In a sea of too-similar SUVs, Toyota's new-school FJ Cruiser cuts a singular silhouette and looks like nothing else on the road. And whether you're a fan of its distinctive exterior styling or not, the updated version of this legendary off-road machine also stands apart due to some of the cool tech found inside.
Creature Comforts
The new FJ is ostensibly built for bushwhacking through the wilds and comes with such off-road accoutrements as skid plates protecting the engine, transfer case and fuel tank, as well as water-repellent seats. But the 4x2 '07 FJ Cruiser that we tested, with a sticker price of $28,148, had enough creature comforts to satisfy city slickers simply on a run to Starbucks. I doubt real outdoorsmen (or women) need an 8-way adjustable driver's seat or power windows, and with an $1,840 Convenience Package option that includes remote keyless entry, cruise control and a rear-parking sonar system, this vehicle isn't necessarily designed to venture too far out of the suburbs.
It also came with Upgrade Package 2 that added another $2,450 to the sticker price so that weekend warriors can at least feel like they're driving the real deal. That sizable chunk of change gets you a rear-differential lock, 17" alloy wheels, a 400-watt power inverter and a dash-mounted gauge cluster at the top of the center stack with an exterior temperature gauge, compass and inclinometer. More importantly, this pricey package includes the FJ's premium nine-speaker audio system that adds an in-dash six-disc CD changer, D-pillar speakers and an 8" subwoofer to the standard six-speaker system. But audio-wise the coolest thing about the FJ is that the standard system includes two flat-panel speakers hidden behind the headliner.
Sub Switch
The six-disc CD changer in the center stack is a double-DIN head unit with a silver faceplate and an orange-colored display. The Upgrade Package 2 also includes controls for volume, track up/down and switching sources on the left side of the steering-wheel, lacking similar buttons on the right making it look asymmetrical. Except for the convenience of the large volume knob, the head unit was not very intuitive to operate. The buttons were too small and not logically laid out and the display was hard to read. The head unit has AM/FM, spins CDs as well as discs with MP3 and WMA files and both XM and Sirius Satellite Radio are available to add-on. An aux input and 12-volt outlet are provided within a row of switches at the bottom of the center stack, which also houses a switch to turn the subwoofer on and off.
The speaker array consists of a pair of 2.6" speakers with 9 watts each on the top of the dash, a 6x9 in each of the four doors that receive 20 watts apiece and two more 2.6" drivers in the D-pillars that also see 9 watts. In a stylized enclosure on the passenger-side wall of the cargo area sits the 60-watt 8" subwoofer.
Ceiling Speakers
Concealed behind the headliner are the final two drivers, the aforementioned 20-watt flat-panel speakers. The speakers use the headliner as a diaphragm, which according to Toyota, "helps create a better soundscape" and "a wide acoustic space like a listening room." While I didn't feel this unique configuration added much to the front seat listening experience, the passengers in the rear enjoy the real benefits. With the flat-panel speakers overhead and slightly forward of the rear seat 6x9s in the rear doors and the speakers in the D-pillars, sitting in the back gets you more of a front stage/rear-fill effect, and the sound was almost as good compared to the front seat.
While the front seat sound wouldn't win any sound-off competitions, the sound was nicely detailed albeit very side-biased. Plus, with the subwoofer way in the back of the vehicle, its output doesn't blend well with the rest of the system. I almost preferred the sound with the subwoofer turned off for certain types of music. While listening to Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, his voice was left-side biased, the growling guitar was right-side biased and the bass from the kick drum was obviously stuck in the rear. But the sound held together fairly well when compared to other premium systems in a vehicle with this same size. With the more sonically demanding jazz disc Blueisana Triangle, however, I ended up turning off the sub since the sloppy bass detracted from the experience and was too far removed from the soundstage. Overall the system had decent tonal detail with good dynamics and the soundstage was also much higher than I expected.
The FJ Cruiser is a fun vehicle to drive and the premium audio system only adds to that experience. But $2,450 seems a bit steep just to add a CD changer, an 8" subwoofer and some extra rear speakers. Unless you want all the other goodies that come with Upgrade Package 2 - which may indeed be a bargain - then the money is probably better spent at a car audio shop.
| RATING |
| Audio score | 6.5 / 10 |
| Ergonomics | 5 / 10 |
| Navigation | NA / 10 |
Key Features
9-speaker audio system w/8" subwoofer
Flat-panel speakers hidden behind headliner
Aux input with nearby 12-volt outlet
Stylized subwoofer enclosure
Steering wheel audio controls
Sirius and XM satellite radio available
Good tonal detail and dynamics
Poor staging and imaging
Mediocre bass response
Head unit controls not intuitive