Toyota has said all along its upcoming FJ Cruiser SUV would be retro and practical…but a hose-out interior?
Good as its word, Toyota has released a glimpse of the large off-roader’s interior and both the rubber floor coverings and water-repellant seat coverings are all set for quick cleaning after serious mud-bashing. Even the dashboard looks retro and the handles/knobs are large and chunky.
And that’s good news for recreation enthusiasts who have long lamented the current crop of SUVs for being too ‘city-oriented’ and short on practicality for dirty work.
Toyota says the functional looks and interior of the FJ Cruiser are all part of its ‘homage’ to the original LandCruiser FJ40 from the 1960s.
But don’t think the newcomer is short on modern creature comforts – there’s air-conditioning, an eight-speaker six CD/Bluetooth audio system, keyless entry and reversing camera amongst the FJ Cruiser’s arsenal of contemporary technology.
In normal configuration, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is a large five-seat SUV, however the rear seats can be folded flat and the seat cushions removed to maximize cargo space.
Typically Toyota, the retro FJ Cruiser scores high in the quality stakes – ranking at the top of the Compact Crossover/SUV segment in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Initial Quality Study in North America.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser goes on-sale in March and Car Showroom will bring you a full road test/review in the first week of February.
