Importing a Toyota Crown into Australia in 2026 comes down to one number: 25. That's the age a vehicle needs to hit before it clears the Personal Import Scheme without SEVS approval, and it decides which Toyota Crown generations you can actually register this year versus which ones stay stuck in import limbo.
- The S170 Toyota Crown (1999-2001) is the best overall pick for import eligibility in Australia in 2026.
- The S150 Crown (1995-1999) is the budget option with the simplest RWD mechanicals to maintain.
- The S180 Crown Majesta (2004-2009) has the most luxury gear but isn't eligible under the 25-year rule until the early 2030s.
- The Crown Comfort taxi platform is the toughest option for fleet or private hire use.
Why this matters
The Toyota Crown badge has run since 1955 as Toyota's Japan-market flagship sedan, and it's never officially been sold new in Australia. Every Crown on Australian roads got here through personal import, a used-import dealer, or a compliance workshop, which is why generation matters more than trim level when you're shopping one in 2026.
Most buyers researching a Toyota Crown land here after looking at Japanese import SUVs and realising the same import-age rules apply across the board. The generation you pick decides whether your car clears compliance next month or sits in a bonded yard for another five years.
What makes the best Toyota Crown to import
- Import eligibility under the 25-year rule — cars built in 2001 or earlier clear Australia's Personal Import Scheme without SEVS paperwork in 2026
- Drivetrain reliability — Crown generations built on the rear-wheel-drive S-series platform with the 1JZ or 2JZ inline-six have the strongest reputation among Japanese import mechanics
- Parts and workshop familiarity — older Crown generations share components with the Toyota Supra and Soarer, which keeps parts sourcing manageable
- Trim specification — Royal Saloon, Athlete and Majesta trims carry different interior and suspension packages worth checking before you commit
- Body condition typical of the age — rust around rear wheel arches and sills is common on unrestored cars from the 1990s
Toyota Crown generations at a glance
| Generation | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| S170 Crown (1999-2001) | Import eligibility right now | 2JZ-GE 3.0L inline-six | Prices are rising as more units clear the 25-year mark |
| S150 Crown (1995-1999) | Budget import | Simple RWD chassis, cheap parts | Older safety equipment, dated cabin |
| S140 Crown (1991-1995) | JDM collector appeal | Boxy Royal Saloon styling | Rust-prone rear arches on unrestored examples |
| S180 Crown Majesta (2004-2009) | Luxury features | Air suspension, available V8 | Not eligible under the 25-year rule until the early 2030s |
| Crown Comfort (1995-2017) | Private hire and fleet duty | LPG inline-four built for taxi mileage | Basic cabin, no collector appeal |
1. Toyota Crown S170: best Toyota Crown for import eligibility in 2026
The S170 Crown ran from 1999 to 2003 in Japan, and the 1999-2001 build years are the ones that qualify for Australia's 25-year import exemption in 2026. It's the last Crown generation before Toyota shifted the nameplate toward crossover styling, and it still runs the traditional RWD sedan layout with a 2JZ-GE 3.0-litre inline-six or a 1JZ-GE 2.5-litre in lower grades.
Toyota Crown S170 pros:
- Clears Australia's 25-year rule in 2026 without SEVS approval
- 2JZ-GE inline-six shares parts lineage with the Supra, so mechanics know it
- Royal Saloon and Athlete trims both offer comfortable factory suspension tuning
Toyota Crown S170 cons:
- Import demand is climbing now that these cars are freshly eligible
- Cabin electronics from this era can be finicky after two decades
Best for: buyers who want a Toyota Crown importable in 2026 with minimal compliance friction. Verdict: Buy.
2. Toyota Crown S150: best Toyota Crown for a budget import
The S150 generation covers 1995 to 1999 and has been clear of the 25-year rule for several years already, which usually means a wider pool of available cars and less competition at auction compared with the newly-eligible S170. It's a plainer sedan than the S170 but built on the same rear-wheel-drive fundamentals.
Toyota Crown S150 pros:
- Fully clear of import restrictions with no waiting period
- Straightforward mechanicals with a strong track record for longevity
- Wider stock availability than newer generations
Toyota Crown S150 cons:
- Interior trim and safety equipment feel dated next to a 2026-registered daily driver
- Fewer options with the larger inline-six; most sit on the 2.0-2.5L four
Best for: buyers prioritising import ease over cabin polish. Verdict: Buy.
3. Toyota Crown S140: best Toyota Crown for JDM collector appeal
Built from 1991 to 1995, the S140 is the last Crown with genuinely boxy, formal sedan styling before Toyota rounded the design language off in later generations. It's the one collectors chase for the Royal Saloon look, not for daily-driver polish.
