What was the other name for the Toyota Mark 2?
The other name for the Toyota Mark II in many markets was the Toyota Cressida.
To understand this naming, it's helpful to note the Mark II's origins in Japan as the Corona Mark II, and how export markets adopted the Cressida badge for several generations. The Mark II line also has sibling models—the Chaser and Cresta—that shared the same platform and engineering lineage.
Background: Corona Mark II and Cressida naming
The Toyota Mark II began life as part of the Corona family in Japan. In different regions, Toyota used distinct badges to position the same sedan lineup, with the Cressida becoming the familiar export name in the United States and other markets. Over time, the Mark II and its Cressida designation coexisted for various generations, reflecting regional marketing strategies rather than completely separate vehicles.
Before listing the regional names, it helps to outline the main naming they carried across markets:
- Toyota Cressida — the badge used in export markets (notably the United States and Canada) for multiple generations of the Mark II lineage.
- Corona Mark II — the Japanese market name for the early generations, tying the model to the Corona lineage.
These names illustrate how Toyota leveraged different brands to reach diverse audiences while sharing core engineering across regions.
Related models and platform siblings
In addition to the Mark II itself, two closely related Toyota sedans shared its platform and family DNA. These siblings were often discussed alongside the Mark II in discussions of mid-size Toyotas from the era.
- Toyota Chaser — a sportier sedan variant derived from the same platform as the Mark II.
- Toyota Cresta — a more luxurious sedan variant sharing the same underlying architecture.
The Chaser and Cresta helped illustrate Toyota’s strategy of offering multiple trims on a common platform to appeal to different buyer preferences without duplicating major engineering work.
Summary
The Toyota Mark II was widely known outside Japan as the Toyota Cressida, while in Japan the lineage was also associated with the Corona Mark II badge in earlier generations. Across markets and generations, Toyota used these badges to position the same core mid-size sedan to different audiences, with Chaser and Cresta serving as related, platform-sharing siblings.
