Cressida

This nameplate was introduced for the 1978 model year as Toyota’s upscale rear-wheel-drive sedan for export markets, positioned above the brand’s mainstream midsize offerings. In North America, it became Toyota’s near-luxury sedan and was sold through four distinct generations, with Toyota’s own historic-vehicle archive showing runs for 1978–1980, 1981–1984, 1985–1988, and 1989–1992. Toyota’s global history also identifies it as the export name for the Mark II in some markets, underscoring its role as an international badge rather than a Japan-only model. Over its life, it evolved from a conservative luxury sedan into a more refined, better-equipped executive car while retaining a reputation for smooth inline-six power, rear-wheel-drive balance, and durability. The final model-year run ended after 1992, closing a 15-year history in the U.S. market and leaving the nameplate as one of Toyota’s best-remembered pre-Lexus luxury sedans.