Toyota FJ Cruiser Test Drive since 2006 SUV

Quote for fan

Japan has inflicted America another blow. This time he fell into the place where the off-road off-road Each Zaocheansky Enthusiast would be warm for SCOUT, BRONCO, CJ and K5, for real SUVs. In general, in the heart.
 
In the middle of the last century, Toyota unsuccessfully tried to enter the American market with their all-wheel drive models several times. Against the background of the then Jeep and GMC, they could not offer anything new - neither interesting design, nor special reliability. Only with the advent of the Land Cruiser FJ 40-50s, the business series began to be improved. Production culture, Toyota technology and technology reached a competitive level, and since 1960, funny, but the endless boxes began to drive around through the states and occupy the tops in the car chait-parades. However, I will not go into history, she is all in the arts of Evgenia's favorite, which is published in the previous and current numbers of our magazine. More importantly. At one time, the FJ opened Toyota, and indeed the entire Japanese car industry, if not the entire Japanese industry, the markets of North America. Opened and kept, coming out for a number of parameters in leaders. And now, it is likely that in order to commemorate the half-century anniversary of the Toyota SUVs in the overseas market appears embodied in the metal quotation. A loud and brilliant quote from the column of the winged expressions of Mr. Toyoda Sakichi, who dreamed of one thing: about the real Japanese car for everyone. Here are just our contemporaries with you the words of the company's founder somewhat rethought and the car did though real, albeit Japanese, but not for everyone, but for those who understand ...
 
Before the official show from Toyota, it was impossible to achieve information on the technical features of the novelties. The concept was shown a year and a half ago. Yes, he was beautiful, original, but no more. Doesn't you really build prototypes based on former models? And now, having finally obtained not only comprehensive information, but also the car itself, I am ready to report to the respected public the whole truth.
 
Exactly in time
 
For the test, we were driving the only FJ Cruiser available at that time with a manual gearbox. This is a little puzzled, because, in my opinion, in the XXI century, such an anachronism can excite only truckers, and even then only because long distillations do, except for the movement of the poker, sometimes nothing. Well, okay, the more interesting it promises to be acquainted! Especially since the FJ Cruiser put excellent, powerful and 4.0-liter V6 engine, the same as 4runner or Prado. The mixture of it with the manual transmission and the drop of excitement should be a rattles, but first the theory.
 
In the North American car dealerships, Toyota FJ Cruiser appeared in the spring of this year at a price of $ 22,000 or something near that. It is five-, no, three-door ... no, probably, still a five-door frame all-wheel drive universal with an independent spring front and dependent spring rear suspension. Two devices will allow me to myself: the confusion with the doors is explained by the fact that the side doors are swinging. There are no central rack from the body, the driver's and navigator doors open as usual, and the rear is against the transport of the car. I mentioned about the suspension, because FJ was built using the 4Runner platform elements, from which since 2001 springs, and not torsions, as I mistakenly pointed out in one of the previous articles. In my opinion, it is fundamentally ... So, in front of us, a frame SUV with a futuristic-space-space appearance, a Cyberpank style salon, a V6 engine and a number of useful options and important features.
 
According to American realities, Toyota produces FJ Cruiser in both all-wheel drive and in the rear-wheel drive version. For modification of 4x4, two versions of transmission are intended - 6-speed MCPP and 5-speed automatic transmission. The mechanics are equipped with an exceptionally constant full-wheel drive with the asymmetric Torsen differential and automatic lock when choosing a reduced transmission in a dispensing box, and the automatic is only a classic connected drive. Why? The only possible logical response is to save fuel ... After all, the transmission with the part-time drive allows you to go in 2WD mode, which compensates for the wastefulness of the machine. The inter-axis differential mechanics divides the torque between the front and rear axles in the proportion of 40:60, smoothly by changing the ratio when the wheels are slipped by one of the axis. Perhaps the winnings in a liter of gasoline on a hundred at the current prices has already been important in America ...
 
The drive is equipped with an active anti-test system with hermetically closed sensors, part-time ABS controllers. It turns off the button on the panel, but turns on automatically if you select downward transmission. This reduces the load on differentials and semi-axes. The blocking of the rear axle differential is activated forcibly and installed on cars with both types of drive.
 
Externally, the suspension and chassis resemble not only 4runner, but also partially pickup Tacoma, and something maybe and Tundra. Stabilizers in front and rear, powerful protection of the benzobacco and servo blocking of the rear axle differential can be attributed to the pluses of Fj, but an open radiator and an unprotected dispensing box - in the cons. Frame - from Prado, shortened, covered with something like plastic that protects it from scratches and subsequent rust. In the spars, you can find pre-drilled holes for the installation of power thoughts.
 
Box without surprise
 
The wide door opens access to a futuristic salon with an unexpectedly high front panel and relatively low floors. The first impression behind the wheel is surprisingly bad visibility. A narrow windshield and sidelines of windows are forced to remember the Hummer H2 and H3, and almost the vertical panel suggests about Jeep Commander. Over time, the cabins are addicted to the stands, but when maneuvering over rough terrain, the fantasy of designers has repeatedly wanted to remember the Nevaponian word. In the city and on the track, there are almost no problems with visibility, except that it is not easy for the vacation place for parking, but then it helps the parking sensor. Riding on asphalt did not bring absolutely no surprises. As expected, FJ Cruiser is a compromise between comfortable and sports settings. The suspension easily smoothes the holes and potholes, but clearly transfers the junctions of the roadway and other little things. Rear stabilizer works reluctantly - the car in the turns noticeably rolls. At the same time, he has a somewhat late reaction to the gas pedal and the sluggish steering wheel, which in critical modes leads to a noticeable demolition with which, however, it is easy to cope. Driva for FJ, at least for a version with a constant full-wheel drive, is uncharacter.
 
Conquering Fuji
 
In the crossed terrain FJ showed us all its provocative talents, quickly proving, as far as we are fascinated and stupid. The combination of a tract motor, a decent gear ratio of lower transmission and a set of locks made it possible to do almost anything within the coupling properties of tires and slightly outside the geometric pathility. Without activated blocking of the rear differential Cruiser, the cruiser actively creaked and shredded the anti-test system, but he tried far off, allowing the wheels to scroll, removing peak loads. It happened, as a rule, at the moment, when, before overcoming the obstacle, versatile vessels remained. Fully blocked FJ is easily separated with the proposed test. And we planted it on the bridge in an attempt to choose all the total articulation of the suspension. The car is plenty to go so confident that I was mistaken the moment of dumping and together with the dust, I had to ask for evacuation. By the way: the tows are engaged in FJ are large, the correct and arranged in quite accessible places, and when landing on the ground, there is a danger of tricking the transverse pipe of the exhaust system to the cardan shaft.
 
As I mentioned, the price of FJ Criuser in the USA begins with $ 21,710 for a rear-wheel drive version with mechanics up to $ 23,300 for a four-wheel drive with a machine gun, plus tax, it's another interest ten ... What can I say? If you lower the emotions and leave censorship words, then one thing: sell FJ Cruiser in our prices, I would probably have decided for myself the problem of choosing an SUV right now. In the meantime, gray dealers are asked for an exclusive from $ 61,000, and there is no plans for official supply to Russia ...
 
Text: Igor Gubar
 

A source: 4x4 magazine [October / 2006]