Toyota Century SUV: Specs, Interior, Price and 7 Essential Facts
The Toyota Century SUV is the most expensive and most luxurious vehicle Toyota sells: a tall four-seater more than 5.2 metres long, powered by a 3.5L V6 plug-in hybrid and designed almost entirely around the people in the back. It launched in Japan on 6 September 2023 at ¥25 million, above every Lexus of the time.
This guide covers the specs, powertrain, interior, price and 7 essential facts about the Toyota Century SUV, with original illustrations so you can take in the key numbers quickly.
Contents: Toyota Century SUV
1. What is the Toyota Century SUV
Century has been Toyota’s flagship line in Japan since 1967. The name marks 100 years since the birth of Sakichi Toyoda, the group’s founder. For more than half a century it existed only as a sedan, closely tied to the Imperial household, government officials and business leaders.
In 2023 Toyota added a completely new, taller body style sold alongside the sedan. The company does not call it an SUV. It simply calls it the new Century and describes it as a new take on the chauffeur-driven car. The press and buyers call it the Toyota Century SUV to tell the two apart.
2. Toyota Century SUV specs
These are the main figures Toyota has published for the Japanese market.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Length x width x height | 5,205 x 1,990 x 1,805 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,950 mm |
| Weight | 2,570 kg |
| Seats | 4 |
| Engine | 3.5L V6 (2GR-FXS), plug-in hybrid |
| Combined output | 406 hp (303 kW / 412 PS) |
| Electric range | About 69 km / 43 miles (WLTC) |
| Transmission | Electric continuously variable (e-CVT) |
| Drivetrain | E-Four Advanced all-wheel drive with rear-wheel steering |
| Assembly | Tahara plant, Japan |
| Starting price in Japan | ¥27 million (since 2025) |
The body is over 5.2 metres long, yet the wheelbase is a fairly modest 2,950 mm. The distance between the front and rear seats is 1,220 mm, so most of the cabin is given to the two rear passengers.
3. The plug-in hybrid powertrain
While the sedan keeps its 5.0L V8 hybrid, the Toyota Century SUV uses a newer plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system with three main parts:
- 3.5L V6 petrol engine (2GR-FXS): mounted transversely at the front and paired with an electric CVT.
- Two electric motors: one on each axle, forming the E-Four Advanced all-wheel-drive system.
- A plug-in battery: enough for about 69 km of electric driving on the WLTC cycle.
Toyota says the car works as an EV for daily use and as a hybrid on long trips. Combined output is 406 hp. For another unusual take on electrified driving, see our guide to the Mazda rotary hybrid.
💡 Worth knowing: A Rear Comfort mode adjusts braking and drive force so rear passengers are jostled less when the car stops or changes lanes.
4. Interior and the rear-seat experience
The Toyota Century SUV seats only four, and every cabin detail is built around the two rear seats:
- Fully reclining rear seats: heated, ventilated, with leg rests and a refreshment function.
- Rear doors that open to 75 degrees: with automatic power steps and C-pillar grips for easy entry and exit.
- A separated luggage compartment: combined with laminated glass to keep the cabin quiet.
- Rear control screens: for seats, climate, shades and audio without asking the driver.
- Audio system: developed with musical instrument craftspeople.
- Refrigerator and panoramic roof: familiar equipment in the ultra-luxury class.
Up front, the driver gets a digital instrument cluster and a central screen, both 12.3 inches. Even so, this is a car whose most important seat is in the back.
5. Toyota Century SUV price and markets
At launch in 2023 the Toyota Century SUV cost ¥25 million in Japan, with a sales target of just 30 units a month. Since the mid-2025 update the starting price has been ¥27 million, roughly US$171,000 by Bloomberg’s conversion in September 2026.
It is sold through selected Japanese dealers by specialist advisers known as Century Meisters. Outside Japan, it has been offered in China since late 2023, with limited distribution in some other Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Toyota has not announced a US or European price. The original details are in Toyota’s launch press release.
⚠️ Note: These are Japanese list prices before personalisation. Privately imported cars in other markets usually cost far more once taxes and fees are added.
6. 7 essential facts about the Toyota Century SUV
Fact 1: Toyota does not call it an SUV
The official release uses only the Century name and describes a new kind of chauffeur-driven car. The tall body was chosen to give rear passengers a comfortable posture and easier access, not to go off-road.
Fact 2: It has only four seats
Despite being over 5.2 metres long, there is no third row. The space goes to two fully reclining rear seats and a separated luggage compartment.
Fact 3: 75-degree rear doors, with sliding doors possible
The standard rear doors open very wide and come with power steps. At the reveal, Toyota also showed a GR-styled prototype with sliding rear doors as an example of its personalisation programme.
Fact 4: A V6 plug-in hybrid instead of a V8
The sedan still uses a 5.0L V8 hybrid, while the tall model moves to a plug-in 3.5L V6 on the unibody GA-K platform. That allows quiet electric running in town with enough range for long journeys.
Fact 5: Dimming rear glass since 2025
The June 2025 update added rear door and rear quarter glass with three settings: clear, semi-transparent and opaque. Passengers can block the view from outside at the touch of a button while keeping soft natural light.
Fact 6: Production is very low
The car is built at the Tahara plant, with an initial target of 30 units a month. Buyers can choose paint, interior materials and many details through the Century Meisters.
Fact 7: Century is now its own brand
In October 2025 chairman Akio Toyoda announced that Century would become a standalone brand above Lexus, aimed at Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes-Maybach buyers. In September 2026 a Century SUV appeared in Detroit. Toyota called it a global model and said it is studying expansion into more markets.
📌 In short: The Toyota Century SUV does not compete on power or off-road ability. Its value lies in quiet, privacy and hand-finished detail for the people in the back.
7. Verdict: who is the Toyota Century SUV for
The Toyota Century SUV suits buyers who want to be driven: executives, officials and anyone who values discretion over a showy badge. If you need a roomy family car, drive yourself most of the time or want a wide dealer network, it is not the right choice, and for now it is very hard to buy outside Japan.
More from our Cars section: Mazda Rotary Hybrid Explained: How It Works and 6 Essential Facts About the MX-30 R-EV and 7-Seater Family Car: 9 Best Picks by Segment and Price in Vietnam (2026).
Frequently asked questions about the Toyota Century SUV
How much does the Toyota Century SUV cost
In Japan it has started at ¥27 million since 2025, up from ¥25 million at launch in 2023. That is before personalisation options.
How many seats does the Toyota Century SUV have
Four only: two front seats and two fully reclining rear seats. There is no five- or seven-seat version.
What engine does the Toyota Century SUV use
A 3.5L V6 petrol engine with two electric motors and a plug-in battery. Combined output is 406 hp, with about 69 km (43 miles) of electric range on the WLTC cycle.
Is the Toyota Century SUV sold in the United States
Not officially. Toyota showed the car in Detroit in September 2026 and is studying more markets, but no US price or launch date has been announced.
What is the difference between Century and Lexus
Lexus is Toyota’s global luxury brand. Century sits above it, with very low production, a focus on hand craftsmanship and a rear-passenger-first layout.
Would you pick a Toyota Century SUV over a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley? Tell us in the comments! 🚙✨