Pour one out for the Toyota FJ Cruiser, which has reportedly ended production after 17 years. If you didn’t know the FJ was even still being made, we wouldn’t blame you, as the SUV left the U.S. market in 2014 and the Japanese market four years later. Surprisingly, though, it lived on in international markets such as the Middle East, the Philippines, and South Africa for a few more years. That is, until now.
A report from Cars.co.za claims a Toyota South Africa spokesperson was able to “confirm global discontinuation of the FJ Cruiser product line as of December 2022”, while also mentioning that the discontinuation was not limited exclusively to the South African market.
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But despite ending production in December 2022, Toyota South Africa managed to sell 3 units in March of this year, each with a starting price of 813,000 Rand ($44,742). For that money, buyers got an FJ Cruiser not too dissimilar to the original one, the only major update being the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in 2022. Even the 4.0L V6 engine stayed the same over all 17 years of production, with the 2022 model’s 268 hp (271 PS / 200 kW) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) being only marginally higher than the power figures from 2007.
With all that being said, this lengthy life cycle isn’t really much different than the current 4Runner, which has been around since 2009. There was a lot to like about the FJ Cruiser, from its charming retro styling, to its respectable off-road prowess, to even its quirky triple windshield wipers and rear-hinged back doors, and we’re sad to see it go.