Toyota Australia has said the ‘Baby’ LandCruiser FJwon’t make it to Australia in its current guise because its engine – shared with the HiLux – can’t meet upcoming emissions regulations, which may also see it dumped from the ute range.
The chunky mini-FJ LandCruiser was revealed earlier this month as a rival to theSuzuki JimnyandRenault Duster small SUVs, but Toyota Australia immediately ruled it out for local showrooms.
Speaking to media at this week’s Tokyo motor show, Toyota Australia sales and marketing vice president Sean Hanley said the pint-size SUV’s naturally aspirated 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (codenamed 2TR-FE) has prevented an Australian launch.
The powertrain – also used in entry-level versions of the HiLux – is currently rated at a Euro 5 emissions standard but won’t meet tougher Euro 6 regulations coming into force in Australia from December 2025.
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No other engines have been announced for the vehicle.
“I looked at the little LandCruiser today and there’s no doubt on looks, and the LandCruiser name in Australia, [it] would be very appealing,” Mr Hanley said.
“But the hardcore reality is, we are facing in our country … variable regulations, new criteria, New Vehicle Efficiency Standards [NVES].”
Mr Hanley was quick to point out that the baby FJ’s non-arrival wasn’t due to NVES, with Euro 6 separate from the emissions standards introduced in 2025.
“It’s not about NVES it’s just about regulations – it’s actually about emission standards, so on that particular vehicle – but it’s not because of NVES, it’s the reality [that] we’re moving to Euro 6 emissions,” he said.
Mr Hanley said if the baby FJ met Euro 6 standards, Toyota Australia would reconsider it for local showrooms.
“We have to look very carefully at our product portfolio – what we think we’re going to need, what are we going to sell in numbers, what the customers want and need.”
“Customers need that LandCruiser, customers need that LandCruiser ute, customers need that HiLux, right, so we’ve got to be very carefully planned on our product portfolio going forward.
“These are all things we need to consider when we look to bring in cars in the future.”
The baby FJ LandCruiser shares its platform with the HiLux Champ, a back-to-basics ute not sold in Australia. One of these was spotted here earlier this week, though Toyota Australia has confirmed this example isn’t one of its vehicles, nor does it belong to one of its partners or suppliers.
Like the FJ LandCruiser, this is also offered with the 2.7-litre engine in certain markets, though it’s also offered with diesel power.
There’s reason to believe the 2.7-litre engine won’t be offered in the next-generation HiLux, which is due to be unveiled later this month.
The 2.7-litre was missing from official Australian Design Rule (ADR) documents for the new-generation HiLux, which listed the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, codenamed 1GD-FTV, as the sole engine.