Bring on the Battle Van!!!

[MrH]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/10/tj-cruiser/


I'm all about it 

[MX793]

So it's an uglier Ford Flex with sliding doors.

[Lebowski]

I don't like the styling of this example, though generally speaking a boxier van-ish SUV makes sense for space/utility and fold flat ability for all seats would be great. I don't see them ever being popular though as all of them thus far (incl this concept) have been ugly/dorky looking - Element, Flex etc. I mean, if a guy who salivates over CRVs thinks they look dorky what does that tell you?

[MX793]

I saw a blue Flex a few weeks back with some police box stickers applied in a nod to Dr Who's TARDIS.  Super dorky.

[Submariner]

Can't they bring back the Fj instead? 

[Lebowski]

FJ Cruiser was super dorky too, and fairly impractical for an SUV.

[mzziaz]

I like it. Rugged and functional.

[mzziaz]

Best looking vehicle to come from Toyota in a long time, too. But that is not saying much.

[Soup DeVille]

FJ Cruiser was super dorky too, and fairly impractical for an SUV.

I never really figured the the "why" of the FJ. What they really needed was a decontented Prado (Lexus GX) with a mild lift.

[MrH]

I never really figured the the "why" of the FJ. What they really needed was a decontented Prado (Lexus GX) with a mild lift.

Isn't that just a 4Runner?

[Soup DeVille]

Isn't that just a 4Runner?

No, different model; but the 4Runner would be so close it's probably why they wouldn't.

[MrH]

Turns out this thing is really small.  From the pictures it looks pretty big, but it's actually only 168 inches long.  Probably won't make it to the US market then

It's like a new age Element that will probably be a lot better.

[shp4man]

All these modern concept vehicles seem to have gigantic ass 20 inch+ wheels as a prerequisite. Never have liked that very much. 

[93JC]

If I was Sergio Marchionne I'd have FCA's legal department make a call to Toyota's about that name...

[Tave]

I like it. Rugged and functional.

Yeah me too.

[Tave]

FJ Cruiser was super dorky too, and fairly impractical for an SUV.

It was impractical for hauling kids around to soccer practice, less impractical for actually driving it offroad or cleaning the interior after a weekend of camping/biking/skiing/etc...

[giant_mtb]

FJ Cruiser is a great adventure vehicle.

[Rupert]

It was impractical for hauling kids around to soccer practice, less impractical for actually driving it offroad or cleaning the interior after a weekend of camping/biking/skiing/etc...

Fairly poor usable interior space, though.

[Rupert]

I'd love a small tough 4WD van with clearance. AWD may or may not be good enough. The only reason I don't drive a minivan is the lack of 4WD and clearance.

[giant_mtb]

Fairly poor usable interior space, though.

It's not the biggest on the inside, but it's not poorly usable.

[MrH]

Rear seats in the FJ are pretty much useless. It's like having a gigantic off roading coupe disguised as a Tonka truck. The only reason I could see buying one over a 4Runner are those three windshield wipers. That's pretty cool.

[giant_mtb]

Rear seats in the FJ are pretty much useless. It's like having a gigantic off roading coupe disguised as a Tonka truck. The only reason I could see buying one over a 4Runner are those three windshield wipers. That's pretty cool.

I rode 3 hours in the back seat of an FJ and thought it was fine.  Not every vehicle is gonna be a rocket couch.

[Lebowski]

It was impractical for hauling kids around to soccer practice, less impractical for actually driving it offroad or cleaning the interior after a weekend of camping/biking/skiing/etc...

It's not horribly impractical but the suicide doors and smallish back seat are definitely drawbacks if you don't mostly use it for 1-2 ppl.   

[giant_mtb]

It's not horribly impractical but the suicide doors and smallish back seat are definitely drawbacks if you don't mostly use it for 1-2 ppl.   

Yeah you're not gonna take 2 kids and a dog on a camping trip, that's for sure.

[AutobahnSHO]

The only reason I don't drive a minivan is the lack of 4WD and clearance.

Toyota offers AWD.

I've thought about this a lot, I'm guessing they think the niche is too small to build a decent van crossover. I don't know if they can make anything truly off-roadable with a uniframe like minivans have. Seems all the SUV architecture sacrifices too much interior space to get the clearance.

But then they also have to tuck a lot of the accessories up higher- look under a minivan and there's all kinds of random stuff stuck really low which would get beat up if you went off-roading.

But I wonder how capable the old Mazda MPVs were...

[Raza]

Turns out this thing is really small.  From the pictures it looks pretty big, but it's actually only 168 inches long.  Probably won't make it to the US market then

It's like a new age Element that will probably be a lot better.

168"? That's like a food truck in Tokyo, though.

[Tave]

Fairly poor usable interior space, though.

Not for the size of vehicle it is. It makes efficient use of its cargo room (and is downright cavernous if you fold the second row flat) with easy cleaning surfaces. I'd say it was a more useable offroad space than anything short of a pickup when it was on sale.

It's not horribly impractical but the suicide doors and smallish back seat are definitely drawbacks if you don't mostly use it for 1-2 ppl.   

Eh--there's at least as much room if not more than my old 4runner. Neither would be my choice for a 4-person highway trip, but then again pretty much every SUV is impractical and uncomfortable for that kind of action compared to a full size sedan, station wagon, or minivan.

[Lebowski]

Neither would be my choice for a 4-person highway trip, but then again pretty much every SUV is impractical and uncomfortable for that kind of action compared to a full size sedan, station wagon, or minivan.

Uh, no. SUV gives up practicality vs a minivan if you need a third row, but for 4 adults vs a sedan or wagon no way unless we're talking A8/S/7 range.

[MrH]

Yeah, give me a big SUV for a four adult road trip vehicle. 4Runner is a much better long distance vehicle than the Genesis was.

[Rupert]

Toyota offers AWD.

I've thought about this a lot, I'm guessing they think the niche is too small to build a decent van crossover. I don't know if they can make anything truly off-roadable with a uniframe like minivans have. Seems all the SUV architecture sacrifices too much interior space to get the clearance.

But then they also have to tuck a lot of the accessories up higher- look under a minivan and there's all kinds of random stuff stuck really low which would get beat up if you went off-roading.

But I wonder how capable the old Mazda MPVs were...

AWD, not 4WD, not enough clearance.

The unibody is not the issue, and IMO neither is packaging. I think it's just that there isn't enough of a market for that kind of thing.

The MPVs were OK, probably good enough for me, though I might push the limits sometimes. I never get close to the limits of the XTerra. The Syncro Vanagons (and the Westphalia versions of the same ) were also reasonably capable, as were the old mid-engine Toyotas with 4WD, and the Mitsu Delicas they sold elsewhere than the U.S. into the '90s. None of these were big sellers, none had a low range, and I don't think there has been any kind of 4WD minivan that would fit my needs since the MPV.