A brand-new, so-called “baby” Land Cruiser compact SUV was teased all the way back in 2023, and we’ve been anxiously awaiting more details about the reborn FJ Cruiser. It was long anticipated to get a fall 2025 launch, but that’s now reportedly been pushed back for various reasons, and no, not just because of new U.S. tariffs. Those could still come back to bite the baby Toyota, though.
Toyota
Toyota is a Japanese automaker founded in 1937 that has developed a reputation for reliability across a multitude of segments, from sports cars and family sedans to pickup trucks and off-roaders. Famous models from the brand include the Hilux, Land Cruiser, Camry, Crown, and Corolla, the latter being the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate, with more than 50 million Corolla-badged vehicles being sold since it was first introduced. Toyota typically competes in the mainstream market, but is also famous for launching Lexus as a luxury sub-brand to take on Mercedes-Benz.
- Founded
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August 28, 1937
- Founder
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Kiichiro Toyoda
- Headquarters
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Aichi, Japan
- Owned By
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Publicly Traded
- Current CEO
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Koji Sato
The Rumor Mill Is Churning – Nothing Is Confirmed Yet
It’s now been reported, via unnamed “Japanese sources” cited by JDM publication BestCar that plans to launch the new compact Cruiser later in 2025 have now been pushed to an “early 2026” launch date. Multiple issues seem to be plaguing the new vehicle, including production slowdowns for its larger sibling, the Land Cruiser 250 (the North American one). Back in October, Toyota also announced it was postponing its planned U.S.-assembled three-row electric SUV until 2026, as well.
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There are also reportedly certification issues, as the new baby Cruiser rides on a unique platform than its larger Cruiser siblings. It allegedly sits on a ladder frame chassis developed for other markets. It’s not clear if it will be offered exclusively as an electric vehicle, or if there could be other gas or hybrid choices, at least in various markets.
There’s Still Hope For A Gas Version, And First
That said, it’s not clear where Toyota planned to produce the new vehicle. If it was not planned for U.S. or North American localized production, the new U.S. tariffs on imported cars and components could see the baby Cruiser priced out of our market, at least until the tariffs subside.
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The Japanese marque is reportedly working on a boxy SUV to be revealed later this year.
The 2023 teaser for the new compact Cruiser was just in silhouette but appeared to be heavily based on an earlier EV concept. Reports from as recently as February this year suggested the model was imminent, and would be gas-powered, at least at first.
The new model’s name is still anyone’s guess, but trademark filings suggest it could involve “FJ” in some way. The previous FJ Cruiser was not so compact, but it’s still a great affordable off-roader for anyone interested in something quirkier than a Jeep.
H/T: CarScoops
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