[RoughDay]

This thread will be used to discuss which vehicles the Toyota TJ Cruiser or FT-4X will be going up against, or being compared to.

As we know, currently in todays market and even prior to, the Jeep Wrangler has dominated the off-road scene and it still continues, and the Wrangler is even coming with a new generation called the JL.

BUT just because they've dominated sales, doesn't mean that the FJ cruiser wasn't capable at all or even "paled in comparison" to the Wrangler. It just didn't work out in sales for many a reasons otherwise.

When the FJ came out, it was strong in sales but that was followed by quite the decrease between 2006 and 2013 in NA at least.

What I'm getting to is that the Toyota FT-4X/TJ Cruiser, I think, Will be trying to take a stab at that Wrangler again and it may just do it this time around.

However, Not only will they be gearing up for the Wrangler. As some may know Ford is planning on producing a bit of a utilitarian and a blast from the past deemed the Ford Bronco.

So let's add that to the mix. Currently the only competitors I can see for the Toyota FT-4X/TJ Cruiser are the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler.

Do you think there are any other competitors in this very limited segment?

 

[ToyoForLife]

I don't even think the Wrangler and Bronco can compete with the TJ Cruiser when it comes to versatility and usability. The Toyota car is built like a swiss army knife with everything built in.

But if we're looking at off-road performance then the Wrangler may come out on top. Hard to judge based on a concept.

 

[RoughDay]

The best part is, with all of the features laid out for the TJ Cruiser, none of them are too over the top to get cut from the production model. Everything can definitely be in production spec. Yeah overall design could be different, but the bare bones of it and what it offers can all remain which will make it a lot more versatile and capable.

I think it'll be tough for anything to beat out the Wrangler in the off-road sector factory to factory though.

The Bronco could just prove to be the in between for both.

 

[NY-TJ]

It's TJ vs Kia Soul vs Renegade. Wrangler and Bronco are in a segment above.

The biggest mistake people are making with this new concept is positioning it as a FJ successor, which its not. This is the baby FJ.

 

[RoughDay]

If we get anything similar to what the concept is, the Kia Soul is knocked off the list immediately for the reason that it'll be no where as capable and versatile as this is. The Renegade in Trailhawk form would be the competitor.

 

[HeliDriver]

Agree with RoughDay, However I would toss Subaru into the mix.

The Wrangler and Bronco are on a whole other level of off-road capabilities.

 

[NY-TJ]

If we get anything similar to what the concept is, the Kia Soul is knocked off the list immediately for the reason that it'll be no where as capable and versatile as this is. The Renegade in Trailhawk form would be the competitor.

Well, that will still depend on some other things like pricing.
Odds are out of the two, the Soul will be the best entry-level product.

However to directly rival the TJ, Hyundai is coming out with a CUV called the Kona.
No way Toyota will deliver on a lot of this stuff and make it a sub-$20k product.

 

[RoughDay]

I feel like it's just too early to call the Soul a competitor as it's really just hanging by a thin line to see if it'll be there or not. Renegade has really high chances of it. The Kona that you mentioned, from the looks of it, looks like it'll be right there too. But even though pricing is going to be there, the TJ is going to be one of those niche products that's in the segment, but not really fighting the same battle if you know what I mean

 

[NY-TJ]

I feel like it's just too early to call the Soul a competitor as it's really just hanging by a thin line to see if it'll be there or not. Renegade has really high chances of it. The Kona that you mentioned, from the looks of it, looks like it'll be right there too. But even though pricing is going to be there, the TJ is going to be one of those niche products that's in the segment, but not really fighting the same battle if you know what I mean

Not early at all when we know for a fact it sits in the same segment, its just a matter of which trims we are comparing. From the looks of it, if you want to keep price as close as possible, it will be a higher trim Soul vs a basemodel TJ for starters.

basemodel Soul will likely be the cheapest in the segment as it remains.

 

[RoughDay]

Okay set aside price and look at it pound for pound. What are you getting with the TJ Cruiser and what is it capable of versus what you get with the Soul and what that's capable of. Off of that alone, you can tell they're distant competitors yes, but the same people looking at the TJ aren't looking at the Soul as an option.

