For a lot of gearheads, the ’90s were the golden age of Japanese luxury. It was the era when Toyota, Nissan, and Honda were quietly building some of the most overengineered sedans the world had ever seen. These cars were often packed with technology and refinement that rivaled, and sometimes surpassed, what Europe was offering at the time.
Now, multiple decades later, those same cars are finally hitting the 25-year mark, unlocking a wave of imports that American buyers never had access to when they were new. In other words, this is the moment when one of Toyota’s standout ’90s JDM flagships is finally ready for American consumption.
What makes this particular sedan so interesting isn’t just its age or its rarity. It’s the fact that it once sat near the top of Toyota’s luxury hierarchy, and today, you can bring one home for peanuts. Buckle up because you’re about to meet a 1990s JDM ultra-luxury sedan that is now available on U.S. soil at a bargain price.
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The 1997 Toyota Crown Majesta Is Now A Super Luxury Sedan Bargain
1997 Toyota Crown Majestavia Cars & Bids
Toyota built the Crown Majesta to be the kind of flagship sedan that could quietly outclass the competition while still sticking to its Japanese roots and remaining humble. Toyota began production of the Crown Majesta in 1991. Production continued across six generations with the last factory-built Crown Majesta rolling off the production line in 2018.
The Majesta was Toyota’s answer to the growing demand for high-end executive cars in Japan. At the time, models like the Nissan President and Mitsubishi Debonair dominated the VIP segment, and Toyota wanted something positioned above the regular Crown but still more attainable than the ultra-exclusive Toyota Century. The Majesta filled that gap perfectly, giving buyers a big, smooth, tech-filled luxury sedan without the chauffeur-first attitude of the Century.
By the time the 1997 model rolled out, Toyota had refined the second-generation S150 platform into one of the most comfortable and advanced sedans of the decade. Production numbers were modest for a Toyota model since the Majesta was designed exclusively for the Japanese market. That smaller-scale production is part of what makes the car feel special today. The S150 series ran from 1995 to 1999, and the 1997 model year sits right in the sweet spot where Toyota ironed out early changes and loaded the cabin with more high-end features.
1997 Toyota Crown Majestavia Cars & Bids
In the late ’90s, luxury meant whisper-quiet road manners, advanced electronics, and interiors that felt like a business-class lounge. The 1997 Crown Majesta delivered all of that with soft-closing doors, a plush rear seat, digital climate control, and a suspension tuned to float over rough roads. Models equipped with the 1UZ-FE V8 added even more refinement, giving the Majesta the same smoothness found in Lexus flagships of the era.
Today, the Crown Majesta has become a bargain for anyone who loves ’90s Japanese luxury. You get the comfort and presence of a premium sedan, the reliability Toyota is known for, and the uniqueness that comes with owning a JDM flagship that most drivers in the U.S. have never seen. It is an affordable way to experience Toyota’s best craftsmanship from its golden era.
What Made The Crown Majesta Feel More Lexus Than Toyota
1995 Toyota Crown Majesta – 4.0L 4-cam 32-valve 1UZ-FE V-8 enginevia Mecum
The second-generation Toyota Crown Majesta, built from 1995 through 1999, is one of those ’90s Japanese sedans that feels like it was engineered with almost obsessive attention to detail. Toyota wanted the Majesta to bridge the gap between the everyday comfort of the Crown and the limousine-level polish of the Toyota Century, so the S150 platform was packed with technology, smooth powertrains, and a level of refinement that rivaled the first-generation Lexus LS.
Engine
1UZ-FE 4L V8
2JZ-GE 3L inline-six
Horsepower
280 horsepower
220 horsepower
Torque
297 lb-ft
217 lb-ft
Transmission
4-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
Driveline
RWD or AWD
RWD
0 to 60
~7.0-7.5 seconds
~8.5-9.0 seconds
Top Speed
~137 mph
~124 mph
Under the hood, the star of the lineup was the 1UZ-FE 4L V8. This is the same all-aluminum, quad-cam engine that helped make early Lexus models famous for their silk-smooth power delivery and practically bulletproof reliability. The 1UZ-FE produced around 280 horsepower and almost 297 lb-ft of torque in the ’97 Majesta. This power was routed through a four-speed automatic that prioritized seamless shifts over outright speed.
Buyers who wanted something a little more understated could opt for the 2JZ-GE 3L inline-six, another legendary Toyota engine known for its durability and balance. The inline-six offered about 220 horsepower and almost 217 lb-ft of torque. Either way, the Majesta delivered the kind of refined, quiet power that defined ’90s Japanese luxury.
