2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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With an eye to the youth, outdoor, and tuner markets, the 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser combines utility with retro hipness. Entering its third year, this compact SUV receives minor changes, mostly to its safety equipment. These include the addition of front seat active head restraints, roll-sensing side curtain airbags, and a cut-off switch for stability control. A driver's side vanity mirror is also new this year.
Competing directly with the Nissan Xterra and Honda Element, the 2009 FJ Cruiser stands out from the crowd with its love-it-or-hate-it MINI-like two-tone exterior (colored body, white roof). Trims are divided into rear-wheel drive, part-time four-wheel drive, and full-time four-wheel drive, but otherwise offer the exact same features and engine. The 24-valve, 4.0-liter DOHC V6 delivers 239 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque, with up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity. Variable valve timing improves fuel economy, but as an SUV the FJ Cruiser's numbers lag miserably, around 16/19 mpg.
Rear-wheel and part-time four-wheel-drive models receive a 5-speed adaptive automatic, while the full-time four-wheel drive comes equipped with a 6-speed manual. The 4WD defaults to a 50/50 front/rear torque split, but can deliver as much as a 40/60 torque split between the front and rear wheels. Low-range gearing allows for off-road use.
The 2009 FJ Cruiser earns five stars in driver's front impact and all side impact categories, but only three stars in rollover tests. Dual stage front-side and side curtain airbags for both rows and a tire monitor are all standard. The standard STAR Safety System includes traction and stability control, ABS brakes, and brake assist, while a limited-slip rear differential helps with road grip. Standard skid plates and 9.6 inches of ground clearance protect the underside when taking the Cruiser over rugged back roads.
The interior comes sparsely equipped, but should have enough for the Cruiser's target driver – outdoor adventure types, rather than high-end soccer moms. Power windows and locks, a CD/MP3 player, tilt steering wheel, and a tachometer are all standard. The FJ Cruiser rides on 17-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tires, but these can be replaced with alloy wheels or smaller 16-inch ones for smoother highway driving. Other add-ons include power mirrors, backup sensors, a rearview camera, a 6-CD changer, and a utility roof rack, with many off-market products available for the tuner market. The SUV seats four in two rows, but rear seats barely house adults with their extremely cramped 31 inches of legroom. The handy water-resistant seats split 60/40, with cushions that can flip up or be removed, and the cargo area holds anywhere from 27.9 to 67 cubic feet.
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2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · IPod auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · XM satellite radio · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.3 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Dash trim: metallic · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: rubber · Floor Mats: front and rear · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: trunk release · Power outlet(s): 115V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks · Vanity mirrors: driver
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.72 · Locking differential: rear
Engine
Exhaust: performance
Exterior Features
Brush guard: for headlights · Bumper underguard(s): front and rear · Door handle color: metallic · Front bumper color: black · Mirror color: silver-painted · Mudguards: rear · Paint: two-tone · Rear bumper color: black · Rear trunk/liftgate: side-hinged · Skid plate(s): front
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Cover: hard shell · Mount Location: outside · Size: full-size
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 17.1 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 30 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: double wishbones · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 20 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: solid live axle · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Shock type: performance
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 6
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: manual flip-up · Privacy glass: rear
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · IPod auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · XM satellite radio · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 12.6 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.3 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat · Dash trim: metallic · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: rubber · Floor Mats: front and rear · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 115V · Power steering: speed-proportional · Reading lights: rear · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio and cruise controls · Storage: seatback · Vanity mirrors: driver
Driver Seat
Manual adjustments: 8
Drivetrain
4WD Type: part time · Axle ratio: 3.91 · Locking differential: rear · Transfer Case: manual hi-lo gear selection
Engine
Exhaust: performance
Exterior Features
Brush guard: for headlights · Bumper underguard(s): front and rear · Door handle color: metallic · Front bumper color: black · Mirror color: silver-painted · Mudguards: front · Paint: two-tone · Rear bumper color: black · Rear trunk/liftgate: side-hinged · Skid plate(s): front
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Parking sensors: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Cover: hard shell · Mount Location: outside · Size: full-size
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 17.1 · Turns lock-to-lock: 3.0
Suspension
Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 29 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 17 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: solid live axle · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Shock type: performance
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 6
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: manual flip-up · Privacy glass: rear