 

[NY-TJ]

Okay set aside price and look at it pound for pound. What are you getting with the TJ Cruiser and what is it capable of versus what you get with the Soul and what that's capable of. Off of that alone, you can tell they're distant competitors yes, but the same people looking at the TJ aren't looking at the Soul as an option.

What exactly is making these distant competitors? We don't even have confirmation of what will come to production. Your whole understanding of what's going on here is flawed. What we know for sure is both the TJ and Soul will in fact sit in a segment unique to a few models.

 

[HeliDriver]

What exactly is making these distant competitors? We don't even have confirmation of what will come to production. Your whole understanding of what's going on here is flawed. What we know for sure is both the TJ and Soul will in fact sit in a segment unique to a few models.

Did I miss something here.
My knowledge of the Soul is almost nonexistent, do they offer it in an all wheel drive off-road model?
If they truly do compete then the Soul will fall clean off the edge of the map. My take on what RoughDay is saying it that Toyota would be offering the TJ as an off-road ready crossover. Something it more closely shares with the Renegade than it does the Soul. I think the ones looking at the Soul would buy the TJ but not the other way around. That being said trying to get a Kia Soul where I know the TJ will go would be a hoot, and we could lay that debate to rest!!

 

[ToyoForLife]

Waaaay back, Kia came out with a Soul concept that was meant for on and off-road driving, but that thing never went past the concept stage so it's a non compete with the TJ Cruiser.

When it comes to capabilities, it's really down to the Renegade and the Ford Bronco whenever that thing is released. I'd probably go with the former for now if the TJ Cruiser doesn't go into production just for aesthetics alone.

 

[RoughDay]

What exactly is making these distant competitors? We don't even have confirmation of what will come to production. Your whole understanding of what's going on here is flawed. What we know for sure is both the TJ and Soul will in fact sit in a segment unique to a few models.

Did I miss something here.
My knowledge of the Soul is almost nonexistent, do they offer it in an all wheel drive off-road model?
If they truly do compete then the Soul will fall clean off the edge of the map. My take on what RoughDay is saying it that Toyota would be offering the TJ as an off-road ready crossover. Something it more closely shares with the Renegade than it does the Soul. I think the ones looking at the Soul would buy the TJ but not the other way around. That being said trying to get a Kia Soul where I know the TJ will go would be a hoot, and we could lay that debate to rest!!

What HeliDriver said essentially encompasses what I mean.

That being said, we don't have confirmation on anything so with that reasoning and belief, anything can be speculated which would mean what I'm saying isn't flawed now is it considering it isn't all just irrelevant thoughts with no reasoning to back it up.

 

[ToyoForLife]

I'm hoping Toyota comes out with the TJ Cruiser with how much of the market is moving to compact cars these days. The 4Runner is great when it comes to performance, but it's just too large for me and there are no other options from Toyota aside from that or a second hand FJ Cruiser.

 

[RoughDay]

The FJ is also going to be much larger than the TJ Cruiser though. Comparing the concept with the FJ, the FJ stands a little around 10 inches taller, 16 inches longer, and 2 more inches on the wheelbase.

 

[ToyoForLife]

It may be a bit larger than the TJ Cruiser concept, but still smaller than what Toyota is currently offering. You just don't find unique car designs like the FJ anymore and both the Nissan Xterra and Jeep Grand Cherokee looks pedestrian in comparison.

 

[RoughDay]

Definitely agree with that. They're unique and carry a certain personality that the others don't. Are FJ Cruisers common in the marketplace in your area?

 

[ToyoForLife]

Not all that common and what I have found are quite expensive for a discontinued model. You'd think the dealerships would want to get rid of such an old model, but it looks like the prices may be the same or inflated a bit.

 

[RoughDay]

Buying through private sale or maybe even checking around farther out areas may be beneficial. Sometimes it's worth the road trip. The only problem is at that point you'd probably be unable to finance it if need be.