The Toyota FJ Cruiser was designed to have 32-inch tires, considerable wheel travel, high ground clearance and a tough, fully boxed frame. The front suspension is independent with a double-wishbone design while the rear features a solid rear axle with a four-link coil-spring suspension. Providing power for every FJ is a 4.0-liter V6 capable of 239 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque.

Toyota has outfitted the FJ Cruiser with a choice of two four-wheel-drive (4WD) systems and two transmissions. Four-wheel-drive models with the five-speed automatic transmission come with a transfer case that can be changed to 2-Hi, 4-Hi and 4-Lo modes. FJs with the six-speed manual transmission are more off-road-oriented, as they provide a lockable center differential but lack the 2-Hi mode. There's also a two-wheel-drive FJ Cruiser available. It comes with the five-speed automatic only.