Verdict
ere we have true icons,
one a faithful descendant
of its original forebear,
and the other a modern
interpretation of a clas-
sic. Both have very distinctive styling,
and both have impressive off-road
prowess—the Defender relying on sheer
mechanical ability and the FJ Cruiser on
advanced electronics.
That said, they’re as different as men
are from women. The Defender needs
a real man to drive it. You have to be
tough, committed and somewhat bru-
tal to maximize its potential. The FJ
Cruiser is a real doodle to drive, just
like any Toyota. It requires a lower skill
level to get decent off-road progress
compared, and it can be used easily
every day.
Then there’s the price: The Defender
is in the neighborhood of P 3 million,
whereas the FJ Cruiser is in the more
palatable P1.8-million range.
Logically, rationally, the FJ Cruiser
wins. It’s easier to drive, costs less,
and is a Toyota, which makes it a less
alien purchase to the average person.
It’s also special enough, and will be a
future classic because Toyota has yet
to announce its replacement even as
it approaches 10 years of service. The
extensive aftermarket support only
makes it more popular, too. Crucially,
the FJ Cruiser can be a true dual-
purpose vehicle: practical enough for
everyday use, and capable enough to
play on tough trails during weekends.
But the Defender is the moral victor
here. It’s difficult to drive, features
heavy controls, requires serious com-
mitment even on short stints, has a
lousy turning radius despite its much
smaller size, bucks like a bronco, and
is honestly, pitifully slow on paved
surfaces. What’s more, confusing
controls are scattered all over the
interior much like an afterthought. But
drive confidently and get everything
right, and there are few things as sat-
isfying to drive on any surface as this
Land Rover.
h
2.2-liter turbodiesel I 4
direct-injection
2,198
120 hp @ 3,500rpm360 Nm @ 2,000rpm
6 -speed manual
disc/disc
live beam axle
live beam axle
16 inch alloy
235/85 R 16
3,894/1,790/2,021
2,360
1,812
66.225
604.0-liter DOHC V 6
Dual VVT-i
3,956
268 hp @ 5,600rpm
380 Nm @ 4,400rpm
5 -speed automatic
disc/disc
double wishbone
multi-link
17 inch alloy
265/70 R 17
4,670/1,905/1,830
2,690
2,000
134
80none
yes/no
yes/yes
yes
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
noyes/yes/yes
4
yes
no
no
no
no2
yes/no
yes/yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
no
no
no
yesyes/yes/yes
5
yes
yes
yes (rake)
no
noLand Rover Defender 90
tbaToyota FJ Cruiser
P1,798,000They boast of a strong
lineage, but possess their
own unique characters‘Both have distinctive
styling and impressive
off-road prowess’
LisT pRiCe
AiRbAgs (numbeR)
AiRCon/CLimATe ConTRoL
ALARm/immobiLizeR
Abs
bRAke-FoRCe DisTRibuTion
HiLL-HoLD AssisT
CRuise ConTRoL
ADApTive suspension
FueL-RAnge meTeR
DRive-moDe seLeCToR
FRonT FogLigHTs
LeATHeR
ReveRse CAmeRA
AuxiLiARy JACk/CD/usb
seATing CApACiTy
spARe wHeeL
sTAbiLiTy ConTRoL
sTeeRing-CoLumn ADJusTmenT
sTeeRing-wHeeL-mounTeD ConTRoLs
sunRooF
engine
Type
CApACiTy (CC)
mAximum ouTpuT
mAximum ToRQue
TRAnsmission
bRAkes (FRonT/ReAR)
FRonT suspension
ReAR suspension
wHeeLs
TiRes (FRonT/ReAR)
Dimensions L/w/H (mm)
wHeeLbAse (mm)
CuRb weigHT (kg)
poweR To weigHT RATio (Hp/Ton)
FueL-TAnk CApACiTy (LiTeRs)SPECS
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