What Does FJ Stand For In FJ Cruiser? Not Obvious Meaning Of The Name

We all had a toy car that resembled the unconventional and legendary FJ Cruiser. The engine and transmission system on this SUV were customized to survive any hurdle thrown at it. Come to think of it, what does FJ stand for in an FJ Сruiser?

Well, it turns out ‘F’ symbolizes the engine type and ‘J’ stands for Jeep. Funny enough, the ‘F’ stands for F-engine, which uses gas (gasoline fuel). We would have assumed that 'FJ’ stood for ‘Foreign Jeep’ since the vehicle is one of the quirkiest vehicles, we have ever seen. 

Why does the legendary FJ Cruiser maintain a fervent following? 

Toyota FJ Cruiser began as a concept car. The company unveiled the concept car at the Detroit Auto show in 2003. It got an overwhelming reception from the press and the public. Three years later, Toyota launched a production model that was remarkably similar to the concept car.

Before releasing it to the market, Toyota held immeasurable off-road evaluations on extremely difficult roads all through North America. The production team intended to push the off-roader to its limits. No wonder the car is still a cult classic 7 years later after Toyota discontinued its production. 

Although the FJ Cruiser was not popular in its production years, they are highly sought after and pricy now. 

Popular YouTubers like Doug Demuro have clearly demonstrated that the FJ Cruiser craze is still a thing. One of his videos that reviewed the FJ Cruiser and gave reasons why Toyota should bring back the vehicle has more than 2.5 million views and 8000 comments. So, one may ask: Why the craze?

Features that make the FJ Cruiser a legendary SUV

• Body-on-frame – the FJ Cruiser comes with a sturdy body-on-frame make. This keeps it steady and firm regardless of the terrains it stumbles upon. It doesn’t matter whether you are driving on a smooth silky road or a rocky, bumpy incline, the FJ Cruiser holds everything in place. 
• The retro styling – the FJ Cruiser design was in homage to the iconic FJ-40 Land Cruiser which had an unconventional boxy design. The retro style gives the FJ authentic antiqueness rarely seen on modern Toyota cars. The style is a fav among off-road enthusiasts and SUV lovers. 
• Reliability – FJ Cruiser can be driven in any terrain. If you are looking for a sturdy vehicle that you can drive on any off-road surface, look no further. FJ Cruiser is one of the most reliable and durable Toyota cars. We have seen FJ Cruisers with more than 300,000 miles but still in perfect shape. If you take care of your brakes, the engine, and the transmission system, your FJ Cruiser will have an even longer lifespan. 
• Exceptional off-road capabilities – powered with a 4.0-liter cylindrical 1GR-FE V6 engine, the FJ Cruiser can handle off-road terrains with so much prowess. Apart from its engine, the FJ Cruiser has a switchable traction system, a great transmission system, and a crawl control system that controls the car's speed as it drives up or down mountainous terrains.
• Double suicide doors – the FJ Cruiser comes with two front doors and two rear doors that open rearwards. It is out of the ordinary to see an SUV with a luxurious double suicide door feature. 
• Powerful tow capacity – the FJ Cruiser has an outstanding tow capacity. If you are wondering whether your FJ Cruiser can tow a camper, worry not. Your FJ Cruiser can tow up to 5000 pounds. But ensure the setup and weight of your camper works for your car. 
• Modification and customization – you can easily customize your FJ according to your needs. Off-road enthusiasts love personalizing their cars. FJ Cruiser gives you the freedom to add as much customization as you may want to your car. 
• Semi-waterproof material – the interior is made up of liquid-repellent and semi-waterproof material, making it easy to clean. This means you can drive your FJ Cruiser in muddy places without worrying about interior damage. The beast can hold off jarring weather elements. 
• Resale value – FJ Cruiser is one of the cars that have good resale value. Its resale value rose dramatically after Toyota discontinued its production. On average, FJs have a resale value of 91.5% of the original value.

Additional features that make FJ Cruiser quirkier  

The car undoubtedly is a toy brought to life. Here are some of the additional features that make the FJ Cruiser an unconventional SUV. 

• Three windshield wipers on the front and a tiny one at the back. 
• You can literally wash the interior of your FJ Cruiser with a hose. 
• It has a storage compartment on top of the steering wheel 
• Supplementary side sun visor. You can also push the front sun visor to the side for more side sun protection. 
• Ridiculously huge climate and temperature control dials at the center. You can literally operate them with a glove. 
• The car has a built-in compass, temperature, and pitch and roll gauges mounted on the dash. 
• Tough and aggressive looking finishings on the exterior and interior surfaces
• Cool and radiant colors schemes on the exterior and interior. 
• You can access the cargo area through a hinged door or the flip-up rear window. 

So, why did Toyota discontinue the FJ Cruiser production? 

Discontinuations are common in the auto world. Some car models go unnoticed while others garner an uproar from fans after automotive manufacturers discontinue their production. FJ Cruiser belongs to the latter group. Fans were not ready to say goodbye to the quirky legendary off-roader.

Toyota discontinued the production of the FJ Cruiser because of.

1. Low sales volume

During its production years, the FJ Cruiser registered low sales volume. FJ Cruiser sales further dropped to their lowest during the 2008-2009 recession. When sales continued to fall after the recession, Toyota decided to discontinue its production. 

2. Reception and criticism 

Although adored by many because of its quirky nature, FJ Cruiser also received lots of criticism. There were countless complaints about the smaller cargo capacity, low lateral grip performance, poor fuel economy, visibility issues, and lack of rear-seat comfort. 

3. Fierce competition from mid-sized SUVs 

Smaller cabin sizes and high fuel consumption gave the competition an edge. Moreover, the decision to cut costs in the production of the FJ Cruiser gave an edge to the competition. 

Although Toyota discontinued its production, you can still own an FJ Cruiser.

What to do before buying a used FJ Cruiser 

Before buying one, look out for the following to avoid spending more money on repairs and restoration. 

1. Rust. Thoroughly check for rust in spots like the fenders, exhaust system, frames, engine supports, and the suspension before buying a used FJ Cruiser. 
2. Modifications. In most cases, modification is an indication that the vehicle has gone through a rough life. A cheaply modified FJ Cruiser may put a toll on your wallet. However, if you find an FJ Cruiser modified using quality and branded products, don't let it go. 
3. Get a record of oil changes and maintenance history.
4. Do your due diligence before settling on one. Conduct a thorough search on databases to check the history of the car. 
5. Put the FJ through a test drive. FJ Cruisers have poor rear and side visibility. You need to be sure that you can handle the visibility issues presented by the vehicle. However, the 2009+ models have a rearview camera. Besides, you can use a parking assist to help with parking. You can also install convex mirrors on your side mirrors. 

 During the test drive, pay attention to:

• How the car’s clutch operates (if the car has a manual transmission). 
• Humming noises 
• Warning lights that persistently stay on even when the engine is running. 
• Misfires or white smoke from the exhaust
• Jerks or stutters when accelerating 
• Loss of power 
• Rough idle

6. Put the car through a cooling system pressure check. Look out for issues such as coolant leaks, leaking head gasket, etc. 

Be sure to have the car thoroughly checked by a trusted mechanic. You may have missed a few issues here and there. With its superior exterior construction, it is easy to assume the car is in good condition. Check and have an expert recheck it before buying a used FJ Cruiser. 

Overall, the FJ Cruiser is one of the best SUVs you can own if you find a well-maintained vehicle. Nonetheless, basing the vehicle on its current value and the high demand, it will maintain its value for a long time. We are certain it is going to be one of the most sought-after and valuable collectibles in the future.