2011-2016 Toyota FJ Cruiser used car review

It seems a bit far-fetched, but you could be forgiven for thinking that Toyota anticipated the boom in values of its iconic old workhorse, the 45-Series LandCruisers from the 1960, '70s and beyond.

These weren't glamorous vehicles in the day and were built to do a specific job. The point is that they did that job incredibly well and carved out a remarkable reputation for Toyota off-roaders that is still helping the brand sell vehicle to this very day.

But if you've been watching the market, you'll know that, almost overnight, prices of the old LandCruisers, particularly the short-wheelbase wagon models, took off on the back of a wave of nostalgia for these old girls.

Which makes Toyota's retro-styled FJ Cruiser of 2011 seem even more canny.

And, for our money, it makes the latter-day FJ Cruiser an even more enticing proposition as you'll be cashing in on all that feel-good stuff, yet you won't be deafened and beaten half to death by the vehicle (as you would be in an original 45-Series).

And reliability? A given with a modern Toyota, of course.

Actually, that's the second of the FJ Cruiser's big selling points: Based on the Prado, it's more or less bomb-proof in the bush and, driven intelligently, will stay with the best of them when the track gets snotty.

So what's not to like?

The big stumbling block for many would-be buyers was that the FJ Cruiser was released at a time when diesel was sexy. And with only a petrol driveline on offer, the FJ missed the mark for many.

The truth is that the FJ was designed with North America firmly in mind, a market that doesn't understand a diesel engine in anything smaller than a Kenworth. But now that we've all come to understand the limitations of diesel, the FJ's four-litre V6 suddenly looks alright again.

The catch is that you need a post-March 2013 model because that was when the FJ Cruiser got a second fuel tank which more than doubled its fuel capacity and, therefore, its range in the bush.

The original version's 72-litre tank just wasn't big enough for weekends away from civilisation, but with the second, 87-litre tank on board, suddenly the FJ was the real deal. The alternative is to buy the earlier model and have an aftermarket fuel tank added to the factory item, but for most people, it's probably easier to find the later-build vehicle. And if you do, you'll also get Toyota's CRAWL system which amounted to a sophisticated hill-descent and traction-control system that kind of made the vehicle's standard rear differential lock a bit irrelevant.

The extra fuel tank won't alter the fact that an FJ Cruiser will be relatively thirsty (more so in the bush or if you fit a big roof rack as many owners do) but it does mean you can attempt desert crossings and all the other big adventures for which the vehicle is otherwise so beautifully suited.

So what goes wrong?

Typically, the main problems that will occur with an FJ Cruiser are nearly always down to the vehicle's previous treatment. If the thing has been smashed through the outback countless times and asked to crawl over boulders, chances are it will be a bit looser than one that hasn't.

A quick check underneath will soon tell you how the car has been looked after, and if it looks like a bomb has gone off under the FJ, then it's probably been used hard off-road.

The same goes for the type of accessories fitted. Many have racks and driving lights fitted, but one with a big winch and a high-lift jack fitted is also a potential weekend warrior and should be checked closely.

Mechanically, however, the FJ is a tough critter and we've seen these engines clock up 400,000km with no major hassles.

There are, however, a couple of things to watch for on the body. The spare tyre mounted on the rear door frees up room inside, but it can place a huge load on the rear door's hinges, especially on rough roads. Check for a door that sags when it opens; the first sign is a door that doesn't want to close smoothly or easily.

Those reverse opening side-rear doors can create problems long term, too. Again, rough roads seem to be the common denominator, but a few FJ's have developed cracks at the bottoms on the B-pillars, probably through having the doors vibrate in rough terrain. If these have been welded up, they should be okay, but if you can see the welds, the job hasn't been finished properly.

There was actually a recall for this problem, for FJ Cruisers built before the facelift, because this area is also where the seat-belt anchors, and any degradation in the structure in this area was a potential safety problem.

Other recalls involved a check of 2011 models for a wrongly wired air-bag sensor and another in 2014 for a fuel breather hose that ran too close to the exhaust.

Of more concern was a recall for cars built in a three-week period in 2013 to check for poor welds in the steering shaft.

A Toyota dealer will be able to identify affected cars.

Our rating: 4/5

Nuts and bolts

Engine: 4.0-litre V6 petrol

Transmissions: Five-speed automatic

Fuel economy (combined): 11.4 litres per 100km

Safety rating (courtesy of www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au): Not listed

Likes:

• Prado mechanicals suggest reliability.
• Looks good in a retro way.
• Not too big for urban use.
• Popular in the trade.

Dislikes:

• No diesel engine option.
• No manual version.
• Will be relatively thirsty.
• Suicide rear-side doors are mostly novelty value.

Competitors:

Toyota Prado - The vehicle that provides the FJ's platform. Bigger, more logical station-wagon body makes sense and, crucially, the Prado comes in diesel form. Not pretty, though. 4/5

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - The long-wheelbase, four-door version of the Wrangler was impressive off-road, less so on-road. Choice of petrol or diesel and hard or soft-top. Tiny inside. 3/5

Land Rover Defender - Looks like the original 1950s Land Rover but wagon body and four doors make it more practical. Still cramped and antiquated inside. Electronics can let it down. Charming. 3/5

What to pay (courtesy of Glass's Guide):

Model                   Year       New      Now

FJ Cruiser             2011       $44,990  $22,000

FJ Cruiser             2012       $46,490  $23,800

FJ Cruiser             2013       $47,990  $27,800

FJ Cruiser             2014       $47,990  $31,500

FJ Cruiser             2015       $46,990  $35,000

FJ Cruiser             2016       $46,990  $37,600