The worst thing is having to back up or park the vehicle in your garage. The turning radius is a bit wide and the lack of rearward visibility makes low-speed maneuvers that much harder. The small outside mirrors do not help either.

Stepping inside
The first thing that strikes any passenger when climbing inside the Toyota FJ Cruiser is the body-colored trim on the dashboard. My tester wasn't so bad, but I'm not sure how anyone could live with a bright yellow center stack.

Finding one's way to the rear seats is fairly easy thanks to the small reverse-opening rear doors.

Buttons and controls for the HVAC system are big and easy to manipulate, even when wearing winter gloves. The black-on-white gauges are very legible, while the audio system includes overhead speakers for optimum sound distribution.

Some of my passengers, however, complained about the lack of seat comfort and, obviously, the complicated access. The tall ground clearance makes entry and exit a challenge. On the plus side, finding one's way to the rear seats is fairly easy thanks to the small reverse-opening rear doors.
 
Elsewhere, the limited cargo area might be enough for normal transportation duties, but it poses a problem when having to carry larger items. The heavy, side-hinged cargo door is not really handy.

Taking on the Wrangler
This Jeep is arguably the biggest rival of the FJ Cruiser as both target the same customers. The former is now available in four-door configuration, which might make it more convenient, but as far as the off-road performance is concerned, these two SUVs are on the same level.

The Hummer H3 is another direct competitor due to its rugged design and competence in the trails. However, buyers have to shell out several extra grand just because of the Hummer name.

Toyota Canada recently cut the FJ Cruiser's MSRP by $1,000, for a total of $29,725. Add $1,000 for the 5-speed automatic transmission and $5,095 for the Off-Road Package and the bill rises to $35,820.

Conclusion
The 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser is far from perfect, but there are many reasons to like it. The balance between on-road and off-road performance is nicely dialled, while the exterior design packs quite a punch. All this at an affordable price.

Off-road enthusiasts who can live with the small quirks of the new FJ will no doubt have a great time behind the wheel. They will remember the time they used to play with their Tonka trucks in the sand box.


Photo Credit : Toyota