Toyota Crown S170 (1999–2003)

The S170 is the 11th generation Toyota Crown, produced from September 1999 to December 2003. It marks several major turning points for the Crown lineage: the pillarless hardtop body was permanently retired in favor of a sedan-only design, the Crown Estate wagon was introduced as a new body variant, and the range gained Toyota's D-4 direct injection technology and — most notably for enthusiasts — the turbocharged 1JZ-GTE in the Athlete V trim.

Three model lines were offered: the standard Crown, the Crown Majesta (luxury flagship), and the new Crown Estate (wagon).

The S170 Athlete V is the only factory-turbocharged Crown, pairing the 280 hp 1JZ-GTE with both the sedan and Estate wagon body. It remains one of the most sought-after Crown variants among enthusiasts.

At a Glance

Chassis Codes

The S170 chassis numbering follows the same convention as S150: the first letters denote engine family, the 17x series number indicates generation, and odd/even last digits typically indicate FR/4WD. The "W" suffix denotes the Estate wagon body.

Crown

Crown Estate (Wagon)

Crown Majesta

Engines

The S170 introduced Toyota's D-4 direct injection system to the Crown lineup, plus the long-awaited factory turbo option.

All models use a 70L fuel tank (75L on Majesta 1UZ-FE).

Trim Lines

Crown — Royal Series

The Royal series represents the traditional luxury-oriented Crown buyer.

Crown — Athlete Series

The Athlete series was the sportier face of the S170, introduced as a distinct identity from the Royal line.

Premium and Sports Selection packages were available across most Athlete trims.

Crown Estate (Wagon)

Crown Majesta

Model ID Reference

S170 model IDs follow the same katashiki structure as S150. Key prefix codes: AE = Crown Sedan, AW = Crown Estate Wagon, CE = Crown Majesta.

Key Differences from S150

The S170 brought several significant changes from its predecessor:

The pillarless hardtop body was discontinued entirely. Every S170 variant uses a conventional sedan or wagon body with B-pillars, improving structural rigidity and crash safety at the cost of the sleek hardtop aesthetic.

The Crown Estate wagon was a completely new addition to the lineup, sharing the sedan's platform and offering the full range of Athlete and Royal Saloon trims, including the turbocharged Athlete V — making it one of the few factory-turbo wagons from a Japanese luxury sedan line.

Direct injection (D-4) engines replaced the conventional EFI units on most models mid-cycle, with the 1JZ-FSE and 2JZ-FSE offering improved fuel economy while maintaining the same power output.

The 1JZ-GTE turbocharged engine appeared in the Crown for the first time, producing 280 hp and making the Athlete V a genuine performance sedan. It was paired exclusively with a 4-speed automatic.

The JKS175 mild hybrid combined the 2JZ-FSE with a 1GM electric motor, making the S170 one of the earliest luxury sedans to offer any form of electrification.

See Also

• Toyota Crown S150 — 10th generation (1995–1999)
• Colors and Interior Options