2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Mini Cooper of SUVs

It's stylish, fun, practical and affordable. Buy one if you want to stand out on the street or trail.

Exterior

The FJ Cruiser is striking, with styling inspired by its iconic predecessor, the second generation Land Cruiser (built between 1956 and 1983).

1969 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ40)

A constricted front grille, inboard round headlights, an upright windshield, white roof and angular wheel wells all evoke the 1960 Land Cruiser. Modern touches include glass flush with body panels, protruding taillights, blocky side-view mirrors and six-spoke alloy wheels.

Fans of the original Land Cruiser will note the lack of removable roof panels. While there are currently no plans for a soft-top or convertible version of the FJ Cruiser, company execs say that Toyota isn't ruling out the possibility.

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The stylistic sum is an adventurous design that's pragmatic but daring. Toyota successfully integrated 47-year-old design elements into a contemporary package that, like the Scion xB, another Toyota product, appears avant-garde in its honest simplicity.

Appearing modern is important to the 20- and 30-something crowd that Toyota is targeting with this vehicle. Drawing on the company's rich history by evoking the 1960 Land Cruiser adds depth and appeal, even if many younger buyers may not be immediately familiar with the classic SUV.