1997 Toyota Crown Majesta – 3.0L I6via Cars & Bids
What really set the Majesta apart were the features that went beyond horsepower. The S150 platform offered an air suspension on higher trims and a supple ride quality that made long trips feel effortless. Toyota also packed the sedan with advanced electronics, from traction control and ABS to digital climate control and an early form of vehicle stability management. Inside, the cabin felt like a scaled-down Century, with high-quality materials, deep seats, and thoughtful touches aimed at rear passengers as much as the driver.
Altogether, the second-generation Crown Majesta delivered a mix of engineering, comfort, and reliability that few 90s sedans could match. It wasn’t flashy, but it was quietly exceptional, and that’s why it still feels special today.
Why The Crown Majesta Is Shockingly Affordable Today
1997 Toyota Crown Majestavia Cars & Bids
When the 1997 Toyota Crown Majesta hit the Japanese market, it was priced like a true upper-tier luxury flagship. The Majesta’s original MSRP ranged between 4,340,000 yen and 5,980,000 yen. Using mid-1990s exchange rates, that means the Crown Majesta pricing was roughly equivalent to about $33,000 to $50,000. When adjusting for inflation, that range equates to between $62,000 and $94,500. This made it one of Toyota’s most expensive sedans of the era.
At the end of the day, the Majesta was a premium JDM-only luxury car, positioned above the regular Crown but below the chauffeur-grade Toyota Century, so high pricing wasn’t surprising. However, today, the story looks very different. Because the Crown Majesta remained a Japan Domestic Market (JDM) exclusive and was never sold new in the United States, most of the cars you’ll see stateside are here thanks to the 25-year import rule. Importation limits supply, but it also keeps values surprisingly low because most buyers looking for 1990s Toyota luxury still default to Lexus models.
1997 Toyota Crown Majestavia Cars & Bids
Average Auction Price
$9,528
Top Sale
$15,900
Lowest Sale
$5,700
Sales Count
5
According to Classic.com data, the most current auction results from JDM exporters show that ’90s Crown Majesta models have averaged around $9,528, with the top sale only soaring to $15,900 and the lowest sale dipping down to $5,700. The data shows that the cheapest model year proves to be the 1997 Toyota Crown Majesta, which averages just $6,200 up on the auction block.
Because these cars were low-production JDM flagships with limited global exposure, the modern used market hasn’t caught up to their luxury or build quality. That’s why a well-kept Majesta often sells for the price of an economy car. If you’re willing to import one or scour the online auction circuit for one that’s already on U.S. soil, the 1997 Crown Majesta is one of the best Japanese luxury bargains of the late ’90s. Plus, it’s one of the few true flagship sedans you can still buy for under $10,000.
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Best Cheap ’90s Luxury Sedans You Can Still Buy Today
1991 Lexus LS400Bring A Trailer
If we can learn anything from the Toyota Crown Majesta, it’s that ’90s Japanese luxury cars have reached a sweet spot where engineering excellence and bargain pricing overlap. These sedans were overbuilt, overengineered, and in many cases, undervalued for decades. Today, gearheads can still pick up some surprisingly refined ’90s luxury legends without spending anywhere near what they cost new. Two of the best examples are the Lexus LS400 and the Infiniti Q45.
Why The LS400 Remains The Safe Luxury Benchmark
1995 Lexus LS400via Bring A Trailer
The Lexus LS400 helped rewrite the luxury-car rulebook when it launched in 1989, and by the mid-’90s, the second-generation UCF20 chassis had taken refinement even further. Built with the same obsessive engineering philosophy behind the Crown Majesta, the LS400 paired the silky 1UZ-FE V8 with one of the quietest cabins of the decade.
The MSRP of the 1995 Lexus LS400 started at $51,200. Today, depreciation means that the LS400 remains one of the strongest deals in the used-luxury market. According to Classic.com data, the average auction price of a 1995 Lexus LS400 sits around $13,164 today.
The Q45’s Underrated Place In ’90s Luxury History
1994 Infiniti Q45via Bring A Trailer
Nissan went a different direction with the Infiniti Q45, favoring performance and character over muted luxury. Powered by the VH41DE or VH45DE V8, the Q45 delivered more personality than its Lexus counterpart and offered distinctive styling you won’t mistake for anything else on the road.
The MSRP of the Infiniti Q45 sat at $47,500 in 1994, placing it firmly in flagship territory. Yet today, the Q45 is one of the best-kept secrets in ’90s luxury. Classic.com puts the average auction price of a 1994 Infiniti Q45 at around $11,237 today, depending on mileage and condition.
Plus, unlike the Crown Majesta, both the Lexus LS400 and Infiniti Q45 were sold new in the United States, which means they’re far more readily available on the used market and much easier to find in clean, well-maintained condition.
Sources: AutoData.net, Auto Evolution, Be Forward, Classic.com, Curbside Classic, GOONET Exchange, Japan Car Direct, J.D. Power, Toyota Global
AloJapan.com