- A new, small Toyota 4×4 could be set for a debut late in 2025, say new rumours
- The SUV, possibly branded “FJ Cruiser,” could take much from the existing Hilux Champ truck
- Even if such a thing is built, chances are slim it’ll come here—but they’re not zero
Speculation has bubbled to a head amongst off-road gearheads this past month about the potentially imminent arrival of a compact 4×4 which could be a spiritual Toyota FJ successor. If true, it would add yet another gnarly arrow to Toyota’s dirt-road quiver of capable off-road machines.
Nothing’s official, but outlets south of the border are suggesting this rig could share underpinnings with the Hilux Champ, a four-wheel-drive in the overseas market playing in the light commercial vehicle segment for the last couple of years. That pickup is based on the venerable Hilux, but targets emerging markets as a small two-door truck or chassis cab. The model is not sold in North America.
But such local unavailability hasn’t stopped automakers from bringing vehicles Stateside, should there be enough clamour from fans or a bed-wetting accountant that makes the numbers work. Images shown here are of the pickup truck variant, kitted out with the likes of drop-side cargo beds and lifestyle gear. Morphing this machine into a four-door SUV wouldn’t be the most strenuous task in the world for one of the planet’s largest automakers—but again, a business case needs to be made.
Not that it makes any difference for our market, but the Hilux Champ can be had with either of two gasoline-powered engines; or a diesel in places like Thailand. In that country, the truck has a starting sticker of 459,000 baht, or roughly CDN$19,500 at today’s exchange rate. We think they would sell briskly at that price point, or even a few thousand bucks higher. While it plays in a completely different segment, look at the rampant success of the Ford Maverick for proof of how a reasonably priced machine can find a foothold in Canada, no matter its intended target audience.
It is at this stage we also need to point out that Toyota sells yet another off-roader you can’t buy here—the so-called Land Cruiser “70” in Japan.
This is a low(er)-cost step into the Land Cruiser family compared to the generally excellent Land Cruiser “250” on sale today in Canada. The rugged and comparatively simple 70 would also probably sell like gangbusters over here, if not for the small fact it is powered by a turbo-diesel, which probably runs afoul of some EPA regs on this side of the pond, plus whatever other regulation-du-jour the gubbmint is foisting on us at this particular moment.
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