Hubby showed up at my office with the new FJ Cruiser today for me to test drive. Ok, so they were kindof cool in the magazines. But, WHAT THE....??(Fill in the blank). This thing was just stupid. [:@]

It felt bigger than an H2 but rode like a golf cart. The interior sucked and nothing was placed in a reasonable manner. I mean nothing. I had to go on a scavenger hunt for the window controls.

The side doors are TINY and the back seats are small too. The seats fold down, but then it looks like a BMX ramp. No flat storage space available.

It's just awful. Glad I drove it so now I can make fun of them when I see them on the road.

The only option I have left myself is the H3 or....an H2. We'll see.

Danielle

 

Thank you for that candid review..I was seriously looking into to those.. for No1, the reliablity factor, this was on my list of Pros..But I was as well concerned for the looks/appeal also and interior ergonomics as well...Thanks again..I'll probably make fun of them now too as they hit the streets..

 

My girlfriend is interested in one, but I suppose even after she reads that we will still have to go down and look at one. How was it for power? You said it drove bigger then a H2, so am I to understand that it turns wide? How was visibility?

 

i think you should go drive one and give us a guy's review. ya just can't trust a girl that can't make up her mind between an H2 and an H3. and i think she's e-flirting with Dennis too, so maybe she had been hit in the head alot as a youngster. or didn't wear her helmet on the bus on the way to school . . . .

 

If I can work it into my schedule, maybe I will tomorrow.

 

I looked into these. I think you have to treat them as you would a supercab truck. The back doors are cool being a suicide door but are not meant to be a true back door with full sized back seat. I personally didn't mind the quality of the interior but didn't really pay attention to the layout so much. As for turning radius, it is almost identical to the H3 (less than a foot larger). I personally really like the styling being throwback. It's nice they didn't make something new and just put that name on it. It seems more like a true off roader's vehicle and not made for the soccer mom. I think for two people who occasionally want to have a passenger it would be fine. Of course I didn't drive it either. The extra hp has to be ok, dependent upon gearing I guess. Just remember it's significantly cheaper than the comperably equipped H3 too!!

 

I know![:@] When I saw the pricing for it, I felt like I should have waited a bit before buying the 3. Seeing all of the off road videos put out by Toyota also makes me think I should have waited, but I think the thing is fugly. It also doesn't look like it would be as comfortable over all as the H3. I guess we'll have to wait and see how they do. I'm in a lease, so it's not like I could (or would) jump ship for it.

 

Here is a pretty unbiased review of it...Kinda goes along with what Cruizer was saying about the retro look

Edmunds.com

 

After watching that, I think I made the right choice. The only thing that really appeals to me is the off road prowness.

 

Shortbus, you are too funny.

Well, here's why I didn't like the FJ Cruiser.

For one, it's a new model. Who knows what they may find wrong with it in it's first year. Toyota is a good name, but all new things must be perfected.

The power of the vehicle wasn't anything spectacular. I believe it was actually not as peppy as the the H3 I drove.

Turning radius-didn't seem as good as the H3, but I only drove it for 10 minutes. I thought the vehicle was a behemouth on the road.

It really did feel incredibly large. Even when I drove the H2, I didn't think it was that big. The Cruiser just felt 'bulky' if that makes sense. I felt like it was hogging the road.

The interior controls and layout certainly lack functionality. There is a large display in the center of the top of the dash. All that does is block visibility of the road. The rest of the controls are barely within reach for me, but I have short arms. The H3s interior certainly portrays more of a luxury theme. I believe the FJ Cruiser was going for rough and rugged.

The seats don't sit up as high as the H3, which is one of my favorite things about the H3. The seats are also very basic, not cushy or forming like the H3.

The FJ Cruiser's rear visibility is good. I'd say better than the H3 in that aspect. But, your A and B pillars are still just as thick as the H3.

The suicide doors are small and the backseat is even smaller. I have an extended cab truck now, and even it has more backseat room than the cruiser.

FJ Cruiser offers Manual 4 wheel drive only-The H3 has push botton controls. Chicks don't like to mess with manual 4 wheel drive.

The Cruiser I drove had step bars to assist entering the vehicle. However, the seats are already about a foot away from the door frame. So I took one step to get close to exiting the vehicle and another step to find the step rails. The vehicle isn't THAT big, and I don't think it needs step rails at all.

Gas mileage averages 17 and 20. It's not available in leather, OR a solid color. They have all that stupid white roof (Which they say is tradition).

I just wanted to share my experience. If anyone is interested, I'd say go check them out yourself. I'm just glad I drove one so I can remove it from my list of choices.

Danielle