Toyota Won’t Let America Or Europe Have Its New FJ Cruiser

After years of waiting, Toyota has revealed a compact new addition to its growing Land Cruiser lineup, borrowing the FJ Cruiser nameplate without directly reviving that long-discontinued model.

The newcomer, called the Land Cruiser FJ, echoes the muscular, squared-off look of its larger siblings and carries the same back-to-basics appeal that made the nameplate popular. Suffice to say, it has all the hallmarks of a sales hit. Unfortunately, it won’t be sold in all markets.

Read: Toyota’s New Land Cruiser FJ Looks Retro Enough To Steal Your Heart

Toyota has confirmed that the 2026 Land Cruiser FJ will be built in Thailand, with no plans for export to the United States or Europe

Not selling the new FJ in America doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since the US already misses out on the classic Land Cruiser 70 Series and the modern 300 Series that are offered elsewhere alongside the 250 Series, including in markets like Australia.

Who Gets It?

“There are currently no plans to bring this vehicle to the North American market,” a Toyota spokesperson told Carscoops.

Importing from Thailand would attract a 19 percent tariff, making the compact off-roader far more expensive than Toyota likely intends.

Chief engineer Masaya Uchiyama shared a similar message in a separate conversation with Auto News during the FJ’s unveiling. “There are no plans for America or Europe,” he said. “The start point for this is the global South.”

Toyota’s focus will center on markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

What’s There to Get Excited About?

Underpinning the new FJ is an updated version of the existing IMV platform and it will be sold exclusively with Toyota’s familiar 2.7-liter 2TR-FE naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine.

This engine delivers 161 hp and 181 lb-ft (246 Nm) of torque and is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission and a part-time four-wheel drive system.

Although the FJ is noticeably smaller than the 250 and 300 Series Land Cruisers, it still tips the scales at around 1,900 kg (4,188 lbs), or about 300 kg (661 lbs) less than the 250. Some design elements appear to have been inspired by the Compact Cruiser EV concept that was unveiled back in 2021.