Toyota has unveiled a new ‘baby’ 4X4 set to go head-to-head with Land Rover’s hugely popular Defender from next year.
Called the Land Cruiser FJ, it’s a shortened version of the Japanese brand’s full-size Land Cruiser SUV.
At less than 4.6 metres long, the FJ – which stands for Freedom and Joy – is a fraction shorter than its British rival’s smallest model, the Defender 90.
However, with its boxy proportions, utilitarian looks and big promises of off-roading capabilities, the FJ is primed to steal global sales from Land Rover’s most popular car.
Bosses this week confirmed it will debut in Japan in the middle of 2026 before making its availability in emerging markets including Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East.
But despite its huge appeal to SUV-loving Britons, a Toyota exec has downplayed the proposition of the Land Cruiser FJ arriving in UK showrooms.
Toyota has unveiled a new ‘baby’ 4X4 that’s set to go head-to-head with Land Rover’s volume-selling Defender from next year. But there’s a big catch for fans in Britain…
Despite its huge appeal to SUV-loving drivers in the UK, the Land Cruiser FJ may not come
The compact 4X4 will makes its official first appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show next week.
Like the standard Land Cruiser, it features squared-off styling cues, boxy wheel arches and all-round plastic protective cladding – though squeezed into a wheelbase that’s 270mm shorter.
Despite shaving almost half a metre off the length of its larger sibling, Toyota has retained its five-door setup – which could be a major selling point over the three-door Defender 90.
With tape measures at the ready, the Land Cruiser FJ is 4,575mm long, 1,855mm wide, and 1,960mm tall.
That makes it 8mm shorter, 153mm narrower, and 11mm lower than the Defender 90.Â
It is also similar in dimension to the new Dacia Bigster.
At less than 4.6 metres long, the FJ (left) is a fraction shorter than the Defender 90 (right). However, with its boxy proportions, utilitarian looks and big promises of off-roading capabilities, the FJ is primed to steal sales from Land Rover’s most popular car
Land Rover has experienced huge success with its modern Defender, which is now its most popular product
The Land Cruiser FJ is 4,575mm long, 1,855mm wide, and 1,960mm tall. That makes it 8mm shorter, 153mm narrower, and 11mm lower than the Defender 90
Under the bonnet is a 2.7-litre petrol engine producing 161bhp – which could be a big pointer towards the FJ not being made available in Britain in its current guise.
The full-size Land Cruiser ‘250 series’ – starting from £77,845 – is currently sold only with a 2.8-litre turbodiesel powertrain in the UK, with a diesel hybrid arriving next year.
If the FJ is to be sold in Europe, Toyota would too need to fit one of its hybrid engines to meet strict emissions requirements.
But that might not be part of the strategy, according to one Toyota exec.Â
Chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama told Automotive News there are currently ‘no plans’ for the FJ to enter the American or European markets, adding that it will focus primarily on the ‘global South’.Â
More details regarding where it will be sold and how much it costs will hopefully be clarified at its full debut in Tokyo in a week’s time.Â
To the rear, the design features a contrasting black glass boot door (similar to the original Toyota Aygo and Volkswagen’s ID.3 electric hatchback). It swings open to reveal a decent-sized compartment and a large aperture for loading big, heavy items
Under the bonnet is a 2.7-litre petrol engine with 161bhp – a hybrid version would likely need to be fitted to pass European emissions standards
Like the standard Land Cruiser, it features squared-off styling cues, boxy wheel arches and all-round plastic protective cladding – though squeezed into a wheelbase that’s 270mm shorter
The FJ will join the Land Cruiser family in Japanese showrooms next year. While Britain currently only has the Land Cruiser 250, a shorter and a longer variant is available in its domestic market
While it’s availability in Britain remains in question, Toyota has confirmed that the vehicle is being produced in Thailand.Â
This engine in its current pure combustion form is married to a six-speed automatic gearbox and a part-time four-wheel drive system to provide ‘outstanding off-road performance’ that is ‘worthy of a Land Cruiser’.Â
The Japanese marque added: ‘During development, extensive off-road testing identified points for improvement to ensure true Land Cruiser-ness reliability, durability, and off-road performance.’
