Toyota FJ Cruiser - Must Watch before you buy 

My biggest complaint would be when it snows people are in my way

The FJ is destined to be a collector.

I had a 2007 FJ that I modified for overlanding. We traveled the lower 48 and put over 235,000 trouble free miles on it. I sold it recently after purchasing a 2008 FJ with only 45,000 miles on it. Assess your personal needs in a 4x4 vehicle, if the FJ matches, then don't hesitate to buy one. I highly recommend them, as a safe and reliable 4x4. They are perfect for a couple or an individual but not for a family. The backseat is best used folded down for more interior storage space, not for riding in. The FJ is a very dependable vehicle in all weather conditions both on road and off road. It will take you to where the pavement ends and the real adventure begins. Most importantly, it will bring you back home with great stories and photos to share. It also makes a great daily driver, as you fantasize about your future weekend and retirement adventures in your FJ.

Yes! I’ve owned two. My current on has 200900 miles and runs like new!

Strong engine and unique design I love my FJ Cruiser I have owned 14 years no issues at all

Original owner of 2008. Fuel mileage(automatic) is consistent 20mpg on the highway. All the little faults you adapt to. I added a good quality backup camera for my wife. No service issues in 12 years and 98k miles. Since the FJ is primarily my wife’s beach toy I am diligent about keeping the undercarriage clean and removing/treating any rust. For serious off road you have to disconnect the anti sway bar to get good traction on difficult terrain.

I bought my 09 back in 2012 and love it. The doors I dont gave issue with, blind spots are a major factor and you simply need to be more aware of the cars around you. Check mirrors often and take note of the cars, itll save you. Yes, it takes mental work, but it'll become habit. Gas mileage, im still getting around 20mpg highway. 135k miles on it currently. Keep it tuned and change the oil, etc, youll be fine. Ill drive this into the ground before I get rid of it.

I have owned my FJ, 3 years, and with stock wheels and tires, I get about 18mpg.

The mileage thing is always overblown. I’ve owned my 2010 for 8 years and averaged 18-20 on the highway. Even after putting on an OME lift and 33.3 inch Yokohama m300 mt tires I still get 17 at 65mph. I travel 72 miles round trip to work every day so I get a pretty good idea of what it really is.

I did buy one. 2014 model, and in immaculate condition. Retro blue, although in US you call it cavalry blue. Truly awesome vehicle! Cheers from Australia :)

Just bought a 2013 Cement TT and I love it! It’s literally been my dream suv since I graduated hs in 13’. I will say that ppl should get FJ’s only if they have another car as an everyday driver. I have a payed off Honda Accord for everyday usage and drive my FJ as a leisure, it really helps you enjoy your investment more w/o thinking about all those things listed. Definitely one of the most unique trucks on the street, I get stares all time especially from jeep drivers 😂 some ppl have even asked if I want to sell! Now why would I do a crazy thing like that??

Bro that army green toyota FJ barely had 26k! Thats a gem 💎 imo!

I had mine for 11 years now and still love it!

I have a 2013, bought it new. Now it has 140000 miles with ZERO problems....I will never sell it, and im looking to fins an FJ with 6 speed manual.

For the blind spots, I recommend getting either extended side mirrors, bubble mirrors, or there’s even custom mirrors you can buy that go on the front of your hood(similar to semi’s)

Just bought my first FJ....IM IN LOVE!!! I LIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE ....WE GET SNOW!!! PLOWED RIGHT THREW IT

Just got mine today. 2014. 55,000mileage. Love it

I have an 07. I have an aftermarket ARB bumper on it for protection from deer. I put a three inch lift and 33 inch tires on it. It's a model with a stick so it is always in four wheel drive. Even with that I still get about 17 mpg with it normally and around 19 on longer trips. I don't do drag strip starts with it and I keep it at about 65. I have never had trouble seeing out of it. It is far and away the best vehicle I have ever had and have no intention of getting rid of it.

i bought one and thinking of buying a second one, my son got a jeep wrangler and he prefer to drive my fj, better on gas and has more power

I've had my FJ for about 10 years. I only have 86k miles on it. I have another car for a daily driver. Only use the FJ when I need the space, or for bad weather. Haven't had a single issue with it.

Don't have kids. Don't live in urban areas where there are traffic lights. "A" pillar visibility is worse on out Jeep GC than the FJ. If you are buying fuel, your re having fun in your FJ. Live in Australia, no salted roads. The rear view camera is awesome. Steez trumps boring practicality. If you can handle having a motorbike as a daily driver, the FJ is pure bloody luxury.

