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Launched in 2006, the FJ Cruiser is one of the most iconic SUVs from Toyota.

Even after 15 years of being in the wild, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is still a fantastic-looking off-roader. Sat next to the 2022 Land Rover Defender, an FJ Cruiser has nothing to be ashamed about. Plus it can also hold its head high when the terrain gets rough or slippery.

Often overlooked or forgotten, the FJ Cruiser has a cult following. It may not be as on-point as the trendy Toyota Corolla Cross, but it has proper wilderness-taming credentials. It's an SUV that was purposely made to take the path less traveled.

Taking those first tentative steps away from the tarmac can be daunting. But the FJ Cruiser has it covered. Toyota is a master at making competent four-wheel-drive vehicles. And the gorgeous-looking FJ Cruiser is no exception. It may be an unconventional choice, but here are 10 reasons why off-road enthusiasts should consider the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

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The original 1960s FJ40 Land Cruiser tamed the wilderness. Whether it was deployed on dirt, sand, snow, or mud. It conquered each with ease. With big true ruts to fill the reborn version did much the same. It took the technical know-how and wrapped it up in a modern shell.

To ensure its success in the rough stuff it was loaded with off-road essentials. A low-range transfer case, active traction control, and a locking rear differential were standard. It was also far a safer vehicle. This meant that it could easily follow in its predecessor's tire marks.

The FJ Cruiser uses a tried and tested power source. A highly reliable 4.0-liter petrol V6. This unit came in two versions of engine tune depending on model year. Early models had 239hp and 278 lb/ft of torque. The later models produced 260hp with 270 lb/ft of torque.

Built to offer flexible off-road power, the FJ Cruiser is no speed demon. That said the early cars will haul to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. The more muscular-engined version bests this at 7.1 seconds. Which is far from slow. The engines retain high levels of Toyota reliability.

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Show it a broken trail and the FJ Cruiser just tackles it. An FJ Cruiser has 244mm of ground clearance. It can wade in water up to 700mm deep. There are even excellent approach and departure angles. Taking an FJ Cruiser off the beaten track won't result in getting stranded.

Back on the highway, the FJ Cruiser is a comfortable place to spend time. The seats are comfortable. Controls are nicely weighted, all being easy to use. Everything about the FJ Cruiser smacks of rugged reliability. A vehicle that can be leaned on, without potential failure.

The FJ Cruiser loves a bit of abuse. The interior features seats that are ventilated, and water repellant. The fabric has a special resin coating to resist liquids. Their stitched seams are also protectively sealed. Breathable, yet comfortable. It adds up to fabrics that will last.

The dash and control surfaces are made from wipe-down plastics. Whereas the flooring is a resistant rubber compound. The textured surface provides non-slip safety. It can also be washed down with ease. Allowing for accumulated mud or dust to be disposed of quickly.

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The windshield boasts three wipers. This allows for complete coverage when cleaning gunk off the glass. The FJ Cruiser could also be bought as a dedicated RWD vehicle for those not looking to leave the tarmac. The FJ Cruiser also won several style awards.

The most notable feature has to be the suicide doors. They are not only a design feature but add versatility. Access to both the front and rear compartments are excellent. The doors also make cleaning the interior very easy. They're an eye-catching feature and focal point.

From light pods to full body wraps. The FJ Cruiser scene is full of interesting modifications. Some owners might add a snorkel to improve wade depths. Or upgrade the sound system. There are so many options that making an FJ Cruiser unique is an easy thing to undertake.

Anyone wanting more power also has options. Simply adding a cold air intake lets the engine breathe more easily. Whilst investing in a supercharger provides an additional 100hp. That makes the FJ Cruiser a real beast. One that can dish out punishment on, and off-road.

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Wanting to underline the off-road prowess of the FJ Cruiser, Toyota released the Trail Teams edition. Each model year gained a limited amount of vehicles. They all came with additional equipment to further enhance their abilities. All becoming sought-after by FJ fans.

Trail Team vehicles would get a tuned exhaust, additional lights, and skid plates. Specialized alloy wheels, uprated Bilstein shocks, and BFGoodrich tires are also featured. Each was set up to tackle tough terrain from the factory. A no-compromise approach from Toyota.

On its release, the FJ Cruiser was unlike anything else on the market. Its chunky, yet stylish design, along with the quirky touches set it apart. This was a capable off-roader that turned heads before it climbed mountains. Even all these years later, it still makes a statement.

As a used car and family-orientated daily driver, the FJ Cruiser makes sense. There is a load of interior space. Plus it's easy to maintain. High mileage examples can be snapped up for circa $15,000. That makes for a lot of style and backwoods conquering ability for the price.

Despite officially being discontinued the FJ Cruiser is still on sale in some markets. Vehicles are also still being produced in South Africa. In some cases, some old unregistered stock has been sold through dealers. The FJ Cruiser is a curio. It just wants to keep on going.

Although never sold in the UK, the FJ Cruiser has a cult following there. Bought as an import it even has its own owners club. Globally the Toyota FJ Cruiser has proven itself to be very popular. A vehicle whose on and off-road abilities are praised by its devout owners.

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A loaded truck Developed by Toyota Racing Development. The TRD special came with a tuned exhaust, Bilstein shocks, rock runners, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Tweaks were also made to the differential and traction control. The run was originally limited to 3200 black units.

Proving to be popular, a TRD package was introduced. Following this, a further run of limited edition Iceberg White cruisers was offered. The TRD was very similar in specification to the Trail Teams version. Awesome off-road, it makes a great vehicle to explore nature in.

Having cut his teeth on the UK street racing scene in the late 90's and early 00's RJ faded from the limelight only to return 20 years later. An avid motoring enthusiast RJ especially enjoys JDM and Italian cars, and is an experienced multi-industry writer.