Competitor Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Competitor Analysis - Research Paper Example The Toyota FJ Cruiser is its closest competitor with its similar off-road and SUV qualities, which are reminiscent of the FJ40 Land Cruisers. The car is built by Hino Motors, a Toyota subsidiary, in Japan and has shared numerous underpinnings of structure with the Toyota Prado (Consumers Union of United States 48). It debuted in its final form of production in 2006, following its introduction in 2003 as a concept car, and has been the Wrangler Jeep’s fiercest competitor in the SUV off-road category ever since. The automotive press with both acclaim and criticism has received the Toyota FJ Cruiser. One of its main strengths is that it is purpose driven and aggressively styled, especially considering that Toyota has been more focused on conservative designs (Schlee 1). Its off-road performance has also been praised, especially with regards to its functional interior and road manners. It has been highly praised by off road users because of its high performance. In addition, the Toyota FJ Cruiser has a large towing capacity compared to the Jeep Wrangler, which makes it better for pulling heavy loads, especially in an off-road environment. However, its body roll has been criticized, as has its lateral grip performance that is too low (Schlee 1), although it should also be noted that its suspension is designed for off road and long travel use. One of the major drawbacks for the FJ Cruiser is that exit and entry for the back seat is rather cumbersome (Best Cars 1). Another shortcoming is its blind spots, which make reverse parking difficult on the street due to restrictions placed on its rear visibility from its design. It also has smaller than average capacity, especially with the aforementioned cramped back seat area. With regards to limitation of visibility and blind spots, the FJ Cruiser’s low roofline and far away windshield limits ability to see ahead (Best Cars 1). The tire