The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ: Everything You Need to Know

Compact Cruiser was always bound to be a placeholder name; now, we may know the true name of the vehicle. A LandCruiserForum user has uncovered a Toyota trademark application in Japan for "Land Cruiser FJ."

Reviving the FJ nameplate would make more sense than another trademark name, Land Hopper, which Toyota used for a three-wheel mobility concept.

The Compact Cruiser's design has earned many plaudits. The SUV won a 2o22 Car Design Award — which organizers describe as the Oscar of world car design — at Milano Design Week, beating out the stunning Polestar O2 convertible.

We also saw some of its design language directly imported into the 2024 Land Cruiser. So, it's a good bet the Land Cruiser FJ will draw heavily from the Compact Cruiser concept, perhaps with some tweaks ... like a more realistic rear door.

Toyota debuted the Compact Cruiser concept as an EV. However, the eventual production car may have multiple powertrain options depending on the market.

The Australian outlet Drive uncovered multiple Japanese reports describing a "Land Cruiser Mini" with gas, diesel, hybrid or electric powertrains depending on the market. Powertrains from the Corolla Cross or RAV4 Hybrid could be contenders.

The initial concept looked crossover-like. But per the Japanese reports uncovered by Drive, the smaller Land Cruiser is a body-on-frame vehicle that will share underpinnings with the 2024 Tacoma.

Toyota kept it very basic when naming its EV concepts. (The EV pickup was called the "Pickup EV.") So Toyota's decision to include "compact" should be a reference to the vehicle's size.

Dimensions from the Japanese reports in Drive suggest a length of 171.2 inches, shorter than a Corolla Cross. The height, incredibly enough, would be about the same as the 2024 Land Cruiser.

Toyota has not announced when the Land Cruiser FJ will arrive. Combustion and hybrid versions may arrive first. Back in 2022, Reuters reported that the project had been put on hiatus as Toyota reevaluated its EV plans.

One of the Japanese reports uncovered by Drive noted that the EV powertrain may be delayed as Toyota was rushing development on an electric Tacoma for North America.

That is the question. And the answer is ... we don't know yet. Toyota already has a smaller, cheaper, body-on-frame, Tacoma-based SUV: the 4Runner. Given how well the 4Runner sells, we don't expect it to switch branding. And the Toyota SUV lineup is getting crowded.

Where the Land Cruiser FJ could make sense in America is as an electric vehicle, especially if Toyota can keep the price point reasonable.