2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser: Tonka truck for real life

We just added the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser to our long-term fleet so I HAD to take it for a spin. First off, not many people are crazy about its "Voodoo Blue" coloring but I think it's fun. It makes this SUV look like a big toy, reminding me of the Tonka truck my kid brother used to have. One editor hit the nail on the head when he said, "I kind of expect a big hand to come down from the sky and grab it."


Inside, the toy theme continues. With a compass on the dash, Voodoo Blue body panels and tire-track-patterned vents, I felt like I was in a life-size toy car. And although this SUV seems pretty hefty, I found it surprisingly agile on the city streets.

Other SUVs I've driven over speed bumps get all bouncy but the FJ was very stable. Turning corners and jumping into lanes wasn't as hard to do as I thought in this big car. My only concern is that it was hard to see what was behind me when looking out back through the rearview mirror. The rear-mounted tire obscured whatever is behind the car and the mirror made everything look so tiny. I don't know if that's the fault of the mirror or the length of the car.

In any case, I had fun driving this car and almost didn't want to bring it back to the office. Oh well, I have a whole year to play with it.

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