Underneath, a very stable front double wishbone suspension system joins a four-link setup in the rear, and when combined with Toyota's spirited 24-valve, DOHC, 4.0-litre V6 with Variable Valve Timing (and intelligence), making 239 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 278 lb-ft of torque at 3, 800 rpm, it's nonstop fun on four wheels (or two or three depending on how much fun you're having -- Ed.). It's a great cruising car on the highway as well as city streets, and since the FJ's underpinnings are shared with the very capable 4Runner it can handle most anything off pavement. My test model came with the optional automatic transmission with overdrive, featuring a gate type shifter at one end and a lock-up torque converter at the other. The autobox also comes with a part-time 4WD system (the five-speed manual gets a full-time 4WD system) complete with a two-speed transfer case and an Automatic Disconnecting Differential. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Shift Control is also part of the package. Translation? According to Toyota, "this system automatically varies the transmission's shifting pattern, optimizing up-and-down shifts according to road conditions and driver intent."
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| Lots of room for gear. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
I couldn't help but enjoy the automatic, especially since I find myself doing most of my driving in the city. That's not to say the five-speed manual wouldn't do the job in stop-and-go traffic, mind you, but it's a lot more effort. Furthermore, if I had the opportunity to go off-roading, I would opt for the auto tranny since I am still a beginner and the fewer things I have to think about, the better. Even some seasoned off-roaders prefer automatics so that they can left-foot-brake while modulating the throttle with the right, so I suppose it's not just for beginners.
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| Big spare on the back looks cool, but makes for a heavy door. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
The slew of standard features laced on my temporary top-of-the-line FJ made my daytrip and week that much better. First off, cruise control. It's a great feature, not necessarily for the city but was especially useful during all the highway driving I did. Second, the stereo system. It's great. And when I turned the car the head unit's display screen reads "FJammer" -- just one of those quirky little details that I love. My passengers also took a liking to it and jokingly said, "How many FJammers would you give this stereo out of 10?" Needless to say that it became a rating scale for my entire test week... "How many FJammers out of 10?" I would give it 9 FJammers because it's the world's first audio system that incorporates the entire headliner of the vehicle as part of the speaker system, also known as the "Sound Shower." It's a pretty interesting idea and the sound quality is great.
