Toyota LandCruiser FJ not for Australia

The announcement of the release of the Toyota LandCruiser FJ (FJ) and that it will not be sold in Australia is disappointing. It appears to be a true rugged smaller four wheel drive (4WD) and based on a utility already sold in Asia. Indications are it will have the same petrol engine as the utility which does not meet Australian requirements. I understand the FJ will be about 4,500 mm in length and is built on a ladder frame. A true 4WD. A vehicle worth considering. I have no interest in the larger Toyota Fortuner or Toyota LandCruiser Prado and certainly would never consider the even ;larger LandCruiser 300. They are all far too large for my purposes.

The reason the FJ is not being brought to Australia appears to be the old engine as it doesn't comply with Australian requirements. The reasons I would have considered the FJ are its compact size, true 4WD ability and that it comes with a full size spare wheel. I'm retired, live in a suburb of Sydney, and would love to see a bit more of Australia, but I don't need to tow a caravan and have no reason to transport more than four people. A vehicle of the size and robust nature of the FJ would suit me perfectly. It would also fit in my garage. I seem to be one of the decreasing number of people who actually put their vehicles in their garage these days. The only option I have in the Toyota range in this size is the RAV4 (about 4,600 mm). It has a more 'modern' hybrid engine, but lacks the true rugged 4WD capability. It doesn't have a spare wheel of any kind, and the current model doesn't even come with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). I will certainly consider the new RAV4 when it comes out in 2026 (I really hope it has TPMS). I have already placed a pre-order for one, but can get my deposit back at any time. I will certainly consider other vehicles around the same size provided by other manufacturers, including the relatively new hybrid Subaru Forester.

I owned a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee which was terrific on rough dirt roads, but was too large for urban driving, particularly considering it didn't even have a camera to assist when reversing. I use to get to some spectacular spots after driving along rough dirt roads and then park beside a Toyota Corolla. The Corolla was able to get there by taking it carefully in the dry conditions, but it was certainly comforting to know I would still be able to get out safely after an afternoon storm.

The reason provided by Toyota for the FJ not being sold in Australia is no doubt valid, but they could also be protecting sales of the larger Prado, or the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) could even be a factor. If they sell a RAV4 rather than an FJ, they can offset the credits against their large 4WDs. Toyota offers niche vehicles when it suits. The Toyota C-HR which is now quite expensive, provides Toyota with credits they can offset against their 4WDs. The 4WDs sell in more competitive markets and Toyota is less able to charge more to recover any potential NVES penalties.

I'm reasonably sure not all potential 4WD buyers in Australia are looking for huge vehicles. I know Australia isn't a huge market and engineering the older underpinnings to accommodate a viable engine to meet Australian rules may not have been viable. However, there would have been significant engineering required to fit the new body to these underpinnings. To consider the incremental costs of accommodating a more modern engine which would have provided the vehicle with a longer life might have been worthwhile. There are more intelligent people than me making these decisions, but I sometimes wonder whether they really think things through or simply take the easy option.

Would I pay somewhere near the cost of a base specification Toyota LandCruiser Prado (currently about $79,000 on the road in NSW) for a mid specification automatic FJ sized 4WD with petrol engine, 360° camera, electrically adjustable memory seats, a head up display and a full set of safety features? Yes, I probably would, but I might be on my own here. There really isn't anything else available in Australia, except for the smaller Suzuki Jimny, and I don't believe it is in the same market segment. The RAV4 might just have to do, even with its limitations. There are always compromises these days.