2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser First Drive

It’s almost as if Toyota took the guts of its successful 4Runner utility vehicle, tweaked it a bit, and shoehorned on a new exterior and interior to make the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Of course, it’s not that simple. But there are a number of similarities between the two, thanks to the fact that the FJ Cruiser is built on a modified version of the 4Runner platform. For starters, there’s the engine, a 4.0-liter V6 that produces 239 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,700 rpm, and can tow up to 5,000 lbs. This same V6 engine also drives the Tundra and Tacoma pickup trucks, and has proven dependable over time. The EPA rates the FJ Cruiser's city/highway fuel efficiency at 18/22 mpg for the two-wheel-drive, and 17/21 mpg for the four-wheel-drive automatic.

One of two transmissions is mated to the engine: a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. The automatic has what Toyota calls Artificial Intelligence (AI) Shift Control, which varies the transmission's shift pattern based on road conditions and driver input. While there was no noticeable change in the shift pattern during a brief test drive with the automatic transmission, this feature could result in slightly improved fuel economy and better response during acceleration, according to Toyota. Automatic transmission models get a part-time transfer case with shift-on-the-fly capability.

The six-speed manual transmission is available on four-wheel-drive models, and it proved easy to use during on-pavement and off-road testing. Manual transmission models have the 4Runner’s two-speed transfer case, featuring a Torsen differential with locking mechanism. The transfer case distributes the engine's power 40 percent to the front and 60 percent to the rear. When locked, it distributes power front to rear in a 50/50 split. The manual also has a clutchless start feature that is especially handy during off-road maneuvers.

All two-wheel-drive FJ Cruisers come with an automatic limited-slip differential operated by the vehicle’s traction control system. The system provides improved traction to the rear wheels under slippery driving situations.

The 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser’s powertrain is bolted onto a boxed-steel ladder frame, essentially a modified 4Runner platform. The suspension set-up is also based on the 4Runner, with an independent, double wishbone front and a solid rear axle with coil springs. Steering is handled by a rack-and-pinion setup that controls 17-inch wheels, clad with P265/70R17 tires. Standard brakes are 12.6-inch discs up front and 12.3-inch discs in back.