Toyota FJ Cruiser for sale in Kenya

The FJ Cruiser was made to be one of the affordable off-roaders aimed at a market which had outdoor lifestyles. The engines available for the first generation are a 4.0 liter V6 capable of 182 kW. The engine is linked to a six speed manual and five-speed automatic transmission. The six speed manual transmission is for the all-wheel drive while the five speed was for the rear wheel drive and all-wheel drive alternatives. In 2010 though, the engine got a dual VVT-I addition whose purpose was to adjust the timing on both the intake as well as the exhaust camshafts, which resulted in 193 kW at 5600 rpm.

The four-wheel-drive system has three modes, which include a low gear, and a low range setting for rock climbing. There is a clutch start cancel switch as well, which would allow the vehicle to be started without having to depress the clutch. It is a feature that off-roaders may love because it means the car can be started on a hill without having to roll backward.

The FJ Cruiser had a unique but functional form though it got a number of styling prompts from the FJ 40. These include the wide grille, round headlights, and lamp combinations, as well as the Toyota badge on the grille. There is also the matter of the steep windshield and roof. These are attributes which can be noticed in the rear considering the cornering windows.
The FJ Cruiser is set on a 4Runner platform, and it has 17-inch wheels. The first generation FJ Cruiser also has a Star Safety System that includes vehicle stability control and traction control, however, that is as far as the safety package goes excluding airbags. There were no driver assistance packages. There is an anti-lock brake system that has electronic brake force distribution and brake assist and it comes as standard. All models also have a standard automatic limited-slip differential. There are some flexible utility and functionality in the manner the controls are arranged. The instrumentation also shows some exterior color trims, which adds to the handcrafted appearance. The faceplate with the inset instrumentation has a mechanical look to it. The center-mounted shifter and the steering, as well as the door panels, exhibit a fair amount of simplicity.

The FJ Cruiser is a purpose-built off-roading machine, but it is not easily known when cruising it on the highway. A lot of the dedicated off-road vehicles have some highway manners that feel like one is not in the right place. However, it is not the case with the first generation FJ Cruiser. It is not very quiet and smooth. The penchant for the vehicle to quench road noise is not apparent, especially in the FJ Cruiser.

The second generation maintained the retro body styling and two-tone body finish with a body on frame type of construction. It still had the perplexing headlight setup considering the entire body of the FJ Cruiser appears to be too big compared to the small looking front fascia. Some of the customer base liked it because of the nostalgia, while others could have done well without it. The same engine specifications were adopted, which was a 4.0 liter V6 power unit. However, the second generation had two versions of a five-speed automatic transmission. One of them was for all-wheel drive, and the other was for all-wheel drive. The third was a six-speed manual transmission mated to the same engine. The engines were rated at 194 kW at 5600 RPM. The new FJ Cruiser is still utilitarian with a dashboard that focuses on function more than anything else. The overall simplicity of the interior is also beneficial because one does not have to worry about where the controls are of how to operate it.

The eight-way adjustable driver seat is neatly done as well, which means the driver has the comfort and the convenience needed when they are driving around whatever trail they find themselves on. Toyota also claimed the seating materials on the FJ Cruiser happen to be water repellent, which is something useful, especially for those who come in from the rain and are wet.
Other than giving the most rudimentary needs to the driver, there is not much concerning the interior of the new FJ Cruiser, which would stand out. That is not necessarily a bad thing considering the targeted market of the FJ Cruiser is probably one would not fuss over material accents of an elaborate dashboard.

TRD took the normal FJ Cruiser in this version and tuned it to higher off-roading quality. The most significant upgrade is the underbody exoskeleton, which increased the body rigidity to allow for intense off-road excursions. The suspension modifications included Bilstein race shocks for the four corners, and the tires were upgraded to 17-inch TRD bead-lock style wheels sheathed by BF-Goodrich All-Terrain rubber. There were performance gains, despite the use of the same 4.0 liter V6 engine courtesy of a TRD matched supercharger, air to water intercooler and rotor pack. It allowed for an output of 257 kW, which is almost 30 percent gains over the stock packages. It was linked to a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

The ride quality of the new FJ Cruiser is not its strong suit considering the compromises made to be an off-road specialist. It gained the ability to crawl over any terrain mechanically rather than electronically, like many of its competitors. It is also quite noisy inside the vehicle, which is one of the retro elements that are not very well appreciated. The vibrations and noise from the large engine and tires also seem to be felt in the cabin more in the FJ Cruiser than most other cars within the same class, so it may not be the best option for a road trip unless the excursion is on rough terrain. Depending on tastes, the expansion of plastic on the center console and the dash may look or feel to be inexpensive. The instrumentation is also quite basic as the Cruiser skipped all of the technological facets to make sure functionality and practicality were adequately prioritized in the model.

The front seating in the FJ Cruiser, though, is ample, and space is not very supportive. The rear seating is cramped, however, though the rear-hinged back doors give some decent access. The entry and exit points though, can be a bit hard than for the other SUVs because of the rather tall ride height. When it comes to the storage and cargo, the FJ Cruiser appears to be lacking. Passengers who are expecting a space where they can store enough gear for the weekend are going to encounter a large cargo floor and a narrow space in the side opening for the rear hatch. There are a few other smaller places for stowing electronics and other items. The refinement and ride can be an issue as vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee are as capable as the FJ Cruiser, but they are more comfortable.

The FJ Cruiser earned the rating of good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for the way it handled side and frontal impacts. The roof strength is low, though, and received a rating of acceptable. The visibility to the rear considering the structure of the rear windows leaves a lot to be desired. The thick side pillar also limits views during lane changes, and the rear window design can make parking a hassle. Unfortunately, it does not have the complement of driver assistance packages that would be expected for the second generation, such as lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. It does, however, have front and side curtain airbags, rollover sensors, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.

The price for the Toyota FJ Cruiser in Kenya starts at a little over KES 3.8 million for the 2014/2015 model and it goes all the way up to KES 6.0 million for the 2019 model.