ Cruiser, but instead they killed it.



Three of the better colors in my opinion...

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The latest FJ never appealed to me - not pretty enough and the door scheme is simply unusable to me. Factory fitment seems a bit lacking as well.

To build a premium offroad vehicle that competes with a Range Rover is expensive business - maybe Toyota thought they could get by with their iteration. Looks like it was an American-directed design, which means the Toyota panache was left out. (I still get that unique Toyota feeling in my '99)

It also doesn't/didn't differentiate itself enough from the 4Runner to amass a following, the base for specialty vehicle survival/growth. It's a small enough market as it is. Seeya, FJ!
 
Yeah, other than the name, everything was non innovative. From the bad mpg to the bad vision from inside the cab. Off road was just go ok. Weak ball joints. My 3rd gen had a more comfortable ride. The ugliness never really appeal to the masses.

Toyota should just bring the LC 70 Series and name it LC FJ75 or FJ80 with solid front axle. Front and rear locker. That would make me happy and if Toyota does it, you'll see one in my driveway.
 
Solid front axle. That would have further differentiated it from other Toyota SUV's and made it a legitimate JK competitor since they IFS vs. solid axle argument would be out the window.
 
I will be watching the other global markets to see what changes they make to the FJ over the next few years, since they are still sold in places like Australia and Chile for example.
 
I test drove one once and wasn't a big fan of the blind spots and overall interior set up. Plus, they look awkward to me in stock from (but awesome with bumpers). The trail teams colors were pretty cool, but not for the overall price.
 
Removable top. I would probably have bought one if the top came off. A solid axle would have been another selling point, but not as big for me, the IFS is still pretty competent and rides better.
 
The ugliness never really appeal to the masses.

The "ugliness" is exactly what I liked about it.
:Cry:
I wanted an FJ originally, but couldn't afford one new, and couldn't find one used at a decent price. So I went with the 4R.
But it's true, the color options were pretty bad....
and I can "see" where the blind spot would be a problem.
My old Chevy Blazer had one in the same place, and it sucked!
 
The FJ has way too many design compromises imo, its basically chock full of them, it lacks the fit and finish and design forethought from the 90s and early 2000s Toyota trucks and suvs.
 
No one in my immediate crew would ever own one because one of the bosses we all loathed has one. Funny how that directly affects sales.
 
I agree with a lot of the comments about design compromises, it just didn't seem to be a well thought out design.

I don't understand the fit and finish comments however. My 2011 FJ was as solid as my 4Runner is.
 
I have driven every type of big truck so I guess the blind spots never bothered me. I picked mine up in Jan. 07 and still have it. My son drives it now as his first car and loves it. It has 130,000 miles on it with nothing but general mant. It has been out to Ouray and Moab. Still love that ugly yellow Toyota.
 
It needed a manual transmission that wasn't crap. The bulgy styling got old quickly IMO. Someone mentioned that it looks like those square Japanese watermelons and now I think of those every time I see one. The interior was cheap, like GM cheap IMO.

They could have built a 2-door SUV in a far more cost effective way...

1998001_1990_2door_4Runner_SR5_front_quarter-prv.jpg
 
[MENTION=134486]Ausumm[/MENTION] hence you are not the masses.

FJ average last 3 years sales vs last 3 years 5th gen 4runner.

FJ - 13,800 units vs. 4runner - 68,000 units

But the best is 97-00 3rd gen was 120,000 units per year. However give FJ a little credit, first 2 years 06-07 average sales 57,000 units. After 09 it tanked to 11,000 unts
 
Cheaper than GM cheap for the interior. The blind spot sucked. I wish I would have gotten to try the manual tranny.

My brother bought one back in 09, modded the heck out of it and sold it in December of 2010 for as much as he paid for it a year earlier so they do keep their resale value.
 
Cheaper than GM cheap for the interior. The blind spot sucked. I wish I would have gotten to try the manual tranny.

My brother bought one back in 09, modded the heck out of it and sold it in December of 2010 for as much as he paid for it a year earlier so they do keep their resale value.

The FJ is actually the vehicle which has the best resale value, I believe Tacomas are second.
 

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