|
Acceleration
"Adequate pep with either transmission, though V6 seems overmatched by vehicle weight in passing maneuvers and on long upgrades. Automatic transmission has a ""sawtooth"" shift
gate to facilitate manual changes, but responds to throttle inputs nicely when
left in Drive. Manual has long throws but light shift/clutch action."
Value
"The FJ pays a price for its exaggerated styling and off-road-biased engineering:
On-road performance and daily practicality don't match those of less-radical
rivals. But it is solidly built and looks like no other SUV. That, plus Toyota's
reputation for reliability and high resale value, should satisfy its relatively
narrow target audience. "
Ride
"Pleasant for a truck-type SUV. Firm-but-compliant suspension combines with tall-sidewall
mud and snow tires to flatten most road bumps with little pitch, jolt, or body
quiver."
Economy
No opportunity to measure yet. Toyota recommends premium-grade fuel.
Noise
"V6 growls at high rpm, acceptably muted at moderate cruising pace. Angular shape
promotes highway wind rush. Tire roar varies with road surface, but isn't irksome
even on coarse pavement."
Comfort - Front
"Seats feel all-day comfortable. Good head and leg room for 6-footers. Drivers
enjoy tilt steering wheel, easy pump-handle seat-height adjuster, but styling
makes visibility poor to right-rear and dead astern--hence optional rear obstacle
detection. Wide doors, moderate step-in height, so entry/exit fairly easy for
a truck-type SUV."
Comfort - Rear
"More good 6-footer head room, but three adults are squeezed for shoulder space
and feel closed-in by thick roof pillars, small side windows. Leg room tight
with front seats halfway back. Ditto entry/exit passages, even though access
doors swing out 90 degrees; slide-ahead front seats, as on many coupes, would
help. Bench seat suffers short cushion, upright backrest, merely OK padding."
Controls
"Dashboard a bold show of box-shaped modules, but most controls simple, handy
and large, though pushbuttons for various secondary functions are buried low
and ahead of shift lever. Main gauges fine. But small size, dashtop placement
compromises legibility of extra-cost compass, thermometer, inclinometer. Optional
portable navigation system plugs in on dashtop ahead of driver, but is too small
for easy use. Functional decor includes washable rubberlike flooring, water-resistant
fabric trim, faux metal, body-color painted accents, and some low-budget plastic
panels."
Cargo Room
"Useful cargo bay, but volume subpar for midsize SUV class. Rear seatbacks won't
fold flat without seat cushions removed. Rear cargo door opens from curbside,
but seems clumsy with heavy bolt-on spare tire, which greatly hampers loading
through separate-opening window. Ample cabin storage."
|
