The flagship luxury sedan benefits from upgraded safety tech, but its design and underpinnings remain unchanged
The Century brand has re-established itself as Toyota’s new standalone ultra-luxury division, positioned above Lexus at the top of the Japanese group’s hierarchy. While the lineup has grown to include an SUV, and in the near future, a coupe too, the brand hasn’t turned its back on the stately sedan that has borne the Century name since 1967.
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The current G60-generation sedan, introduced in 2018, has continued largely unchanged. Now, seven years later, Japan’s counterpart to the Rolls-Royce Phantom receives a modest yet meaningful round of updates focused mainly on safety, accompanied by a noticeable increase in price.
Subtle Evolution
Measuring 5,335 mm (210 inches) in length, the latest Century sedan adopts Toyota’s newest Safety Sense suite, a package already rolled out across much of the brand’s lineup. Added features include an upgraded Pre-Collision Safety system with an expanded detection range for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycles, now operational in intersections too.
The Proactive Driving Assist adds further support by managing steering and braking when a pedestrian or cyclist appears unexpectedly, and by easing deceleration behind slower vehicles or on approaching a curve.
What’s New Inside?
In the cabin, an 8-inch infotainment screen is now standard equipment. It supports connected navigation, though its modest size feels almost nostalgic given current expectations for luxury cars heading into 2026.
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Aside from this, the interior and exterior design remain untouched. There are no new trim materials or color choices, and the sedan misses out on the dimming rear glass now available on the Century SUV.
Under the hood, we find a carry-over self-charging hybrid powertrain, sourced from the previous generation Lexus LS 600h. The naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 and the electric motor produce a combined 425 hp (317 kW / 431 PS), sending power to the rear axle via an eCVT gearbox.
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As you would expect from a flagship, the Century comes standard with an electrically controlled air suspension and active noise control.
The Price of Luxury
Unlike the Century SUV and despite the brand’s global aspirations, the sedan remains exclusive to the Japanese market. The slightly improved model is priced from ¥23 million (equivalent to $149,000 at current exchange rates), a massive ¥2,920,000 ($19,000) increase compared to the outgoing version. Even so, it remains less costly than the SUV version, which starts from ¥27 million ($174,000).
The GRMN Chapter
The Century lineup has also inspired a handful of rarities, including a one-off convertible built for the Emperor and a GRMN performance variant personally owned by Akio Toyoda. The latter recently appeared at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, wearing a subtly updated grille.
The Century GRMN stands apart with its lowered suspension, bespoke wheel design, and a discreet carbon fiber bodykit. The package includes a front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, and lip spoiler.
The GR-branded model is not listed on the official website, although we’re sure they can make you one if you can afford the services of “Century Meisters”, who offer unlimited personalization options and undertake one-off commissions.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio
