Toyota unveils new Land Cruiser FJ – with good news for South Africa

Toyota has officially unveiled the next model in its legendary Land Cruiser stable – the new FJ.

The carmaker pulled the covers off the new SUV ahead of its public debut at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, where the public will get their first impression of the vehicle in the metal.

“Developed under the concept of “Freedom and Joy”, the Land Cruiser FJ offers a new take on the brand’s 70-year heritage of durability, reliability, and off-road prowess,” said Toyota.

“Compact, capable, and designed for individual expression, the FJ stays true to the Land Cruiser ethos while appealing to a new generation of adventure seekers.”

The new Land Cruiser FJ is scheduled to go on sale in markets around the world starting in mid-2026, and the good news is that South Africa may be one of them.

Toyota South Africa Motors confirmed that the new model is under consideration for our market, stating that South Africa would be a “fitting home for a vehicle built on the values of freedom, exploration and reliability.”

What to expect

The most striking aspect of the new FJ is its appearance, which seems noticeably more compact than previous generations.

While Toyota has yet to disclose the vehicle’s measurements, the new model appears to be vaguely similar to something like the 5-door Suzuki Jimny or a mini Land Rover Defender, in contrast to the older units, which arguably looked more like a Hummer.

Of course, the actual design of the FJ continues the retro SUV trend that many 4x4s have latched onto lately, most notably the current-gen Toyota Prado, which was undoubtedly the main inspiration for the new car.

The proportions are quite blocky, and the front is distinguished by a large black bumper, a small rectangular grille, and a set of LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs).

Interestingly, the press photos show two different light designs, including a rectangular set with C-shaped DRLs, and a circular set.

If this is anything like the Prado, the circular headlights will probably be reserved for a limited “First Edition” series for early adopters, while the rectangular set will act as the default.

Built on the brand’s IMV platform, the new Land Cruiser boasts a shorter wheelbase, high ground clearance, and flared fenders that can accommodate a set of chunky off-road tyres.

Looking inside, the FJ is almost identical to the Prado, indicating that we can expect the same design language from all of Toyota’s upcoming 4x4s.

The FJ has a three-spoke multifunction wheel with several buttons, a large central armrest, circular air vents, a physical handbrake, and a gearstick lifted straight out of the Prado.

The dashboard has a dedicated section for the automatic climate control, and two horizontal screens for the digital driver display and infotainment systems.

So far, the only thing the carmaker has confirmed is that it will feature the latest Toyota Safety Sense Suite, which means it should come with functions like tyre-pressure monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and hill descent control.

In its home market, the FJ will be sold with a 2.7-litre petrol engine with 120kW and 246Nm, but we’ll be interested to see if the international models receive the brand’s tried-and-trusted 2.8GD-6 turbo-diesel plant with 150kW and 500Nm.

2026 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