Decisions, decisions; we all have to make them. Sometimes they’re easy, sometimes they’re not. Deciding what to have for dinner can take a minute, but trying to pick a new apartment can take months. Then, in the middle, we have the sticky issue of deciding what car is best to buy…
It’s never easy as there are always many factors to consider:
Do you need space for a family?
Do you want to go off-roading regularly?
Are you a pet-owner?
Do you want glamour, practicality, performance… and so the list goes on and on and on.
Trying to pick the right car is like trying to pick the right apartment; does it suit your needs? Is it spacious enough? Is it well equipped? What does it say about you? Because once you’ve made your choice, it’s so easy to change. There is so much out there that you must spool though all the options thoroughly before laying down a deposit. Well now there are two more choices for you, courtesy of the world’s biggest car manufacturer: Toyota.
For a limited time only, Toyota ( UAE ONLY ) is selling two new, unique versions of the FJ Cruiser. You have been gifted the choice between the Toyota FJ Xtreme and the Toyota FJ Street; two SUVs which share the same fundamental foundation and similar aesthetics, but have been individually tweaked and modified to appeal to two different types of car buyer.
Before we discuss the differences between these two models, we should probably have a look at what the principle FJ Cruiser is all about. By far one of the most unique-looking cars on the market, the FJ combines retro styling with modern amenities. You may think that you have seen the front arrangement before elsewhere, and you’d be right. Delve into the history books and you will come to see that the front is a gentle homage to the very original Toyota Land Cruiser FJ, which incidentally is from where it also takes its name.
Behind the retro front end we find possibly the most original body design on the market today. A near vertical windscreen folds around to meet two rather square doors on either side, which in turn are connected to a brace of rear-doors which hinge-open backwards. Then the side windows are interrupted by some unique body panels before we reach a very square back-end, complete with rear-mounted spare-wheel and distinctive rear clusters.
So what, then, are the key differences between the Xtreme and the Street?
Well, they both have the same 4.0 litre V6 engine and 5-speed automatic gearbox. The numbers all match those of the conventional FJ Cruiser, too. The engine produces a hearty 270bhp and 380Nm of torque.
As both cars share the same internal organs, we find the most notable differences between the Xtreme and the Street lies within the cosmetic make-up. On the Street you will find a chrome grille, chrome door handles, 20” chrome alloy wheels, and a chrome exhaust tip. Added to this are the Daytime Running Lights (DRL), which are a thin band of strategically placed LEDs fitted around the headlamps to emit an aura of cool.
This version has been designed with Dubai Mall in mind; it’s glamourous, polished, and crisp. This is the kind of car that you can expect to see parked outside some of the UAE’s most high-end establishments, all under the subtle glow of white halogen lighting. Think of Fashion Avenue, the Burj Al Arab, the Palm…
Of course it’s not all just automotive plumage, the Street comes with lower coil suspension, which will keep the car firm and improve handling through the city streets. This is in addition to the excellent list of features as well as the standard high-quality interior.
It all sounds wonderful, and it will surely be popular with the Glitterati, but what if you want to take it off-road? Well, in that case you need to take a rain-check on the Street and walk straight onwards towards the Xtreme.
Ever since its launch in 2007, the FJ Cruiser has been touted as one of the best off-roaders on the market. Why, then, has Toyota released a limited version which they say is better than the standard one? Well, they have. And to give you an idea of the scope of the project, the new Xtreme has been built in collaboration with Icelandic modifiers; Arctic Trucks. This is the same company that built the famous Toyota Hilux for Jeremy Clarkson and James May which then became the first car to ever drive to the North Pole… closely followed by the camera car, of course. In order to fully appreciate just how versatile and tough this new FJ will be, you should really watch that Top Gear film.
The styling is more subtle than that of the Street. It comes with 16” Matt-Black alloy wheels and chunky tyres, which are far more suited to tackling off-road terrain. Then there are the Bushwacker fender flares and a redesigned Hood Scoop for better ventilation. Perhaps you won’t notice, but the FJ Cruiser no longer sits on a slight, forward leaning rake angle, as new adjustable suspension from Fox lift kit has raised the ride-height. Simply speaking, this gives the car greater ground clearance and will enhance its off-road performance.
But it’s not all mechanical sorcery and raw-knuckle off-road body parts; the Xtreme also comes with DRLs and Smoked LED indicator signals, and although it might not have the same idiosyncratic gloss of the Street, it will move around the city streets just as well, and is sure to turn just as many heads.
So what are you looking at money-wise here? Well, if you’re after a car that will stand out in the crowd while parked on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Boulevard, then you’ll be looking to spend around AED 164,900 on the Street. If, however, you have a weekend away in the Empty Quarter booked, then you’ll need AED 149,900 for the Xtreme.
You will know better than us which camp you fall into, but you’d better hurry up and choose because there aren’t many of these cars available. Do you want to look slick in the city, or indestructible in the desert? Choosing a car has never been so much fun.
Click here to learn more about Toyota offers in the UAE
Martin Fullard