There was a story circulating that Toyota wanted to have a rebadged version of the Maruti Jimny in its portfolio. But Maruti seems to have declined the proposal. Later, Toyota went back to the drawing board and carved out something with serious off-road capability and a rugged stance. As a result, the Land Cruiser FJ was born. The model is now under high consideration for the Indian market. Here’s everything to know about this Toyota SUV.
How will it be Positioned in India?
Indians have a soft corner for the Fortuner. Now for the third-row seats or the features it offers, but for its ruggedness, reliability and its go-anywhere ability. Now, think of the FJ like a cut-out of the Fortuner – same ruggedness, reliability, and off-road capabilities, minus the third-row seats.
Moreover, the Toyota LC (Land Cruiser) badge speaks for itself. LCs have a cult following. So it will eventually be Toyota’s new gun that could fire up the budget 4×4 segment in India. But how will it fare against the Fortuner? Surely Toyota won’t think of disrupting the sales of its star model. So, to make this baby LC a little nerfed, the automaker dropped the diesel powertrain from it.
So, the Land Cruiser carries a 2.7-litre NA petrol engine under the hood. The 164 bhp engine paired with a six-speed AT works well – but it’s a gas guzzler. Moreover, the current market is obsessed with hybrids for their efficiency. So, Toyota could also offer a hybrid powertrain with its new off-roader.
Interior
We have talked about its characteristics – rugged, bold and whatnot. The same aesthetics could be seen inside, too. Globally, the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ offers features such as a 12.5-inch infotainment screen, Level-2 ADAS, a 360-degree camera, wireless charging, a digital driver’s display, and more. Also, unlike other modern cars, you won’t need to navigate to the infotainment unit for basic car controls, as physical controls are present. Overall, the cabin keeps its rugged qualities.
Launch & Price
According to Toyota, the baby LC will enter production by 2028. So, we expect the model to be launched by late 2028 or 2029. This suggests there will be a lot of waiting, but we expect it will be worth it if Toyota prices it competitively. Being the most affordable version of the LC, we expect it to be priced somewhere around Rs. 30 lakh – Rs. 45 lakh (on-road, Mumbai).