The Toyota Cressida was a midsize, high-end luxury sedan introduced by Toyota in 1973, first exported in its second generation in 1977. The same chassis, with slightly different bodies were available in other countries as the Toyota Mark II, Toyota Chaser and Toyota Cresta. The Cressida name was retired in 1992, but the chassis and MarkII, Chaser, and Cresta names continued production in Japan until the early 2000s.
The Cressida was available worldwide in a variety of forms and engines. The available engines included the G series I6, M series I6, and R series I4 gasoline motors, as well as the L series I4 diesel.
Japanese market tastes were generally "formal" in the mid-1980s for this segment and the Cressida followed. In 1985, the Cressida, Mark II and Chaser went slightly more upright and square, when overseas trends were beginning to move toward rounded, fluid shapes.
First Generation
Production: 1977–1980
Engine: 2.0L I4, 2.6 L 115hp, 4M-E I6
Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic Overdrive, 5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 102.0 in.
Length: 178.20 in.
Width: 66 in.
Height: 57.90 in.
The first generation Cressida (the MX32) was available as a sedan, wagon, and in some markets, a coupe. It was viewed at the time as one of the most advanced cars on the road, boasting simple but elegant styling with numerous standard featrues like soft cloth seats, a high quality imitation wood in the interior, and tight fit & finish with tight clearances and small gaps. Reviewers of the time noted an absence of squeak and rattles on even one-year-old test cars.
Standard features included air conditioning (unusual as a standard feature at the time), automatic transmission (a 5-speed manual was available), power steering, rear seat armrests, AM/FM/Cassette stereo with Amplifier(again unusual), steel-belt radials, reclining front seats, and a rear window defroster. Power windows were optional. Soundproofing was extensive, and the Cressida is famous for being one of the quietest cars on the road at the time.
The 4M-E straight-six was a Single Overhead-Cam (SOHC) that was both powerful and quiet, however gas mileage was somewhat of a weak point, but still better than American luxury cars of the era. Cornering was reported to be very good by standards of the times, despite a smooth ride.
