In the short amount of time the FJ Cruiser has been around, it managed to create a cult following thanks to its really capable chassis and retro look. Unfortunately, Toyota had to discontinue the model as it was no longer complying with the latest safety and emissions regulations. Since its discontinuation, there have been quite a few rumors about a new model. Even though so far there has been no official answer for these, Toyota did release a concept with the FT-4X. This is a small crossover meant for urban environments. While it is quite far from the original, it shows that Toyota is willing to risk releasing another retro-looking car. Because of that, there have been quite a few rumors recently about a future 2019 Toyota FJ Cruiser.
2019 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER PRICE AND RELEASE DATE
Most of these rumors and sources suggest the successor for the FJ Cruiser is going to be a very capable mid-size SUV. It looks like most of them also think the retro design, as well as the rugged body-on-frame construction, might be retained for the future model. If this is the case, then it is safe to assume the car will have quite a few parts in common with the upcoming 4Runner. On top of that, expect it to be smaller than its predecessor which was quite big despite not offering all that much space inside the cabin.
The price hasn’t been revealed yet, but it looks like the new 2019 Toyota FJ Cruiser may actually be cheaper than the 4Runner. How would this be possible? Well, it looks like Toyota may target the FJ Cruiser at the two-door Wrangler, so it will have to cost less than $30,000. Unfortunately, the car is more than likely at least two years away from its release; but we do hope that until then Toyota will reveal at least a prototype for the car.
DESIGN
One of the main selling points for its predecessor was the way it looked. The car had a unique design with a look similar to the original FJ. Most rumors seem to say the upcoming 2019 Toyota FJ Cruiser will have more in common with the later models of the FJ line of cars. This means that it may receive an even boxier design than its predecessor. However, unlike the original, the SUV is now expected to feature just two doors and a smaller body than before. On top of that, it will likely boast a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate and possibly large wheel arches with off-road tires being mounted on the base models. There are drawbacks with this type of design, but the car should still be quite successful despite all of that.
2019 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER INTERIOR
The interior of the original was quite basic with a lot of plastic and a really vertical design. Instead of going on the same route, it looks like the upcoming 2019 Toyota FJ Cruiser will have quite a bit in common with the new 4Runner. Expect it to boast a more modern look inside the cabin with far less cheap plastic than before. Some even suggested that to retain the retro feel of the car, Toyota may install real aluminum or steel inserts around the cabin in order to make it feel a bit more special.
ENGINE
It is safe to assume the old 4.0 liter V6 is not going to make a return here. Instead, the new FJ Cruiser is actually expected to feature Toyota’s new 3.5 liters naturally aspirated V6 which was first seen on the Tacoma. With the help of direct and port injection this engine is known to make over 270 horsepower and well over 250 lb-ft of torque.
With minimal upgrades, the one in the FJ Cruiser is expected to develop closer to 300 horsepower and around 280 lb-ft of torque. This should be enough to get the SUV out from pretty much any situation. The only real drawback would be the fuel consumption, but this would be easily alleviated with the help of an improved gearbox. Most rumors suggest the car will use Toyota’s newer six speed automatic; but it may very well receive an even better gearbox considering its release date is still years away.
