What do you think of the '05 Toyota Mark X?

I’m done with Reddit, so let me have another go at spreading the love for the ‘05 Toyota Mark X. Why am I done? Well, I can’t forgive the moderators for deleting my post!

I have recently fallen in love with a particular Toyota model, the ‘05 Mark X. What is it, you may ask? It’s a mid-size luxury sedan that was only sold in Japan and is a descendant of the Cressida. Don’t believe me? The Cressida was known as the Mark II in Japan and continued until 2004 when the Mark X came out for the ‘05 model year. It was never sold elsewhere, though thanks to Japan recycling cars, it ended up in countries like several countries in southern and eastern Africa, New Zealand, Hong Kong and a lot of other left-side driving places. However, in China, the car was sold as the Reiz in LHD configuration, though it had different engines and I’m a bit skeptical of Chinese quality, so this post will solely focus on the Japanese models.

Now to go a bit technical… The Mark X is an RWD sedan built on the same platform as the XE20 IS and even shares the 2.5-liter powerplant with the IS 250. However, its 3-liter V6 comes from the USDM and EUDM GS 300. Yes, you had two engine options, a 2.5-liter V6 (250G) and a 3-liter (300G) one. The 250G made 212 hp and the 300G 253 hp. Unfortunately, all cars were only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. You could even order a 250G Four with all-wheel drive, which wasn’t available on the 300G version. However, that would lose you a gear.

Outside, the Mark X does have a bit of a Lexus-esque style. You’ve got exhaust tips that are into the bumper cover (a first for a Toyota, let alone a Lexus vehicle), and it does come with a disadvantage. You have to take the rear bumper off in order to replace the exhaust, and that is a bit of a daunting task, indeed. Nevertheless, the car remains attractive with its well-sculpted curvy styling and a nice, swooping front fascia with a distinctive headlight shape. There is even a slight shoulder line that runs along with the lights, with a sharp decklid to complement it.

Inside is where it gets real Lexus-ey. You’ve got fancy features like in-car TV, navigation, a digital clock, a “push start” button and a backup camera, things that you would mostly find in a Lexus from that period. You even got wood grain on the steering wheel, center console and door rests. The center console could even be stitched up in leather, same for the seats, though you could also get cloth seats, as cloth seats in luxury cars are a thing in Japan. However, it has a unique quirk from all the other Lexus models, LED mood lighting coming from the headliner and the panel around the gear selector. The car even has 60/40 split-folding rear seats, which makes it practical for a luxury sedan.

Why wasn’t this thing sold overseas? The answer is simple. The Japanese keep the best things for themselves, though it does make a little sense as to why they wouldn’t export the Mark X overseas. The Lexus IS is the only car Toyota needs in the international mid-size luxury car segment, and they wouldn’t want the Mark X to compete with a car of their own luxury brand, and Toyota is no luxury brand at all. Japan has completely different tastes from us, and they’re bound to put out niche models through their lineup.

Now please, rate the car on a scale of 1 to 10 in the comments! I’d like to hear what your thoughts are!