Toyota Shows TJ Cruiser Concept Some California Love

If you happen to swing by Toyota’s 2018 LA Auto Show stand anytime between now and December 9th, you’ll find that it’s not all about the facelifted Prius or the 2020 four-door Corolla Hybrid.

In fact, you’re going to stumble onto something called the TJ Cruiser, which is a concept vehicle whose initials stand for ‘Toolbox’ and ‘Joy’, believe it or not. As for ‘Cruiser’, that term is of course a very established one within Toyota’s automotive portfolio.

What is this thing’s deal?

When Toyota first presented the TJ Cruiser Concept, they stated that it was designed “for drivers with lifestyles where work and play dovetail seamlessly.” It has the roominess of a cargo van and the rugged design of a boxy SUV.

It actually looks so “butch”, it sort of reminds us of the Knight XV, which is a Ford 550 Super Duty-based armored vehicle.

Alas, here are the types of features it has: special protective coating on the hood, roof and fenders, a sturdy suspension system, 20-inch wheels, all-wheel drive, sliding rear doors (like on a van), large load area, deck boards, tie-down points, plus a basic yet modern interior.

The dashboard almost looks like it belongs on some type of futuristic Wrangler, which fans of the “genre” will certainly appreciate. It also looks like something off a Citroen C4 Cactus, but let’s not nitpick too much.

The Japanese automaker based the TJ Cruiser Concept around its Toyota New Global Architecture, or TNGA, and fitted it with a 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain, although full specs remain undisclosed.