2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser: Road Test
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2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser ▼
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- MSRP: $23,045 -$24,635
- Invoice: $20,969 -$22,416
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Our road test for the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser includes a full evaluation of the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and handling performance for the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser, but also interior cabin and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser help you decide if a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser is right for you.
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ACCELERATION
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.5 |
Only 4WD FJs have been made available for us to test so far. They have adequate pep with either transmission, though with the automatic, the V6 can feel overmatched by vehicle weight in passing maneuvers and on long upgrades. An automatic version did 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds in our test. The manual has long throws but light clutch action.
FUEL ECONOMY
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 3.6 |
In Consumer Guide testing, a 4WD manual-transmission FJ averaged 17.2 mpg. Test 4WD automatics averaged 17.3-18.3 mpg. FJ requires premium-grade gas.
RIDE QUALITY
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.4 |
Firm but compliant suspension combines with tall-sidewall mud and snow tires to flatten most road bumps with little jolt or body quiver. However, FJ's relatively short wheelbase results in bouncy body motions on uneven surfaces.
STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 4.4 |
Tall tire sidewalls, compact wheelbase, and a crosswind-vulnerable body shape contribute to sub par straightline tracking. Slow, vague steering doesn't help, and it also thwarts any sense of agility in changes of direction. FJ's tall build and poor cornering grip from mud and snow tires dictate slowing down for most turns. Good close-quarters maneuverability, and stopping control feels more than adequate. An off-road exercise showed how available A-TRAC off-road traction control system keeps FJ going through very deep ruts and over extra-tall humps.
QUIETNESS
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 5.5 |
The V6 growls at high rpm, and is acceptably muted at moderate cruising pace. FJ's angular shape promotes highway wind rush. Tire roar varies with road surface, but isn't irksome even on coarse pavement.
CONTROLS
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 6.3 |
Most controls simple, handy, and large, despite a dashboard that's a bold show of box-shaped modules. Pushbuttons for various secondary functions are buried low and ahead of the shift lever, however. The main gauges are fine, but legibility of the extra-cost compass, thermometer, and inclinometer are compromised by their small size and dashtop placement.
DETAILS
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.4 |
Interior decor is more functional than rich. It includes washable rubberlike flooring, water-resistant fabric trim, faux metal, body-color painted accents, and some low-budget plastic panels.
ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 7.1 |
The seats are all-day comfortable. Good headroom and legroom for six-footers. FJ's styling makes visibility poor to the right-rear and dead astern--hence optional rear obstacle detection. Entry and exit are fairly easy given this SUV's off-road credentials.
ROOM/COMFORT (REAR)
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 6.1 |
More good six-footer headroom, but three adults are squeezed for shoulder space and feel closed-in by thick roof pillars and small side windows. Legroom is tight with the front seats set far back. Ditto entry and exit passages, even though access doors swing out 90 degrees; slide-ahead front seats, as on many coupes, would help. Bench seat suffers from a short cushion, upright backrest, and thin padding.
CARGO ROOM
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 8 | 8.6 |
Useful cargo bay, but volume is subpar for the midsize-SUV class. Rear seatbacks won't fold flat without the seat cushions removed. Rear cargo door opens from the curbside, but feels heavy and clumsy with the weighty bolt-on spare tire. The tire greatly hampers loading through the opening window. Ample in-cabin storage.
VALUE WITHIN CLASS
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 5.7 |
The FJ pays a price for its exaggerated styling and off-road-biased engineering: On-road performance and daily practicality don't match those of less-radical rivals. However, it is solidly built and looks like no other SUV.
Total Score
| 4WD, manual | 4WD, automatic | Class Average |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 55 | 63.6 |
Total Score: 55
Scores for all Midsize Sport-utility Vehicles
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