The Real Cause of Toyota FJ Cruisers’ Expensiveness
Toyota FJ Cruisers have managed to maintain their value due to their dependability, limited production numbers, and high demand.
Toyota introduced the FJ Cruiser with a “heritage meets modern” aesthetic and superior driving performance. It became one of the most popular models produced by the Japanese automaker, despite the fact that it has been out of production for over a decade. Why the prices of vintage FJ Cruisers remain so high is not difficult to comprehend.
Recognizing the high demand for SUVs, Toyota decided to revive the FJ40’s off-road prowess while capitalizing on the popularity of the model. The FJ Cruiser successfully captured the essence of the FJ40 while integrating modern features and technologies.
Used FJ Cruiser SUVs are selling slightly lower or even higher than when they were new on various online auction platforms. Fortunately, it is simple to clarify why this is occurring with a discontinued model. We believe that a variety of factors contribute to this phenomenon, as opposed to a single cause.
Why Are FJ Cruisers So Expensive?
Toyota is keenly aware that nothing lasts forever; the FJ Cruiser would ultimately have been discontinued. Seven years after the FJ Cruiser was introduced for the 2007 model year, the SUV attained its pinnacle. Toyota confirmed the discontinuation of the FJ Cruiser in 2014 with the Trail Teams Ultimate Edition.
The final commemorative special edition of the FJ Cruiser was limited to 2,500 units by Toyota. The Japanese automaker ceased production of the FJ Cruiser after the 2014 model year, and to this day has not announced a replacement for the SUV. The FJ Cruiser is currently a collectible model.
In some markets, however, production of the 2014 FJ Cruiser continued, albeit as special editions distributed by authorized Toyota distributors. The final production cycle concluded in December of 2022. This is one of the reasons why FJ Cruisers retain their value so well.
Why Is The FJ Cruiser Worth So Much?
Reliability is one of the reasons why the Toyota FJ Cruiser remains dear. Toyota appears to have endowed the SUV with a number of features that contributed to its quality and durability. Body-on-frame construction, rugged components, advanced four-wheel-drive systems, high ground clearance, and off-road suspension are among these features. Intriguingly, these characteristics are the reason why off-road devotees adore the FJ Cruiser.
Customers and evaluators have vouched for the FJ Cruiser’s dependability on review websites such as Edmunds. The SUV has a strong track record of long-term dependability, even in its last model year. The FJ Cruiser is a strong performer in terms of dependability, despite trivial complaints such as limited interior space.
FJ Cruisers Retain Their Value
The base price of a brand-new 2014 FJ Cruiser was approximately $30,805. While other SUVs would have lost a substantial portion of their value a decade after production ceased, the FJ Cruiser has maintained its value. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price for a used 2014 Cruiser in the United States is $31,092, as of the present.
The tendency of FJ Cruisers to have a high value is notably evident in their later models. However, even early FJ Cruisers (model years 2007) are selling for close to $15,000. The trend indicates that the FJ Cruiser is excellent at retaining its value over time.
High Demand And Extremely Limited Supply
Toyota did not disclose the precise global FJ Cruiser production figures. Totaling the sales figures for the entire generation in the United States and Canada, Toyota has sold nearly 240,000 vehicles. The Japanese automaker did not intend to produce as many FJ Cruisers as its wildly popular brethren.
Despite this, Toyota did produce a limited number of FJ Cruisers. Additionally, clients tend to keep their FJ Cruisers, which increases their value. Simply put, there are not enough FJ Cruisers to meet the extremely high demand, particularly considering that off-road enthusiasts were also contemplating purchasing the SUV.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser has become a prestigious symbol. The SUV’s legendary status is evidenced by the high aftermarket prices and sustained high demand for the vehicle. Toyota’s decision to reintroduce the FJ Cruiser as a brand-new model wouldn’t come as a shock to the automotive industry, given the demand for used vehicles.
After all, Toyota has already reintroduced two legendary models, the Supra and the 86. Now, both sports vehicles are included in the automaker’s GR brand alongside the GR Supra and the GR86. Toyota may not resurrect the SUV as the GR FJ Cruiser, but giving it a second shot as a brand-new model is not such an outlandish notion.
Therefore, these HotCars-exclusive renderings by Rostislav Prokop may assist fans and prospective buyers in imagining what a new FJ Cruiser would appear like.