I have a 2007 FJ Cruiser; I’ve put over 280 loving miles on it since I purchased it in 2008. I have no problem with nothing. Since you made this videos FJ with extremely low miles sold for $81K.

AS a 2 time owner (2007 and 2014) there are WAY more positives than negatives. plus my 2007 appreciated $10K when i traded it in with 38K miles on it. Amazing vehicle and IF i want a new one they make them in the middle east every year and it is the #1 selling vehicle there. Screams volumes. Toyota USA picked the wrong car in their fleet to dump. The RAV4 and Highlander suck

I bought an '11 a year ago and it has all the drawbacks that you mention and I LOVE it. Worst fuel mileage has been 18 and I have seen 23. I found that premium fuel improves the mileage but probably not enough to offset the cost.

I have to disagree about has mileage and back up camera. I owned a 2010 TH just like this one here for 10 years. My bad mileage ran around 20 mpg ior more in country type driving. In city stop and go traffic it dropped to 16 mpg. I found the backup camera more usable as it located in the mirror where you naturally look and should look. It works .much better then my much larger camera located down on the dashboard of my current vehicle. These are wonderful vehicles, but may not be the best everyday driver for many. They are rugged, reliable and very comfotable.

I have a 2010 Toyota Trd White with 217k on it and was supposed to sell it today....and I cant bear to part with it, after I drove it today after a month off, it's s mini military tank for the common man, and it gives me a rush that no other SUV or pick up can.

07 beta model almost 300k same engine same tranny...only thing I've done is plugs at 100k iridium and my no4 coil pack went out but the FJ still drove 300 miles to my property to fix only lost a little power... Incredible vehicles!

The rear doors are the same as on my 2001 Tundra. A little confining when trying to load or unload in tight parking area but otherwise no problem. The fuel milage on my 2013 is about 18.5- 19 on the highway. Again about the same as my Tundra. Setting the mirrors for the blind spots is paramount and no slicing and dicing in heavy traffic. I don't know that I'll ever sell mine.

Bought mine last year 2007 best csr ive ever owned❤ never selling got an android stereo snd back up camera no regrets. I hsve small mirrors on my side mirrors that are great for blind spots.

I apologize to all of the people who’s yards I drove thru because everybody in the street was stuck. 😢

The only issues with the FJ is the fuel economy and I went in eyes open so no big there. The visibility is not ideal out the back and passenger side, but get those little convex mirrors to attach to the side mirrors and you can see what’s in the blind spot. Just use the mirrors. This is my first SUV, coming from an Audi A4 and a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse GTS… not big cars… and it only took me a month to be able to learn the corners and parallel park with confidence in my FJ. Also the suicide doors are not a problem at all. I have a 10 year old son and he loves the back seats. Has no problem with it being claustrophobic and I’ve had adults get in and out riding in the back with no one minding the space at all. Also the window situation is good for privacy when I sleep back there, which during drive in season is pretty regularly. It’s comfortable, drives like a car, can crawl over any trail with the very best out there and is just a ton of fun to drive. Mine has almost 200k miles and I’m thinking it’s only half way through its life. And if something big goes wrong I’ll still sink money to keep her going because I just don’t want to drive anything else. I absolutely love my FJ!

I drive my 2011 4x4 w 33' tires back and forth between Yuma AZ and San Diego CA every week, I get from 18 mpg to just over 20 mpg on the I-8 freeway. This Behemoth can go 190 miles on 9 gallons, elevation from sea level to 4140' and back down to sea level at 65 to 70 mph. The mileage is comparable to my 1978 CJ-7 equipped 4 speed manual with stock tires, stock carbureted 258 6 cyl. engine. Thanks for the great video.

It’s a quality vehicle but definitely a niche product for a verrrry specific buyer. It’s the truck people should have bought instead of the overpriced unrefined but American legend vehicle that rhymes with heap.

The FJ is about smilies per mile. The country I live in, it is illegal to sell under 93 octane gas and 95 and 98 are available; so I tend to get way more than that in my 2010 FJ. In the first gen, Toyota recommended high octane gas. If you are getting really crappy mileage in the states, thank the corn syrup lobby. That said, high on my mod wish list is a much larger gas tank, simply where I go there might not be a has station for a very long time.

I love my FJ cruiser I have to admit he’s giving the correct information.

I've owned two. A 2007 that I traded for a 2013. The '07 had over 100k with no problems at all. I still own the '13 and it only has 26k on it. I'll keep it. It's built for off-road and even with full body steel skids and all the weight of an ARB front bumper and an All-pro rear bumper I get 17 mpg at highway speeds. In town I get 15 mpg.

