A Drive Across the Cebuano Countryside in the Land Cruiser FJ

Automobile companies continuously introduce newer and better vehicles in order to keep customers interested. No one wants to stagnate and get left behind.

One of the world’s biggest carmakers, Toyota, understands this, and takes great pains to keep the market intrigued enough to buy what they are offering. In addition to its regular car launches and public unveilings, the Japanese car giant organizes an annual drive meant not just to showcase its lineup of vehicles in a fun and leisurely way, but to promote the best of the Philippines’ travel destinations. Road Trek is one of the most anticipated events in the local motoring calendar not just because it’s a chance for the industry to get together and bond, but moreso for the opportunity to preview Toyota’s most recent models as they were meant to be experienced: on the road.

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For years, Road Trek has been the avenue where popular Toyota models made their debut on actual streets and roads over the years, including the Innova, the Wigo, the Yaris, the Rush, and the Tamaraw, among many others.

This year’s edition of Road Trek featured not just one or two but several new iterations of Toyota’s most well-known and well-loved nameplates, not to mention the very first time that the convoy of vehicles included its premium tier brand, Lexus. It’s also a nod to Toyota’s much-vaunted multi-pathway approach to the future of mobility; not relying on a single strategy but focusing on different ways to respond to customer needs when it comes to getting from one point to another.

The journey began at the Toyota dealership in Danao City Cebu, where participants were bused from the airport after a very early morning flight. Participants were split into teams, each of which were then assigned one of 12 vehicles:

1. Land Cruiser FJ VX (accessorized)

2. Land Cruiser FJ VX

3. Land Cruiser FJ TX

4. Hilux Conquest 4x4 (accessorized)

5. Hilux Conquest 4x4

6. Hilux G 4x2

7. RAV4 LTD

8. RAV4 ADV

9. Alphard HEV

10. Lexus GX

11. Lexus NXh

12. Lexus LMh

My team was assigned the Rav4 LTD and I volunteered to sit in the back for the first leg of the journey. Having had no sleep on account of the early 3:30 a.m. call time, I apologized to my teammates as I made myself comfortable and took a nap. It wasn’t hard to drift off with the well-cushioned seats and generous legroom. The cabin was also noticeably quiet; I dozed off over the sounds of my teammates’ playlist of driving songs and their casual banter about what they liked about the vehicle. The rear air vents came in handy especially with the oppressive heat outside.

First stop was at the Cebu Safari and Adventure Park where we encountered animals that we only ever see in picture books or online: giraffes, impalas, zebras, capybaras, meerkats, pelicans, llamas, macaws, and many more.

We swapped cars before we left and our team ended up with the Land Cruiser FJ TX, which is the base variant of the all-new version of Toyota’s off-roader. This time it was hard to ignore how solid the vehicle felt. It has a high ground clearance, which should prove useful during frequent flooding in the city. I took on DJ duties while my colleague drove, and while it took a while to connect my phone via the Android Auto system, when it finally did, we just enjoyed the sounds as we cruised around the rural roads of northern Cebu.

On the final pit stop for the day—a restaurant on the midway point to our destination—I finally got the chance to slide behind the wheel of the LC FJ. Pressing the start button calls on a steady hum from the engine. It’s not exactly the familiar roar of the classic LCs that we’re used to, but it does the job of signaling an exciting ride.

I followed the convoy through the long winding roads of the Cebuano countryside, just enjoying the rugged and modern feel of the LC FJ. The drive is light and manageable, and during the times we encountered bumps and road cracks, we stayed planted and steady. My seatmate riding shotgun even snuck in a snooze for much of the remainder of the trip.

By the time we finally arrived at our destination, which was a resort that was going to be home for the evening, I was sold. The LC FJ may not be your dad’s Land Cruiser, but I’d say it’s a capable, durable, and yes, solid heir to the legendary nameplate. On the day that we could test drive any other vehicle in the lineup, I chose to spend more time with the LC FJ, and I didn’t regret it one bit.