Many are making comparisons between the just-revealed 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and the popular Toyota FJ Cruiser last sold in the U.S. in 2014. Besides the obvious 10-year difference in technology and safety assists, many suggest they’re basically the same. With the retro styling and general dimension similarity, are they a match? Is the new Land Cruiser just FJ Cruiser 2.0?

The FJ goes all of the way back to 2005 for its debut. It was based on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. So in the day, there was a close relationship between the FJ and Land Cruiser. Both were body-on-frame, which makes for the best off-road vehicle. And the FJ was, with its full-time four-wheel drive and other off-road pluses. 

How close are the FJ and Land Cruiser dimensions?

Size-wise, both are virtually identical, but the differences appear once you go past each SUV’s size. First, the Land Cruiser has a longer wheelbase at 112.2 inches versus the FJ’s 105.9. But when it comes to approach/departure angles, the FJ has a significant advantage. 

The approach angle for the FJ is 34 degrees versus the Land Cruiser’s 31 degrees. Breakover is 27.4 versus 25 for the LC and 30 degrees versus 22 degrees. The FJ definitely takes the lead for these critical off-road categories. And for ground clearance, the FJ also leads with 9.61 inches over the Land Cruiser’s 8.7 inches.

How well did the two SUVs sell in the past?

A V6 was the basis for the FJ’s power, at 239 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. This spun a six-speed automatic transmission. The 2024 Land Cruiser has significantly better power and torque numbers over the FJ at 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. And the newer SUV’s eight-speed automatic also bests the FJ.

Land Cruiser sales in the U.S. have never been stellar. Since 2006, sales have never topped 4,000 units per year. The FJ Cruiser, on the other hand, saw a burst of sales at over 55,000 in both 2006 and 2007. After that, it saw an average of 14,000 to 15,000 sales annually through its last year here in 2014. 

So it looks like Toyota is trying to capture former FJ Cruiser fans while using the Land Cruiser name to get those 3,000 to 4,000 buyers consistently buying them in years past. Or, was the FJ a way to get more mileage out of its Land Cruiser development? However it was meant, both have strong enthusiast support. And we all know SUVs are the hottest segment right now, so why not capitalize on the iconic Land Cruiser name? 

How do the two compare in price?

In its last year of production, the 2014 FJ Cruiser had a base price of $31,000. That’s a far cry from the estimated price for a base 2024 Land Cruiser at $50,000. But that $31,000 in 2014 equates to $40,000 today. So all of that tech and refinement adds at least $9,000, factoring in the two prices. 

Would you prefer a 2024-spec FJ Cruiser at $50,000, or does the 2024 Land Cruiser satisfy that FJ enthusiast looking for a modern FJ? We’ll look at the numbers in a couple of years to see how the two compare.