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By: Derek Price
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Driving
an off-road vehicle feels like piloting a giant
concrete block.
They're unweildy, heavy, bouncy, unresponsive and
generally uncomfortable on the road. Vehicles like
the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan XTerra might be great
on the Rubicon Trail, but who cares about off-road
ability when a trip to the Home Depot sends you to
the chiropractor?
Toyota's engineers saw this problem. They knew that
while off-road driving made for great SUV
commercials -- and, indeed, some fun weekends for
hardcore off-road enthusiasts -- but their typically
harsh ride would keep a lot of buyers away.
Toyota's solution is the new 2007 FJ Cruiser, a
wild-looking SUV designed for true off-road
performance but without that awful off-road ride.
The FJ Cruiser is a surprisingly outlandish product
from a very conservative company. Toyota is known
more for building cars like the Camry, with its
boring style, respectable interior, Dick-Clark-like
longevity and a sensible engine that politely hums.
There's nothing boring about the FJ Cruiser, though.
The body style -- with its mix of retro chic and
clean, modern lines -- draws a lot of second glances
and thumbs up from other drivers, and the interior
follows the same cool theme with oversized buttons
and highly stylized trim.
Even the engine is exciting. The 4.0-liter V6 sounds
amazingly like an American V8, with a deep, throaty,
Samuel L. Jackson grunt that seems to say, "I ain't
Japanese, buddy." It's a far cry from the wheezy,
efficient, four-cylinder engines that built Toyota's
reputation in the '80s and early '90s.
This high-tech powerplant makes 239 horsepower and 278
pound-feet of torque, which are both impressive
figures. Unfortunately, it gets an unimpressive 17
miles per gallon in town and 21 mpg on the highway
with the four-wheel-drive version.
Adding to the FJ Cruiser's off-road credentials is an
interior designed for dusty, dirty, muddy
conditions. Seating materials are water-repellant
and well ventilated, and the rubberized floor is
easy to clean.
Climbing into the back seat is relatively easy with two
rear-swinging "suicide" doors. On the downside, the
funky styling makes it virtually impossible to see
much out the back windows.
Price-wise, the FJ Cruiser is a clear winner
considering how much style and performance you get
for the money, not to mention Toyota's reputation
for building cars and trucks that last forever. It
starts at $21,910 for a two-wheel-drive automatic,
or $23,300 for the four-wheel-drive version.
That's not bad for a vehicle that mixes on-road comfort
with off-road performance better than most SUVs. The
cool, retro styling is just icing on the cake. |
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| Ratings: |
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Style: 10
Performance: 9
Price: 9
Handling: 5
Ride: 8
Comfort: 7
Quality: 9
Overall: 9
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| Why Buy
It: |
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It draws lots of attention with its unique,
expressive styling, and it has a surprisingly good ride
for an off-road vehicle.
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| Why Avoid
It: |
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Rear visibility is awful, and fuel consumption is
very un-Toyota-like.
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