The FJ Cruiser comes in three very similar trim levels: a rear-wheel drive, 5-speed auto; a 4-wheel drive 6-speed manual; and a 4-wheel drive, 5-speed auto. There's also a Trail Teams Special Edition that goes above and beyond these three basic models, which are already plenty capable on the trail. All FJ Cruisers have a 4.0L V6 with 239 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque that can tow 5,000 pounds.
The regular-issue FJ Cruiser comes standard with the 2-tone paint scheme (color-keyed body and white top), rear-hinged half-doors doors for rear seat access, and 17" black steel wheels. Toyota's Star Safety System is also standard. It includes stability control, traction control, four-wheel ABS, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution. It also comes with dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted airbags and side-curtain airbags. Rear parking assist is available as part of the Convenience package.
The interior is tailored for people who don't mind getting muddy for fun. Seats are water resistant and the floor and deck mat are made of rubber. The rear seat folds flat for extra cargo space, and air conditioning is standard for post-trail run comfort. There are four map pockets and backlit analog instruments in the dash. A 6-speaker CD/MP3 stereo is standard, but 8- or 9-speaker systems are available as part of the two upgrade packages.
The Convenience package adds remote keyless entry, cruise control, rear wiper, parking assist, daytime running lights and more. The Upgrade package has alloy wheels, active traction control for 4-wheel drive models, locking rear differential, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls, brushed aluminum interior trim, and either the 8-speaker (Upgrade 1) or 9-speaker with subwoofer (Upgrade 2) sound system. The All-Terrain package swaps in BF Goodrich Rugged Trail tires, off-road 16" alloy wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers, air pre-cleaner and locking rear differential.
The Trail Team Special Edition starts out as a trail-ready FJ Cruiser, but then it gets tweaked by the FJ Trail Teams for better off-road and environmental performance. It's got the same 4.0L V6 as the other trim levels, but it comes in an exclusive Iceberg shade of white. It has everything in the Convenience and All-Terrain packages, plus bumper-mounted auxiliary lights, front and rear skid plates, rock rails, a 115-volt, 400-watt power outlet, all-weather mats and cargo mats, TRD performance exhaust system, matte black 16" TRD powder-coated wheels and Trail Teams badges and shift knob.
The FJ Cruiser was only introduced in 2007, but there are several upgrades for 2009. Standard safety features improve with the inclusion of active headrests and rollover airbag sensors, and the options list grows with the addition of a back-up camera and auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The FJ Cruiser's quirky design is based on Toyota's longtime off-road leader, the Land Cruiser, and its performance on unpaved terrain does the brand proud. The 4.0L V6 can tow up to 5,000 pounds, and the utilitarian interior can accommodate five passengers plus gear.