Reception

The FJ debuted to both criticism and acclaim from the automotive press. Critics appreciated Toyota's drive to bring such an aggressively styled and purpose driven vehicle to market at a time when the company was focused on more conservative designs. The FJ was universally praised for its off road performance with many reviewers also appreciating its on road manners, functional interior, and styling that paid homage to the original FJ40.^[4][49] The off road community widely embraced the new addition of another Toyota off road vehicle and many different groups and forums were created specifically with the FJ Cruiser at their center.
Some reviewers took issue with the amount of body roll and low lateral grip performance though noting the suspension was designed to be soft with a long travel for off road use.^[50]
The FJ Cruiser was also criticized for its styling which created large blindspots, smaller than average cargo capacity, and cramped rear seating that was difficult to access. Toyota attempted to improve the blind spot issues by offering a rear back up camera starting with the 2009 model year^[51] and changed the hinge mechanisms on the front seats allowing passengers easier entry and exit from the rear starting with the 2011 model.^[52]