When it comes to vehicles that suffered a discontinuation way too early in production, it is tough not to bring up the incredible Toyota FJ Cruiser. This enormous Toyota SUV was a retro-inspired SUV with the capability of a Jeep, a more refined Hummer, and the reliability and respect of a Toyota. The FJ Cruiser is often forgotten due to its low sales in America when it was in production from 2007 to 2014. Are you planning on putting an FJ Cruiser in your driveway this year? If so, here is everything you need to know about the FJ Cruiser and which model years are worth buying.

Toyota FJ Cruiser model pricing

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is currently experiencing a spike in popularity. With many FJ Cruisers being sold on the used market for thousands over their original asking price, the FJ Cruiser is one of the most in-demand used vehicles in the US today. Despite these high prices on the used market, many consumers are happily buying these vehicles at a markup due to their offroad capabilities and retro styling.

The FJ Cruiser was produced in Japan for North America from 2007 through 2014. Throughout its production, sales for FJ Cruiser were slow. According to GoodCarBadCar, the best-selling FJ Cruiser year was 2006 for the 2007 model year at 56,225 units sold. As soon as the economy took a hit, sales took a plunge, with only 11,941 units sold after the 2008 recession in 2009. Despite these low sales, prices were low on dealer lots, with the 2007 model only having a low $20,000-range MSRP.

What do you get with the different FJ Cruiser models?

Sadly, with that low price comes a low amount of features as well. By 2014, cruise control, a rearview camera, a rear window wiper, and keyless entry were all optional features. The drivetrain fared much better than the interior features, and during the entire FJ Cruiser production run, this SUV came standard with a 4.0-liter V6 engine capable of around 260 hp.

Rear-wheel drive with an automatic transmission was standard equipment, but if you opted for all-wheel drive, you also had the choice of an automatic or manual transmission. With FJ Cruiser sales never returning to their early success after the recession of 2008, Toyota pulled the plug on the project after the 2014 model year.

Which Toyota FJ Cruiser model years are the best?

According to Car Complaints, the best Toyota FJ Cruiser models are found after the 2007 model year. As with many other vehicles, the first entry for a vehicle can be a little rough with the build quality, and the 2007 FJ Cruiser is no different.

The most complaints about the 2007 FJ Cruiser include frame rust, chipping paint, and cracks throughout the body. Regarding the drivetrain, the worst issue with the 2007 FJ Cruiser is the transmission, which tends to shudder at around 35 miles per hour.

If you want to get behind the wheel of a used FJ Cruiser, just about any model built after the initial 2007 model year would be a good choice. The best FJ Cruiser in terms of reliability would be the newest model from the 2014 model year. This vehicle has zero recalls issues from the NHTSA and a perfect reliability score from JD Power.