Toyota Altezza 1998-2005 used car review

The Toyota Altezza is a premium sports sedan - and great to drive. Finding an unmodified one has become tricky.

Richard Edwards
Richard Edwards
Expert Reviewer | Auto Media Group

The Toyota Altezza is a premium sports sedan - and great to drive. Finding an unmodified one has become tricky.

Exterior , 3.5 out of 5 Drive , 4 out of 5 Safety , 3 out of 5 Value , 4 out of 5

Overall score , 3.6 out of 5

The good
  • Excellent steering and handling
  • Practical and comfortable interior
  • Smooth engines and transmissions
The not-so-good
  • AS200 model could handle more power
  • Many have been modified or driven hard

The Toyota Altezza is offered for only one generation. In markets outside of Japan, it was sold as the Lexus IS200. All models were rear-wheel drive, except for some Gita wagon models which are rear-wheel drive. The Altezza is popular with performance car enthusiasts as they are relatively easy to modify for additional performance.

Inside and out

The most notable feature of the Altezza's design is at the rear, where the taillights are coloured units set within a large clear lens. This style soon became popular in modified cars, called “Altezza lights”. Otherwise, the car looks like a relatively regular sedan, especially the AS200 version driven here, which does not feature the sporty body kit or spoiler of higher models. Alloy wheels are standard.

The interior has a dark, sporty, premium feel – in line with its role as a Lexus model. The dashboard instruments are a unique feature, with a small pod housing a large central speedometer with smaller gauges set in it and either side of it. This is meant to follow the style of a high-end watch. The steering wheel has a sporty shape and is wrapped in leather. 

High on the centre of the dash is a screen for the navigation system – which will not work in NZ. Below this are dials for the late control air-conditioning and six-disc CD changer stereo – which will require a band expander to receive local stations.

Another sporty touch is the transmission shifter, which is a chrome ball on both manual and automatic models. The pedals are also a drilled aluminium design.

The seats are very comfortable, soft – yet with large bolsters top and bottom for extra support. The rear seat offers good headroom and sufficient legroom. They are very sculpted, wrapping around the window seats – which means while there is room for a third passenger they may find the position uncomfortable.

The Altezza’s boot is slightly smaller than other sedans of this size at 400 litres – enough for three medium suitcases. The rear seat does not fold forward for additional capacity, although there is a ski hatch for long, narrow items.

On the road

The Altezza is available with three sizes of engine. The entry-level “AS200” models use a 2-litre six-cylinder engine, paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The sporty “RS200” uses a special high-performance 2-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic, while the top AS300 “Gita” model is available with a 3-litre six-cylinder engine with a five-speed automatic.

Aftermarket turbocharger kits have been fitted to some models, while larger engines have been swapped into the sedans.

The 2-litre six-cylinder engine in the review car produces 114kW and 195Nm – not a lot for an engine of this size. It is, however, delivered at low engine RPM and is very smooth. The four-speed automatic makes smart shifts. It is also very smooth and can be shifted into a power mode. Traction control reduces the chance of wheelspin. The brakes perform well.

The Altezza is notable for how well it steers and handles. The steering wheel feels well weighted and responsive, and while the ride is firm, it is still comfortable.

There is little body roll and lots of grip – this is a fun car to drive.

Parking sensors and cameras were not fitted as standard to any Altezza – though they are fitted as accessories to some vehicles. Visibility is OK forward and to the side, though the raised tail reduces rearward visibility. If you need a reversing camera, you can buy a unit to fit yourself from $50 or have a professional do it for $200.

We could not find an official tow rating for the Altezza. Aftermarket towing options are available rated at up to 1,500kg braked (a small-to-medium trailer boat).

Safety

Neither the Altezza or IS200 carry a local safety rating – although the latter carries a three-star Used Car Safety Rating based on real-world crash data. Safety features include driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes and traction control. Side airbags were optional, and it is easy to spot of a car has there – as there are “SRS” tags and plastic panels on the side of the front seats.

