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This seems to be our first look at the production version of Toyota's upcoming small off-roader, poised to offer a ladder-frame chassis, diesel power and retro styling.
Toyota's long-rumoured, pint-sized four-wheel-drive – mooted to wear the LandCruiser FJ badge – appears to have been revealed in patent images ahead of a possible reveal by the end of this year.
A sole illustration published by the Philippine patent office – spotted by Top Gear Phillippines – reveals a small Toyota 4WD evolved from the company's Compact Cruiser electric concept of 2021.
It is a match for a car teased at the global reveal of the latest Prado – with the same boxy shape and rear-mounted spare wheel – while grille slats in its front bumper indicate it is not electric.
The latest Japanese media reports claim the pint-sized LandCruiser will be revealed by the end of 2025, with similar dimensions to the road-focused Corolla Cross small SUV, but based on a hardcore ladder-frame chassis.
It's tipped to wear the LandCruiser FJ badge, which Toyota trademarked in late 2023. The company typically files to protect new model names about two years before they hit the road.
Japanese magazine Best Car claims the FJ will use the chassis of the Toyota HiLux Champ, a cut-price, single-cab pick-up sold in South-East Asian markets with less stringent safety standards.
While some reports have drawn conclusions that this would rule out a launch in Australia, Best Car suggests the FJ will be sold in Japan, where crash-safety regulations are not dissimilar to ours.
It says there will be a choice of 2.7-litre non-turbo petrol and 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines, the latter borrowed from the Prado, in which it develops 150kW/500Nm.
The petrol version is likely to be aimed at Asian markets, and may produce close to the 120kW/246Nm it offers in the Prado in Japan.
Best Car has published illustrations of the LandCruiser FJ that bear a close resemblance to the patents, down to the badge on the front wheel arches.
The magazine is known for its sources within Toyota, and has a track record of illustrating the company's future models shortly before they are revealed – including the Prado and GR Corolla hot hatch.
It quotes dimensions of 4410mm in length, 1855mm in width, 1870mm in height and 2580mm in wheelbase, with a 700mm wading depth, and angles of 33 degrees approach, 26 degrees breakover and 23 degrees departure.
That makes it considerably larger than a Suzuki Jimny – which is 600mm shorter nose to tail, and 200mm narrower – but smaller than a five-metre-long LandCruiser Prado or 300 Series.
The magazine has speculated the interior will include a widescreen digital instrument cluster and a circa-8.0-inch touchscreen.
Its interior renderings show a mix of parts from other Toyota models, including a HiLux steering wheel and Prado gear selector. It remains to be seen how close to the production model its images are.
Full-time four-wheel-drive is said to be fitted, with a default 40:60 front-to-rear torque split which is then varied based on road conditions by a limited-slip centre differential.
Best Car says the LandCruiser FJ was initially planned to launch in 2024, but a safety scandal – after Toyota was found to have falsified crash tests for government certification – delayed the launch of key new models.
Among them is the small off-roader, which it claims may be shown by the end of 2025, or possibly early in 2026.
Petrol versions will reportedly be launched first in Thailand – where the 4WD will be built – before the diesel follows as part of a global launch at a later date.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
