FJ Cruiser

New six appeal

Showcased the same day as the V8 turbodiesel Toyota Landcruiser, the company also revealed an upgraded FJ Cruiser. (If you were wondering what those letters stood for I can reveal all: The 'F' stands for the engine series and 'J' Jeep.)

Anyway, the FJ has been around for just two years over here, a vehicle with unique looks like no other. Perhaps that is the attraction because you do seem to see plenty of them on the road. Again, as one might imagine, this is no poseur's luxury offroader alluded to by the 245 mm of ground clearance, a 34-degree approach angle, 31-degree departure angle and 29-degree breakover angle attributes.

Suffice to say wherever the New Land Cruiser went the FJ was close behind. Due in the main, methinks, to the introduction of the 'crawl control function', a feet-off control system that allows the vehicle to inch its way up just about any slope - or down - by simply dialling in the speed you feel comfortable with. This can be anything up to 25 km/h. Simplistically, it increases vehicle stability in extreme four-wheel driving conditions by minimising wheel spin and tyre lock-up.

There's also the addition of a second fuel tank (87 litres) that virtually doubles its fuel-load capacity to offer a grand total of 159 litres offering owners a theoretical fuel range of over 1000 km with the 200 kW/380 Nm 4.0-litre V6 petrol motor found under the bonnet.

All versions of the FJ Cruiser come with A five-year/90 000 km service plan and a three-year/100 000 km warranty. These models are also supported by the ToyotaCare Roadside Assistance Programme and entitles customers to 24-hour roadside assistance.

Pricing at launch:

FJ Cruiser 4.0 V6 4 x 4 AT R462 200

FJ Cruiser 4.0 V6 Sports Cruiser AT R485 200

Land Cruiser V8

Tough with the smooth

 Having proved themselves over and over again as the vehicle of choice when the going gets tough Toyota's Land Cruiser 70 range has now been rounded off - for the time being at least - with the option of a whopping 4461cc V8 turbodiesel mill, intercooled motor.

 When a vehicle carries the mantle of 'Masters of Africa' - and has done since 1971 when they first arrived in the South African marketplace - I guess they deserve some bragging rights and this latest model does it in some style. With 151kW at 3400 rpm and 430 Nm at a lowly 1200 rpm it offers the flattest torque curve of all Toyota's current range of engines. By way of comparison this latest model offers 55 kW more power and 145 Nm more torque than the naturally aspirated, indirect-injection, 4.2-litre, straight six diesel motor found in other Land Cruisers.

In a Reflective Mood: With a little leisure time on our hands, Toyota organised a balloon trip before breakfast .... 

Apparently customer feedback suggested a more powerful motor was needed, and listening to them decided a lusty new V8 was just what the doctor ordered. Little has changed in the looks department - still the same old tough-looking workhorse, if the truth be known, but now sporting a small V8 badge on the tailgate, a hood bulge to accept the water-cooled intercooler and the addition of an external snorkel-type air cleaning system bolted along the front wing and running high up on the driver's side windscreen frame.

That's it - very few other additional frills needed to make this particular Land Cruiser even more desirable to those who hanker after this type of vehicle ... And there's a lot of people out there who swear by them - how else can you account for a waiting list that totals 1242 at last count?

It was only fair to put this newcomer through its paces on a 4 x 4 track - it almost seemed a futile exercise in a way because the Land Cruiser's abilities to 'devour' anything thrown at it is legendary. The steepest dirt hillclimbs, the largest potholes and toughest bush tracks were all climbed out of, up and down with aplomb. Even novice 4 x 4 motoring hacks like me were made to look good!

Very little has changed inside the cab, a tweak here and a tweak there with one noticeable exception: the Land Cruiser has definitely moved into the 21st century with the addition of a new audio and navigation system. But someone in the design studio obviously has a sense of humour because the aerial fitted is a throwback to the 70s: press a button on the dashboard and a chrome, five-piece sectioned antenna rises from the mudguard! Hit the button again and it gently lowers! As a token to modernity, though, there's now a large display screen in the centre of the dash, there's smartphone connectivity and even SMS functionality. Going on a trip to Mozambique (as one does), no problem, it's now mapped - along with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.

All new Land Cruiser 70 models come with Toyota's comprehensive three-year/100 000 km warranty. These models are also supported by the ToyotaCare Roadside Assistance Programme and entitles customers to 24-hour roadside assistance.

Selected pricing

'76' 4.5 V8 Diesel SW R587 500

'79' 4.5 V8 Diesel SC R527 000

'79' 4.5 V8 Diesel DC R567 600