| Toyota Cresta | |
|---|---|
 1996–1998 Toyota Cresta (X100) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Production | 1980–2001 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact executive car (Mid-Size Car) |
| Related | |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Toyota Verossa |
The Toyota Cresta (Japanese: トヨタ・クレスタ, Hepburn: Toyota Kuresuta) is a mid-size luxury car built by Toyota. It was launched in 1980 and shared the chassis with the Mark II/Cressida and Chaser and was the top-level car at Japanese dealership Toyota Vista Store. The Cresta was produced for five generations, and production stopped in 2001 when it was merged with the Chaser to form the short-lived Verossa. The goal of the Cresta was to offer a more luxurious package than the Mark II, while the Chaser was the performance-oriented version of the same platform, but sold at different dealerships.
The Cresta's luxury reputation benefited as the series, and generations offered ever-increasing engine displacement. The addition of turbochargers and superchargers to growing engine displacement was offset by the fact that the Japanese Government taxed and regulated vehicle emission results. Larger engines offered more luxury, convenience, and suspension improvements as the trim packages progressed.
The name "Cresta" is Vulgar Latin for "crest," which means a plume of feathers or other decoration worn on or displayed on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet. The logo resembled a Kabuto or a Samurai's helmet.