Own a 2013 TT and i love everything about it, even the gas mileage!!!

Most fun yet competent and super reliable SUV to own.

2020 models still available in South Africa

I just p.u. a 2014 115k miles, no mods. original elderly (72) owner has service records from dealership he purchased from. Arizona FJ all its life. It looks brand new outside, inside, and underneath. I'm semi-retired, love to ski, my commute to work is 6 miles down a 45 mph road from my house 4 days a week. Kids are grown up, so it's just me in my FJ. PS: Arizona has 3 ski resorts, everyone thinks it's just a HOT desert.

YO I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE! Thank you for pointing these things out, especially the light issue- I'm a bit over 5'10', and I still have to duck my head. Gas mileage is absolute hogsh*t- I took my FJ for a short 30-45m ride, and watched the gas tank drop by 1/4th of of full. This car is absolutely NOT for everyone. Even though I paid way too much for this car, I'm very grateful I worked hard to be in a better financial situation right now. This was a vehicle me and my girlfriend ended up buying as our first car, and we're really happy with it. Avoided SO many bumps on the road that a smaller car would have to eat. And that toyoter reliability is as true as ever.

I average 18 and change to 20 ish. Depends on the fuel, and how much highway. Visibilty is definitely an issue.

Toyota is still making them and selling them in other countries, just saw a 2022 in the showroom when I was in Saudi Arabia (DOD Contract). This is a good thing for folks like me who will never part with their FJs, the parts will be available for a long long time...

I have a 2007 with 130K miles on it, so just starting to break it in. This vehicle cannot be reviewed like a normal car. If you care about blind spots, backup cameras, mpg, and all that then you probably aren't an FJ person.

I have never regretted owning mine, and I’ve had it for 15 years, and I will never regret buying one. I would get another one if I could. Mine is a 2007 Trd special edition. 212K miles present ly

Absolutely! Toyota is the best car company

Still built and sold in the Middle East and the Philippines. 2020 Philippine FJ price is about 35k USD

We have an ‘08 FJ, the upper control arm, coils and struts where completely done. We bought new 2015 FJ Suspension and it makes a world of difference. If you have issues and want something stock get 2015 or newer FJ suspension parts

I just posted this on another FJ video - NO car will have a blind spot if you adjust your mirrors correctly... The windshield at the light issue is more of a driver height seating position issue as I have the same problem in my Discovery 2 - I'm 6'3". Lean your head over to the center of the car and adjust the right side mirror so that you can barely see the side of your car from this position. Lean your head over to the left so that it is even with the window and adjust the mirror so that you can barely see the sides of your car from this position.

We got our 07 in 2020 for 17k with 30k miles on it🤟 it’s basically brand new and was garaged no rust I love it🤟 great in the snow too

I run 87 octane in mine and get 19/20 mpg consistently combined hwy/city driving. Over 85 on the interstate it's about 14. Pulling a 5000 pound boat = 6.5 mpg.

I've owned my '07 for 15 years now. The first time I saw an FJ, I literally said out loud to myself in my vehicle, "What is it, I want one." I get in the very low 20's on the highway and between 15-18 in the city. I didn't buy her for gas mileage. Like others have pointed out, blind spots can be an issue, but w/bubble mirrors and staying alert to what's around me, I've not had an issue w/it - though definitely need to be aware of these. I have no children, so suicide doors aren't an issue. I've got 126,000 miles on her w/never any issues, though I'm fastidious about maintenance, services and always at the Toyota dealership. As for having to 'peek out' to see the stop lights, I've gotten used to hanging back a bit from the lights. For me, all a small price to pay for such a phenomenal reliable vehicle. Another thing that may be an issue for some, is it sits a bit high. I'm tall, so not an issue for me. There's no amount of money I'd sell her for. Thanks for the great spot on no nonsense videos.

Id still like one, with a manual, in Green. I drove one for a couple of days and didnt mind any of the "issues"

Toyota NEVER STOPPED making them. They’ve been sold in the Middle East all these years since 2014.

I have 140k miles on fly fj and it has aged very well.

Hells yeah! I have a 2008 with 209,000 miles on it. It’s a beast!

