Cresta

The JZX100 Cresta

Launched in September 1996, the fifth and last Cresta was built until June 2001, when the Verossa replaced both it and the Chaser. Toyota styled it to stand apart from its two siblings: a sedan with framed doors rather than a hardtop, a roof about 20 mm taller for more headroom, a finer grille and a rear line that falls away. Exceed and Exceed G were the luxury grades. The sports line was renamed Roulant, and the Roulant G has the 1JZ-GTE: 2,491 cc, a single turbo with VVT-i, 280 PS at 6,200 rpm and 378 Nm at 2,400 rpm, driving the rear wheels.

Unlike the Chaser and Mark II Tourer V, the Roulant G was sold only with a four-speed automatic; no turbo Cresta of this generation had a manual. The August 1998 facelift brought a larger grille and horizontal tail lights, the naturally aspirated Roulant became the Roulant S, and the Roulant G from then on had xenon headlights.

What JZX100 Cresta owners upgrade

Even so, clutch kits from the drivetrain range are what Cresta owners buy most, for the many cars since converted to a five-speed manual. Power comes next: a full exhaust system, a pod filter from the intake range, a larger intercooler kit from the cooling range and engine electronics. HKS, APEXi, GReddy and Blitz are among the names owners choose.

Pads and rotors from the brakes range, many of them Project Mu, and arms and tie rod ends from Cusco and D-Max are the chassis work. Seat rails for bucket seats and baffled oil pans are regular buys too.

Genuine parts

The factory engine computer is a known weak point: its electrolytic capacitors leak with age and can damage the circuit board. The Cresta's grille, lamps, doors and roofline are its own, so body and trim parts do not cross over from the Mark II or Chaser, and the front and rear changed in August 1998. Our genuine Toyota parts catalogue lists the JZX100 Cresta's parts.

Wheels

The Cresta left the factory on 15x6 +50, 16x6.5 +50 or 16x7.5 +55 wheels, with M12 x 1.5 nuts. See the wheels that fit the JZX100 Cresta for the full list.