---
title: "Toyota’s Compact Cruiser EV Looks Like a True FJ Cruiser Successor"
description: "It beat out the Audi Skysphere and Porsche Mission R."
date: "2022-06-14"
modified: "2022-06-14"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyotas-compact-cruiser-ev-looks-like-a-true-fj-cruiser-successor"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Toyota News"
tags:
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Toyota"
---

# Toyota’s Compact Cruiser EV Looks Like a True FJ Cruiser Successor

![Front 3/4 view of the Toyota Compact Cruiser Concept EV.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/fullsizemodel-in-ed2-fq.jpg>)
*Toyota*

The vehicle you see above is not a real, production Toyota. It should be, though. It's called the Toyota Compact Cruiser EV and it's quite the cool-looking thing. And, evidently, I'm not the only one who thinks this because it won the [2022 Car Design Award](<https://cardesignaward.org/en/finaliste/#concept>) for Concept Vehicles on June 10, beating out a field that included the Audi Skysphere, the Polestar O2, Porsche Mission R, and the [delightfully retro Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40248/here-are-the-most-exciting-new-cars-at-the-shanghai-auto-show>), among others.

Created by Toyota's European design team in Nice and shaped like a Suzuki Jimny, the Compact Cruiser is made of modern, chiseled details but is also vaguely reminiscent of the original Land Cruisers and, of course, the FJ Cruiser. This being a concept car in the year 2022, it is also, of course, an EV.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/fullsizemodel-in-ed2-rq.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/fullsizemodel-in-ed2-f.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/fullsizemodel-in-ed2-fromup.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/compactcruiserteam-in-modelling.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/claymodellingside01.jpg>)

Electric or not, though, this is definitely something I'd love to see produced. Afraid nobody's gonna buy a small off-roader in America, Toyota? Feed it through the photocopier at 125 percent and trot it out as a Ford Bronco rival.

Eagle-eyed readers will recognize the Compact Cruiser from [the grid of 15 electric concepts](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/43502/toyota-unveils-15-new-ev-concepts-says-lexus-will-be-electric-only>) Toyota brought out back in December alongside its announcement to invest $70 billion toward an all-electric lineup by 2030. With this snagging an award for design—not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Toyota—the company has gotta make it a reality now, right?

C'mon, guys. If a [Corolla with no rear seats](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyota-ceo-personally-involved-in-2023-gr-corolla-morizo-named-for-him>) makes financial sense, surely this does too.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/fullsizemodel-in-ed2-sideview.jpg>)
*Toyota*

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/assemblingclayjpg.jpg>)
*Toyota*

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/toyota-compact-cruiser-yellow-1655220401-scaled.jpg>)
*Toyota*

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach him here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com*

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)