Toyota Mini Land Cruiser FJ is approaching! Everything we know about the Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Wrangler rival

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There is a small Toyota off-roader coming. It might be called the Land Cruiser Mini, it might be called the Land Cruiser FJ, and it might be called something different entirely — but it is definitely in the works. 

With the help of digital artist Theottle, we have imagined Toyota’s smallest ladder-framed off-roader that is anticipated to launch in 2026 overseas. 

In this story, we’ve amalgamated everything we know so far about the 2026 Toyota Mini Land Cruiser FJ, including design, powertrain, platform, arrival timing, and pricing.

It has been a long process, with shaky information over the last three years, but recent insider information from Japan’s Best Car, Thailand’s Headlight Mag and Top Gear Philippines give us real hope it will become a reality. 

Whether or not the Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Wrangler rivalling shrunken Land Cruiser will come to Australia, though, remains a mystery. 

What will the Land Cruiser FJ look like?

With support from patent images unearthed by Top Gear Philippines and insider info, we’ve predicted the look of the Mini Land Cruiser FJ. 

Toyota has shown it isn’t afraid of going retro with the latest 250 Series Prado and the new vehicle will likely channel similar vibes. We’ve chosen square, semi-circular headlight details, ‘TOYOTA’ lettering on the front grille and a beefy front valance. 

Down the side, there’s another heritage detail in the kicked-up back window line. LED light clusters float on the outside of the tailgate giving visual width to the vehicle. A swing-out tailgate carries a full-size spare wheel. 

We’ve imagined this vehicle in a mid-spec, GXL trim level featuring highway-terrain tyres. If the Mini Land Cruiser FJ comes to Australia, expect a Prado Altitude-like trim with chunkier tyres and greater ground clearance. 

Size-wise, the five-seat Mini Land Cruiser FJ is likely to split the Corolla Cross small SUV and RAV4 medium SUV at around 4.5 metres long. 

Expect wheels pushed to all four corners of the vehicle to minimise overhangs, with a ground clearance of 210mm. 

So while the new Land Cruiser FJ will be a bonafide 4WD, its compact size should make it a genuine city-friendly alternative — a stand-in for less capable SUVs like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.

What platform will the Land Cruiser FJ use?

The Mini Land Cruiser FJ will use a ladder-frame chassis, and is known to be called the ‘500D’ project internally. 

We know the Mini Land Cruiser FJ will not utilise Toyota’s TNGA-F frame seen in the Prado, 300 Series Land Cruiser and Lexus GX. 

Instead, it will use Toyota’s IMV underpinnings. It is not entirely clear if they will be the low-price IMV-0 under South East Asia’s Hilux Champ, or a version of the IMV2 chassis in the current Hilux. 

The fact that the Mini Land Cruiser FJ may be built on a Hilux platform bodes well for a future Australian release. 

What about engines?

While the Mini Land Cruiser FJ will have full-time 4WD, power units are a little more obscure. 

We know there’s no hybrid — at least at launch — and it looks like a 118kW 2.7-litre petrol four-cylinder will be standard. Also available down the track will be the 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder. Both engines are found in low-spec Hiluxes and approved for sale in Australia. 

Some sources point to the 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel from the Hilux and Prado could join in the future. 

A six-speed automatic transmission is likely to be standard, with locking centre, and potentially rear, differentials. 

When is the Mini Land Cruiser FJ launching?

Toyota has not officially announced the launch of the Mini Land Cruiser FJ. 

However, it is anticipated that the new 4×4 may be first shown off at this year’s Japan Mobility Show in late October. 

An on-sale date of H1 2026 has also been floated for Japanese and Thai markets. Toyota is likely to produce the Mini Land Cruiser FJ in Thailand, too. 

Will the mini Land Cruiser FJ come to Australia?

There is no word on the Mini Land Cruiser FJ coming to Australia yet, though ‘Land Cruiser FJ’ has been trademarked, distinct from the old ‘XJ10’ FJ Cruiser. 

Australia has a penchant for Land Cruiser products, being one of few markets to get all three current model lines, being 70 Series, 250 Series and 300 Series. 

Buyers here enjoy 4x4s, including light ones, with the Suzuki Jimny dominating the niche at the moment, managing nearly 10,000 sales last year. 

If the Mini Land Cruiser FJ is to succeed, it will need to be priced smartly as well. The base Prado GX is $72,500, before on-road costs, so a smaller model would need to open at $60,000 or below.