This includes an impressive ground clearance of 215.3mm and accessible approach angle up to 31 degrees – on a par with the bigger Land Cruiser.
Yet the smaller footprint means it has a turning circle of just 5.5 metres.Â
Additional off-road features include a boot-mounted spare wheel, engine snorkel and roof rack
Toyota says the corner bumpers are removable to allow owners to easily swap out damaged parts to ‘improve repairability’. It also provides customers with greater customisability so that ‘users can enjoy their Land Cruiser in their own unique ways’
Despite shaving almost half a metre off the length of the full span of its larger sibling, Toyota has retained its five-door setup – which could be a major selling point over the three-door Defender 90
Chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama told Automotive News there are currently ‘no plans’ for the FJ to enter the American or European markets, adding that it will focus primarily on the ‘global South’
Additional off-road features include a boot-mounted spare wheel, engine snorkel and roof rack.
As with the conventional Land Cruiser, the FJ will come with the choice of two front end designs – one with a rounded headlight arrangement in a nod to Land Cruisers of old, while the other has a more contemporary pair of light clusters.
To the back, the spare wheel is fixed to a contrasting black glass boot door that swings open to reveal a decent-sized compartment and a large aperture for loading big, heavy items.
There are some very clever touches, too.
Toyota says the corner bumpers are removable to allow owners to easily swap out damaged parts to ‘improve repairability’.
It also provides customers with greater customisability so that ‘users can enjoy their Land Cruiser in their own unique ways’.
Simon Humphries (pictured), Toyota’s chief branding officer, said the arrival of the FJ will broaden the appeal of the iconic Land Cruiser nameplate to a ‘new generation’ of buyers
As with the conventional Land Cruiser, the FJ will come with the choice of two front end designs – one with a rounded headlight arrangement (right) in a nod to Land Cruisers of old, while the other has a more contemporary pair of light clusters (left)
The Land Cruiser would unquestionably be a hit in the UK, which has a love affair with compact SUVs. Last year, the ‘multi-purpose’ segment became the biggest, outselling superminis for the first time on record. SUVs accounted for 33 per cent of all registrations in 2024
Inside, the cockpit features a large centrally-mounted infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.
However, it hasn’t gone too futuristic or minimalist, with chunky dials and buttons for the temperature controls, a switch-laden steering wheel, and stocky gear lever.
The dashboard design is equally as boxy as the exterior bodywork, while the cabin materials are hard-wearing plastics in a nod to its workhorse background.Â
The large grab handles on the A-pillars and the sill step are other Land Cruiser trademarks carried over.
Speaking at its unveiling this week, Simon Humphries, Toyota’s chief branding officer, said the arrival of the FJ will broaden the appeal of the iconic Land Cruiser nameplate to a ‘new generation’ of buyers – though likely not in the UK, where this car would almost undoubtedly fly out of showrooms, based on current appetite for vehicles of this ilk.Â
Inside, the cockpit features a large centrally-mounted infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster. However, it hasn’t gone too minimalist, with chunky dials and buttons for the temperature controls, a switch-laden steering wheel, and stocky gear lever
The dashboard design is equally as boxy as the exterior bodywork, while the cabin materials are hard-wearing plastics in a nod to its workhorse background
In the UK, crossovers and compact SUVs have become the market’s biggest driving force.
Last year, SUVs were the biggest-selling vehicle type, surpassing superminis for the first time on record.
SUVs accounted for 33 per cent of all registrations in 2024, up from just 12 per cent a decade earlier, according to Britain’s auto trade body.
Land Rover has experienced huge success with its modern Defender since it arrived in 2020 – and it is now officially its most popular product.
It sold 115,000 units globally last year. And in the first six months of 2025, it has shifted another 60,000 Defenders around the world, putting it on track to beat the prior year’s record.
Reports suggest a new Defender Sport is in the pipeline too, which will be a smaller version of the Defender 90 and replace the outgoing Discovery Sport.Â
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