Driving the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ in South Africa!

We managed to wrangle the keys for a brief, exclusive first taste of the highly anticipated baby Land Cruiser on Kyalami’s off-road track.

Design

Walking up to the FJ, the visual drama is immediate. It bridges the gap between the compact off-road agility of a Suzuki Jimny and the presence of its big brother, the Land Cruiser Prado.

Our test unit was the top-spec VX variant, looking sharp with its blocky silhouette, signature chunky wheel arches, and blacked-out alloy wheels wrapped in rugged Bridgestone Dueler rubber. The front fascia pays an undeniable homage to the iconic FJ40 and the previous-generation FJ Cruiser, featuring a prominent, retro-style "TOYOTA" grille flanked by modern C-shaped LED lighting signatures.

Crucially, this isn't a soft-roader pretending to be tough. Built on a shortened, reinforced version of the Hilux and Fortuner’s IMV ladder-frame chassis, it stands tall with an impressive 245 mm of ground clearance and short overhangs designed to dominate the trail.

Cabin

Climbing inside, the Land Cruiser FJ’s interior immediately feels robust yet thoroughly modern, borrowing heavily from the new Prado (J250). The dashboard is laid out horizontally to maximise forward visibility, which is exactly what you want when navigating tricky terrain.

Ahead of the driver sits a leather-wrapped steering wheel sporting proud, old-school "TOYOTA" block lettering rather than the corporate ellipse logo. A digital instrument cluster provides readouts, complemented by a central touchscreen infotainment system. Don't expect segmnet-leading infotainment and camera quality, the system is quite underwhelming within the current market.

What I appreciated most, however, was the tactile layout of the centre console. Toyota has bucked the annoying trend of burying everything inside menus. Instead, you get chunkier, hard-wearing physical switches for the climate control and off-road mechanicals—including a chunky rotary dial for the part-time 4WD system (H2, H4, and L4 low-range) and buttons to lock the rear differential or toggle the traction control.

Brief Impressions

Twist the key, and the tried-and-tested 2.7-litre naturally aspirated (2TR-FE) four-cylinder petrol engine hums to life. Producing 120 kW and 246 Nm of torque, this engine is built for longevity rather than performance. I am confident that another engine option (potentially the 2.8-litre turbodiesel) will be added to the model in the future, but this has not been confirmed.

Paired with Toyota's 6-speed Super ECT automatic transmission, our short stint around Kyalami's 4x4 course highlighted the FJ's clearance and traction, which, in standard guide, appears more than sufficient for overlanding. The steering is light, and power delivery is linear, making the off-road course quite 

When things get a bit sluggish or slippery, engaging the 2nd Start button on the console helps smooth out the torque delivery from a standstill, a feature that will undoubtedly be handy in deep sand or muddy trenches. 

Model range & Pricing

The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ offers a good value proposition for South Africans seeking genuine, tough-as-nails off-road capability without breaching the million-Rand mark. It slides comfortably under the pricing of a top-tier Hilux.

The local line-up consists of two well-specified models:

Note: Prices include Toyota’s standard service plan and warranty.

Verdict

The original FJ Cruiser was a cult classic, and its absence left a massive hole in the market. With the arrival of the new Land Cruiser FJ, Toyota has captured that lightning in a bottle once again. It’s compact, highly customisable (featuring easily removable bumper corners for aftermarket upgrades), and boasts the mechanical backbone to tackle the toughest African trails.

Stay tuned to AutoTrader SA for our full, comprehensive road and off-road test coming soon!