The Toyota Chaser is Finally Available in the U.S.
The Toyota Chase is available in the US, and it could be a fantastic addition to the speedy sedan market.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Japanese manufacturers make
some of the best cars
in the automotive market—and have for quite some time now. The Toyota
Chaser is one of those vehicles, but it wasn't available in the U.S. market back when it was produced. Now, however, that's changed. What is the Toyota Chaser, and is it a good vehicle to import to American soil?
A little background about the Toyota Chaser
Toyota wanted to add a midsize four-door sedan to its lineup, and the Chaser was the answer. Toyota began producing it in 1977 and was sold along with its siblings, the Cressida and the Cresta. The model ran all the way to 2001.
According to
Hot Cars
, the vehicle was only offered in Japan, but after 25 years, it became available in the U.S. But, only for a select few generations. In September 2021, the sixth generation was finally cleared to be imported to American soil. The last-gen vehicle was the JZX100, which added a new component not seen with the previous generation. It was the first model to come with a four-wheel drive as standard; plus, it also came with a 1JZ engine, which is a 2.5-liter.
You could also opt for the 2JZ, a 3.0-liter and also
used with the Toyota Supra
. However, both engines produced 276 hp, which was all they were allowed to generate in Japan due to local laws. The 1JZ could be tuned to produce up to 600 hp, while the 2JZ could get you up to 800 hp.
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What features does the Toyota chaser offer?
MORE: The Best Japanese Domestic Cars
With the 1JZ installed, you can go from 0-60 in just over 5 seconds. Such pace has led to the car being nicknamed the "4-door Supra".
But it’s also quite roomy. At 187 inches long, the Chaser has plenty of room to haul a family around. According to
Car and Driver
, the wheelbase is 107 inches long, and it provides enough balance for prime handling and ride. You also can’t overlook Toyota’s signature reliability, which makes the sedan a good buy if you get your hands on one.
What are the disadvantages of owning a Toyota Chaser?
MORE: Are Japanese Cars More Reliable Than American Cars?
One of the first problems with owning the Chaser is that it only comes with the right-hand drive option. Considering it was meant for the Japanese and British markets, that's not surprising. But, it will take some getting used to.
Maintenance, however, is considered to be expensive for the Toyota Chaser, according to
JDM BuySell
website. Parts won't be that easy to come by. As for common issues owners see, the clutch seems to wear out quite fast compared to other vehicles. Insuring the Toyota Chaser
If you import a foreign-made car like the Toyota Chaser, you'll need specialized insurance to protect it from harm. But, that means researching companies to find a policy that will take care of it, which can be challenging to do.
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