There are ISOFIX child seat points in the rear window positions, while all three belts in the back are the full shoulder type, which offer more protection then lap-only belts.

Reliability

While the Altezza shares the solid build quality and good reputation for reliability as other Toyotas, those that remain on the road at this age are likely to have been driven fairly hard. They are sports sedans and are used as such. The engine uses a cambelt which will require regular replacement. 

Ensure this is done as this engine suffers catastrophic damage if the belt slips or breaks.

Like any automatic gearbox of this era, check for smooth operation with no suspicious clunks when engaging Drive, along with progressive gear change intervals and no sign of slipping.

Examples that have been driven hard may exhibit “diff shunt” with sloppiness in the rear differential crown wheel to spider gears a cause, or worn propeller shaft universal joints. Drive at slow speed speeding up and slowing down, listening for thumps from the rear of the vehicle.

The Altezza is known to be hard on front ball joints, which can cause a loose feel and clunks in the front of the vehicle. It is not necessarily expensive to fix, though may indicate a worn-out car.

The plastic radiator top tanks, after 20 years on the road, will likely show signs of perishing, cracking and pressure failure. That’s especially around high-stress points, including the filler cap and hose extrusions. Have a look for any signs of previous overheating or water loss.

Check for any service history on the car. The Altezza range is not particularly forgiving of a lack of maintenance, especially with oil sludge build-up and old, worn spark plugs. Regular oil changes and a good-quality set of iridium spark plugs can make all the difference to how the vehicle drives.

Cost of ownership

Toyota recommends an Altezza is serviced every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. A larger service, including the replacement of spark plugs and cabin air filters, is required every 120,000km. A Toyota dealer quoted us $280 for the regular service and double this for the major service. The cambelt replacement costs $630.

RightCar estimates that over 14,000km of driving a year, an Altezza will cost $2,600 a year to fuel - high for a car of this size. The 60-litre fuel tank will cost $120 to fill and should take you 590km before the fuel light comes on.

A vehicle licence for the Altezza costs $99.02 a year, with the car in the second cheapest ACC levy group.

Trade Me Insurance estimates insurance for an Altezza valued at $6,150 will cost $47.83 - which is on the low side for a sports orientated vehicle.

Buyers' guide

The Altezza is available on Trade Me priced from $3,200 to $12,000. The most expensive vehicles are either rare low mileage cars or highly modified versions.

Variants

  • AS200 - Available in sedan and wagon forms. Powered by a 2-litre six-cylinder engine. Features alloy wheels, electric windows, climate control, remote locking, CD player or Minidisc stereo, and traction control. L edition adds electric seats and part leather. Z edition adds body kit, spoiler, metal pedals and tinted windows.
  • RS200 - Available in sedan form. Powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder engine. On AS200 adds sports suspension, body kit and spoiler. L edition adds electric seats and part leather. Z edition adds body kit, spoiler, metal pedals and tinted windows.
  • AS300 - Powered by a 3-litre six-cylinder engine. As per RS200 specifications. L edition adds electric seats and part leather. All-wheel drive is optional.

Timeline

  • 1998 - Launched in Japan
  • 2000 - Gita model added to range
  • 2003 - Slight cosmetic facelift
  • 2005 - Model discontinued, replaced by Lexus IS250 and Toyota Mark X

Details

Review vehicle

2001 Toyota Altezza AS200 Z

Price

$5,000 to $12,000 for models which have travelled 70,000 to 120,000km

Engine

2-litre six-cylinder, 114kW and 195Nm

Transmission

Four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Safety rating

Unrated

Servicing

15,000km or 12 months

Spare wheel

Space saver tyre

Fuel economy

9.3-litres per 100km (claimed)

Fuel type

Regular

Length

4400mm

Width

1720mm

Height

1410mm

Towing capacity

Unrated

Turning circle

11.2m

This review covers the Toyota Altezza for model years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.

*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.

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