Here's What We Love About The Toyota Mark II JZX100 (2024)

Believe it or not, but back in the 1950s, Japanese drivers were taxed based on the size of their engines. Therefore, the car market in Japan demanded small fuel-efficient vehicles. Toyota began its journey of becoming one of the most successful car manufacturers when it debuted the Crown in 1955, an economy car with a compact engine and a design resembling the American sedans of the time, although with a noticeable shrinkage in size. The Crown did well, so well, in fact, that Toyota decided that they could afford to make it bigger and more luxurious.

Knowing they couldn't abandon the sale of smaller sedans, Toyota introduced the Corona. And in 1968, the world saw the debut of the Mark II Corona, which was larger and a bit more powerful.

During the following years, parallel with Japan’s economy, the cars kept growing both in size and power.

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The Toyota Mark II JZX100 Isn't A Chaser

By the time of JZX100's introduction in 1996, Toyota was offering a huge number of trims and models featuring different luxurious options and engines, such as the Chaser, Cressida, Cresta, and the Mark II.

This also marked a redesign in Toyota’s lineup, a more refined and curvier look than the previous models. Some even believe this generation of sedans to be the best-looking ones in Toyota’s history. In addition to the redesign, the birth of the new generation translated into upgrades and small tweaks to the engine as well.

The Mark II was considered the base model of the JZX100 and lacked some of the detailed touches present in other trims but nothing noticeable when it came to performance. The trait that sets the Mark II apart the most is the wider taillight design compared to the Chaser's, which resembles an E36 BMW.

During the production of the eighth generation of the Mark II, a few trims were being offered, ranging from diesel options to all-wheel-drive variants of the sedan. Yet, the best-known one was the Tourer V.

The 1996 Mark II Tourer V JZX100 sent an estimated 280 hp to the rear wheels with the legendary turbocharged 2.5-liter 1JZ-GE engine under the hood employing VVTi, Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing technology. And with that amount of power, it didn't take long for car enthusiasts to figure out its performance capabilities.

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The Mark II Had Plenty Of Modification Potential

Both the car and its powerhouse were over-engineered for a base model sedan, meaning the JZX100 could take a massive amount of abuse and keep going. This was also interpreted as showing the Mark II’s capacity for modification.

In addition to its reliability, the engine was made objectively simple, which was quite fitting for car enthusiasts looking to build their own cars in the garage. The JZX100s were best-known for their drifting aptitude. So, if you're aiming to go sideways while hearing the notorious scream of the 6-cylinder 1JZ, look no further than the Mark II.

As a proof of performance, Toyota entered a majorly modified version of the JZX100 into the Japanese Touring Car Championship in 1998, and Masanori Sekiya drove it to the top of the leaderboard.

Furthermore, this four-door beast was not just fast but also very practical. As a result, supercharged versions of previous-generation Mark IIs were utilized as urban taxis in Japan.

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It Offers Plenty Of Comfort And Reliability

As mentioned earlier, the JZX100 was built resilient, making it a fitting vehicle as a daily driver with a reliable and sturdy engine. Yet, the practicality was never limited to its solidity as the Mark II offered an enjoyable ride with plenty of comfort as well as decent levels of safety and security.

The double-wishbone suspension featured in JZX100 was made to behave as long as you wanted it to. It's rarely known to feel rough on corners and is relatively easy to drive. It also comes with a well-designed suspension setup, meaning you're unlikely to hear any worrying sounds while on the move.

Another notable attribute of the Mark II is the cargo space, with an impressive 1183 liters of room with the backseats folded; this shows once again how this 1JZ-powered beast could act as a reasonable daily-driven sedan.

In comparison with similar-performing cars of the time, the JZX100 offered an amazing amount of convenience to the owner, with a relatively simple yet comfortable interior design and a charming exterior.

While it's hardly the most appealing option on the market, the Toyota Mark II JZX100 is a reminder of a certain mindset of yesteryear, as a straightforward and capable vehicle for those looking to bring themselves a smile whenever they put their foot down on the gas pedal.