What replaced Toyota Cressida?

The Toyota Avalon ultimately replaced the Cressida’s role in the United States, while the Cressida nameplate was phased out in the early 1990s in many markets. In broad terms, Toyota redirected the Cressida’s niche toward larger, Camry-based or Mark II–related sedans in different regions, with the Avalon serving as the flagship in North America.

Context: where the Cressida fit in Toyota’s lineup

The Toyota Cressida was introduced in the late 1970s as a more upscale, larger sibling to the Corona/Carina family, sold mainly in North America and some global markets. Over its generations, it occupied a mid-to-full-size sedan segment and was distinguished by a blend of comfort-oriented features and rear-wheel-drive/right-step styling. By the early 1990s, Toyota began reorganizing its sedan lineup, leading to the Cressida being phased out in several markets as newer models took its place.

North American replacement: Avalon as flagship

In the United States, the Cressida’s sales ended after the 1992 model year. Toyota filled the flagship sedan slot with a new model that could offer size, comfort, and reliability at a comparable level: the Avalon. The Avalon debuted for the 1995 model year (launched in 1994 for the North American market) and was marketed as Toyota’s large, front-wheel-drive sedan built on Camry underpinnings but sized to compete with traditional large sedans.

Key milestones in the replacement timeline:

• The Cressida was discontinued in the United States after the 1992 model year, ending its run in that market.


• The Avalon was introduced for the 1995 model year as the new flagship sedan, effectively taking over the role once played by the Cressida in North America.


• In 2022, the Avalon’s production ended in the United States, marking the end of a direct, long-running flagship sedan lineage in Toyota’s North American lineup.

These milestones reflect how Toyota transitioned from the Cressida to a larger, Camry-based flagship with the Avalon, a shift that defined the brand’s strategy for large sedans in North America for nearly three decades.

Global perspective: regional replacements and naming trends

Around the world, the Cressida’s replacement varied by market. In Japan and other regions, the Cressida badge was phased out earlier, with the broader Mark II/Chaser/Cresta family and other large-sedan lines absorbing the roles once filled by the export Cressida. In many markets, the Camry family ultimately served as the backbone for mid-to-large sedans, while the Cressida name disappeared from Toyota’s global lineup in the early 1990s. As a result, there isn't a single one-to-one successor to the Cressida outside North America; the replacement was often a combination of Mark II-based models, Camry derivatives, and, in some cases, the Avalon’s concept evolved into later flagship offerings in different regions.

Summary

In short, the Avalon replaced the Cressida as Toyota’s flagship sedan in the United States, starting with the 1995 model year. The Cressida name faded from most markets in the early 1990s as Toyota reorganized its large-sedan lineup, with regional successors ranging from Mark II/Chaser lineage to Camry-based large sedans. Today, there is no direct one-to-one replacement for the Cressida across all markets; the replacement narrative centers on the Avalon in North America and on broader shifts within Toyota’s global sedan strategy.

Is Toyota bringing the Celica back?

Yes, reports and some verbal confirmations indicate that Toyota is bringing back the Celica, possibly for the 2026 or 2027 model year, as part of a new lineup of performance cars. While official details are still scarce, the revival is expected to be a mid-engine, turbocharged sports car with a strong focus on performance.
 
This video discusses the latest update on the new Celica: 58sKirk KreifelsYouTube · Nov 26, 2024
What we know so far:

• Confirmation: Toyota executive vice president Yuki Nakajima has reportedly confirmed that a new Celica is in development, according to MotorTrend and Best Car magazines. 
• Engine: Rumors suggest it will feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, potentially producing around 400 horsepower. 
• Drivetrain: Unlike previous models, the new Celica is expected to be a mid-engine vehicle, similar to the MR2, and will have rear-wheel drive with a potential all-wheel-drive option. 
• Transmission: A 6-speed manual transmission is expected to be available. 
• Timing: The car is tentatively slated for a 2026 or 2027 debut, with a potential reveal at a 2027 auto show. 
• Other developments: Akio Toyoda, Toyota's chairman, has expressed his support for reviving sports cars like the Celica and MR2, and a mid-engine GR Yaris has reportedly been used for testing. 

You can watch this video to see a potential design of the new Celica: 1mAuto Om TVYouTube · Sep 23, 2025

What car replaced the Cressida?

Avalon
Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In most export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cressida between 1976 and 1992 across four generations. Toyota replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida in North America with the front-wheel-drive Avalon.

Why was Toyota Cressida discontinued?

The Cressida was discontinued in America after the 1992 model year — in no small part because Toyota had successfully launched its Lexus luxury division — and its place as the flagship sedan in Toyota's lineup was soon taken by the new-for-1995 Avalon.

Is there a 2026 Toyota Cressida?

Or early 2026 with availability varying across different markets. Worldwide. The return of the Toyota Cresa marks an exciting chapter in Toyota's.