Toyota FJ Cruiser is back in the UAE… almost!

Is the FJ Cruiser actually back?

Not technically!

The new SUV is officially called the Land Cruiser FJ, not FJ Cruiser, but its compact size, boxy styling, rear-mounted spare wheel and simple off-road hardware make the comparison inevitable.

Developed under Toyota’s “Freedom & Joy” concept, it joins the Land Cruiser 300, 70 and Prado as a smaller member of the family, while retaining the reliability, durability and off-road capability associated with the Land Cruiser name.

Compact Land Cruiser dimensions

The Land Cruiser FJ measures 4,575 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,960 mm high, with a 2,580 mm wheelbase and seating for five, matching Toyota’s Japanese production model.

Its wheelbase is 270 mm shorter than the Land Cruiser 250/Prado, helping deliver a 5.5-metre turning radius. Toyota says ground clearance and approach-angle capability are comparable with the 250 Series, while the departure angle is 15 degrees greater and wheel articulation matches the Land Cruiser 70 Series.

It uses a ladder-frame chassis derived from Toyota’s IMV architecture, with extra bracing, high-tensile steel and additional underfloor spot welds to improve rigidity, stability and vibration control.

2.7-litre petrol engine and part-time 4WD

Sources point to the same setup offered in Japan: a naturally aspirated 2.7-litre 2TR-FE four-cylinder petrol engine producing 120 kW/163 PS and 246 Nm, paired with a six-speed Super ECT automatic transmission and part-time four-wheel drive.

Toyota Japan quotes 8.7 km/l on the WLTC cycle, although a UAE figure has yet to be announced. Suspension uses a high-mount double-wishbone setup at the front and a four-link rigid rear axle with a lateral rod, while off-road aids include Downhill Assist Control, Hill Start Assist Control and an electric rear differential lock.

The likely Middle East specifications align with the official Japanese specifications, but final UAE details remain subject to confirmation.

Properly boxy styling

The Land Cruiser FJ gets classic off-roader proportions with an upright cabin, pronounced wheelarches, U-shaped lighting signatures and a rear-mounted spare tyre. Its front and rear bumper corners are individually replaceable, while roof rails, side steps and a front skid plate reinforce its rugged focus.

Sources suggest that, in the UAE, we could get two variants: Mid and High, with 17-inch wheels on the Mid and 18-inch alloys on the High, along with five monotone colours: White Pearl, Ash, Black, Bronze and Smoky Blue.

Five seats and 1,607 litres of cargo space

The new FJ will have a two-row, five-seat cabin with a 60:40 split rear bench that can slide, recline and fold, while seat backboards help create a flatter cargo floor.

According to Middle East information, luggage capacity is 795 litres with the rear seats in use, expanding to 1,607 litres when folded. Cargo length ranges from 735 mm to 1,480 mm, with a cargo height of 1,030 mm. These figures exactly match Toyota’s official Japan-market specifications, so they are well supported.

Both Middle East grades are listed with a 12.3-inch infotainment display, while the High grade adds Toyota Safety Sense features including Pre-Collision Safety and Lane Departure Alert, plus a Panoramic View Monitor and Blind Spot Monitor.

The 12.3-inch display and these safety and visibility systems are also confirmed on the Japan-spec Land Cruiser FJ, although the exact UAE grade allocation still needs local confirmation.

Could AED 150,000 be the sweet spot?

If the expected AED 150,000 starting price proves accurate, the Land Cruiser FJ would sit comfortably below the Land Cruiser Prado, which currently starts from AED 199,900 in the UAE.

There may also be two UAE variants, in line with the Mid and High grades announced for the wider Middle East, although local pricing and grade details remain unconfirmed.

For now, the expected AED 150,000 price, possible September 16 launch and September 27 first deliveries remain source-based information rather than official Toyota UAE announcements.

What is official is that the Land Cruiser FJ is coming to the UAE and Toyota UAE is already accepting registrations of interest. What we know from Toyota’s other-market and Middle East information is that it will be a compact, ladder-frame five-seater with a 2.7-litre petrol engine, six-speed automatic and genuine part-time four-wheel drive.

So, is the Toyota FJ Cruiser back? Not by name. But the baby FJ is getting very close.