Toyota Crown S140 pros:
- Distinct boxy styling that stands apart from later rounded Crown generations
- Long clear of any import age restriction
- Simple mechanicals with minimal onboard electronics to fail
Toyota Crown S140 cons:
- Rust around rear wheel arches and sills is common on unrestored cars
- Parts availability is thinner than for S150 or S170 models
Best for: buyers chasing genuine JDM classic status over daily practicality. Verdict: Buy for the right project, Skip if you need a daily driver.
4. Toyota Crown Majesta S180: best Toyota Crown for luxury features
The S180 Majesta, built 2004 to 2009, is the plushest option on this list with air suspension and a V8 available in higher grades. It's also the one generation here that doesn't clear Australia's 25-year rule outright in 2026 — the earliest 2004 models won't hit that mark until the early 2030s, so importing one now typically means going through the Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme pathway instead of the straightforward personal import route.
Toyota Crown Majesta S180 pros:
- Air suspension and available V8 for a genuinely premium ride
- More modern safety equipment than the S140 or S150
- Roomier cabin than the standard Crown sedan
Toyota Crown Majesta S180 cons:
- Not yet eligible under the straightforward 25-year import rule in 2026
- SEVS/RAWS compliance pathways add cost and time compared with a personal import
Best for: buyers willing to go through a compliance workshop for a more modern cabin. Verdict: Wait.
5. Toyota Crown Comfort: best Toyota Crown for private hire and fleet use
The Crown Comfort ran from 1995 through to 2017 in Japan as the country's default taxi platform, built specifically for high mileage on an LPG-fuelled inline-four. It's the least glamorous car on this list but arguably the most proven under sustained daily use.
Toyota Crown Comfort pros:
- Engineered from the ground up for taxi-grade mileage and uptime
- LPG running costs are lower than petrol for high-kilometre use
- Extremely simple mechanicals with minimal failure points
Toyota Crown Comfort cons:
- Basic cabin with none of the Royal Saloon or Majesta comfort features
- No collector or resale premium attached to the model
Best for: buyers running private hire, courier, or fleet duty rather than a personal daily driver. Verdict: Buy.
How we ranked these
Each Toyota Crown generation here was weighed against the five criteria above: import eligibility, drivetrain reliability, parts support, trim specification, and typical body condition for its age. The S170 wins overall because it's the newest generation that clears Australia's 25-year rule in 2026 while still running the RWD inline-six platform Crown buyers actually want. If you're cross-shopping something with more off-road capability, the Toyota LandCruiser models comparison covers a different segment entirely, but the same import-age logic applies.
Which Toyota Crown should you choose?
If you want a Toyota Crown you can register in Australia in 2026 without SEVS paperwork, the S170 (1999-2001) is the default pick — it's the newest generation that clears the 25-year rule this year. Go S150 or S140 if budget or collector appeal matters more than having the newest eligible generation, and hold off on the S180 Majesta until it clears the same rule in the early 2030s unless you're prepared to go through a compliance workshop now.
Browse Crown-ready imports at Carbarn
See current used Japanese import stock before you commit to a generation.
FAQ
What's the best Toyota Crown generation to import in 2026?
The S170 Toyota Crown (1999-2001) is the best pick for 2026 because it clears Australia's 25-year import exemption while still running the RWD platform and 2JZ-GE inline-six buyers want.
Is the Toyota Crown Majesta legal to import into Australia in 2026?
The S180 Majesta built from 2004 isn't yet 25 years old in 2026, so it needs a Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme compliance pathway rather than the straightforward Personal Import Scheme.
How old does a car need to be to import into Australia without SEVS approval?
A vehicle needs to be 25 years old or older to qualify under Australia's Personal Import Scheme without separate SEVS approval.
What engine does the Toyota Crown S170 have?
The S170 Crown runs a 2JZ-GE 3.0-litre inline-six in higher grades and a 1JZ-GE 2.5-litre inline-six in lower grades.
Is the Toyota Crown Comfort a good import?
The Crown Comfort is a strong pick for private hire or fleet duty because it was built specifically for taxi-grade mileage on LPG, though it lacks the trim features of the Royal Saloon or Majesta.
Is the Toyota Crown reliable?
Toyota has run the Crown as its Japan-market flagship sedan since 1955, and the RWD inline-six generations covered here share a strong reliability reputation among Japanese import mechanics.
Toyota Crown vs Toyota LandCruiser for import, which should I pick?
Pick a Toyota Crown for a comfort-oriented RWD sedan import and a Toyota LandCruiser if you need off-road capability and towing, since the two serve entirely different use cases.
Does the Toyota Crown come in a V8?
Yes, the S180 Crown Majesta offered a V8 in its higher grades, though that generation isn't yet eligible under Australia's 25-year import rule in 2026.
One last thing
The Crown Comfort taxi platform stayed in production in Japan from 1995 all the way to 2017, longer than every other generation on this list combined — proof that Toyota built the Crown chassis for durability first and styling second.