I have always these however my 2001 Atomic Yellow Xterra suits my needs better...220000 miles now

The answer is yes definitely I can live with that

I buy more than one if I could

Yeah, I have an early 2007. Had to rebuild trans. I knew that going in. Rebuilding shocks, have brakes rebuilt, new pads. Just an awesome vehicle. 300 K minimum. The Design is iconic.GMs new electric hummer Has FJ Exterior design vibe. With new RX plugs, green air filter. Mileage 21 per gallon in city, more on the highway. My driving is minimal, on highway only. I'm Not into off road. Respect the culture, i just want my FJ to last another 100 K at least. Love this Vehicle. Tell Calty and Toyota to bring new FJ concept back. Get rid of suicide doors, improve rear vision, minimize c pillar and Go electric hybrid. That would be an excellant Design brief, and build it. Too bad they don't allow pictures here or I could share a Photoshop Image. Enjoy your FJ. They Rock

One , I wish mine was green like this one. Two, it will do you ask of it but drive pass a gas station. Just pick the color you really want. Then no regrets...

Small error. Toyota didn't stop making FJs it just stopped bring them to America and other places. Luckily they still bring them here in South Africa.

Still own 2008 with 249 plus KM running excellent and no issue except the TPMS lights is on dealer charges $400+ to fix so I just ignore them.

Visibility, it depends what you are used to. Coming from a pickup with a cab or a panel van, the FJ isn't that bad. Biggest down fall right now is the $. It doesn't make any sens.

Own it and love it since purchasing new in ‘08. Oh what a feeling!

Yup, definitely.

I had a F-150 Lariat....suicide back doors. No biggy. (Thing got 10 MPG from it's 5.4 liter engine....) Blind spots can be fixed with stick-on mirrors, I have one on my Jeep Wrangler. I want an FJ. Your video does not scare me!! LoL

blah blahblah.... i love my fj. should have brought it in green through...

I want FJ Cruiser for real

C pillar is thick but if your trying to look over your shoulder for a vehicle that might be there then you’ve taken your eyes completely off the road.adjust side mirrors properly as recommended elsewhere in YT AND YOU ELIMINATE The blind spot.

I absolutely love the FJ and would buy one except for the need of a pickup truck. For now, I'll keep my 2011 Tacoma with low mileage (200K) that I love also!

My Ford F-150 had rear suicide doors...I didn’t realize there w@s a problem....talk about losing sight of traffic lights, my wife’s 328i BMW takes the cake......unless we have the top down.

I get the best mpg when I run shell premium. I also have army green, posting a video soon! Nice one.

Love it!! a real 4x4

Thx for the vid. Was useful.

Had the same annoying thing with my Honda Element was rear side door..

Definitely will buy one!

You can hide a toyota corolla..lol

Gas milage is so bad; I just applied for a job 4 blocks from my house lol.

Outside US we have the Diesel FJ Cruisers.. better mileage I say

Friend.. what about the conditioned air.. is it enough for the people sitting back?. Thanks for sharing the video.

Im about to go look at 2014 magma trail teams from my original salesman today. They want my 2019 trd pro tacoma. I offroad frequently. IE; camping/overlanding. Trying to make a decision. My tacoma tows more. That might be deal breaker

They still build them. Just not available in north America.

Cool for an xtra ride but not a daily imho

I am never selling my 08 FJ❤

My '07 FJ with stock everything gets 22mpg on the highway, a little bit more than that after an oil change. I cruise as much as I can at 72mph, I've found is the goldilocks zone for fuel economy.

Very interesting...

I drive a 2010 fj and mileageit's not great but I drive my jetta to work.

Yes I would buy one but don’t want to spend 30 fucking thousand dollars on a 10 year old vehicle

I need this car so badly

The mileage thing is shocking to me. I'm looking at these because an uninsured stoner blew a red light and destroyed my car. The reason I'm shocked is that my car was a Dodge Magnum SRT8. Close to the same weight, aerodynamics of a barn, and a 425 hp SRT Hemi. With, intake, exhaust, a hotter cam and a performance tune in it, that car *still* got as high as 23 mpg on the freeway. Wtff, Toyota...?!

Toyota still make the FJ in 2022 and sell them new in places like UAE.

Great video

Loving my FJ.....only issue is gearbox hunts around for right gear at town speeds...is this normal ?

these are made by Hino a subsiduary of Toyota and corrosion is the major issue.

Trust me: Don’t watch just buy

I'm disappointed when I only get 19 miles to the gallon or don't reach over 300 miles on a full tank. Otherwise I'm averaging 20mpg pretty consistently. I'm a mile from a highway and apparently I do mostly highway driving because I don't know anyone else who is getting 20mpg on a regular basis. When this video claims only 12 - 13 miles/gallon I'm suspecting driving habit. I've dropped down to 13mpg when I go into town with my trailer and pickup topsoil or gravel but other than that I treat my FJ like a princess. 2014 - 47k miles looks just like the one in the video.

I have one already 👍

AMAZING

I get 18mi to gallon on the hiway