Though younger buyers may simply be attracted to the funky styling, veteran drivers should recognize similarities between a decades-old import SUV and the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Pulling up a chair of its own at the retro roundtable, Toyota reintroduces the car-shopping public to its white-topped, rock-crawling truck first seen more than 30 years ago.

This new iteration is a far more refined vehicle, a styling exercise enhanced with real off-roading capability and a thoroughly revamped powertrain cranking out 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,700 rpm to protect the SUV’s boulder-chewing reputation. The new FJ’s 4.0-liter, dual overhead cam, 24-valve V6 is fueled by premium petrol and mated to a six-speed manual with a 3.91 axle ratio or a five-speed automatic transmission sporting 3.73 gearing. Horsepower measures 239 at 5,200 rpm. Base rear-wheel-drive models get an electronic limited-slip differential and the automatic tranny; FJs destined for off-road use are fitted with automatic locking hubs, a two-speed transfer case, and either a part-time four-wheel-drive system with the five-speed automatic or a full-time system with the six-speed manual. A Torsen limited-slip center differential comes with the six-speed transmission.

All Toyota FJ Cruiser’s feature standard 17-inch steel wheels shod in 265/70 off-road tires; antilock vented disc brakes backed up by electronic brake-force distribution and electronic brake assistance; traction and stability control systems; and skid plates protecting the gas tank, engine, and transfer case. A double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear setup keeps the FJ and its 4,050 – 4,295-pound mass afloat, with a rack-and-pinion steering system utilized to navigate over gnarly boulders. Prices start in the low $20,000s but can climb quickly as equipment is added.