JDM Toyota Imports
The Ultimate Guide
From the Supra to the Chaser — Japan's most iconic performance cars, sourced directly from auction and imported properly.
Why JDM Toyotas Dominate the Import Scene
Toyota has built some of the most legendary performance and luxury vehicles in automotive history. Thanks to Japan's domestic market regulations, many of Toyota's best models were never sold in North America or Europe — making them the most sought-after imports available today.
- Bulletproof reliability with decades of proven ownership data
- Turbocharged inline-six engines — the 1JZ and 2JZ are global legends
- Rear-wheel drive platforms built for performance and tuning
- Timeless 90s and early 2000s styling that has never gone out of fashion
- The largest aftermarket ecosystem of any JDM marque
- Strong and rising resale values across all major models
The MK4 Supra is arguably the most famous JDM Toyota ever built. Powered by the legendary 2JZ-GTE engine, it became a global icon thanks to its enormous tuning potential, sequential twin-turbo architecture, and the precision of the Getrag V160 gearbox. The JDM version ran four years longer than the US-spec car and used ceramic sequential turbos rather than the parallel setup on export models — a meaningful difference in character and performance.
- 2JZ-GTE ceramic sequential twin turbos — uniquely JDM, not the export parallel setup
- V160 (manual) or V161 (later) 6-speed Getrag — one of the finest production gearboxes ever made
- RZ spec: Bilstein suspension, Torsen LSD, and Brembo brakes standard
- VVT-i added from 1997 — RZ-S is the definitive late-spec variant
- GZ: automatic-only luxury spec with the same turbo drivetrain
- JDM production ended August 2002 — four years after the US market
The JZX100 is the most complete JDM package ever built. Four doors, turbocharged inline-six, rear-wheel drive, factory LSD, and a manual gearbox option — in a car that cost less new than the Supra and is significantly easier to find today. The single-turbo 1JZ-GTE VVT-i (CT15B) is not the twin-turbo of the earlier JZX90 — it's a more refined, more reliable, and equally capable unit that has become one of the most popular drift and street platforms globally.
- JZX100 is single turbo — the twin turbo was the earlier JZX90 generation
- Tourer V: 1JZ-GTE turbo, R154 5-speed, factory Torsen LSD, Bilstein dampers
- Double wishbone suspension all four corners — not a strut compromise
- Parts shared with Supra, Soarer, Crown — the widest Toyota ecosystem
- Tourer S: same platform, 1JZ-GE naturally aspirated — driver's car at any budget
- 0–100 km/h: 5.6 seconds stock. Tuning headroom is enormous.
Japan's executive luxury sedan — built like a Lexus before Lexus existed, with performance options that were never offered anywhere else. The S170 Athlete V brings the 1JZ-GTE turbo engine to a full-size luxury platform, available in both sedan and Estate wagon form. The Crown is one of the most overlooked vehicles in the JDM world — a car with genuine factory performance credentials that still trades at a fraction of what the Supra or Chaser commands.
- S150: 1G-FE, 1JZ-GE, 2JZ-GE with VVT-i added — smooth, reliable NA options across the range
- S170 Athlete V: factory 1JZ-GTE turbo, 280 PS — available as sedan AND Estate wagon
- The Estate wagon Athlete V is one of the rarest and most desirable JDM wagons available
- No 2JZ-GTE in the Crown — that engine stays in the Supra and Aristo
- Full parts overlap with Chaser, Soarer, and Supra — the widest ecosystem
- Increasing demand in EU and US markets as the story gets out
True mid-engine, rear-wheel drive — the MR2 delivers exotic car balance and handling feel at a fraction of the price. The 3S-GTE turbocharged engine sits directly behind the driver, giving the SW20 a weight distribution and handling character that larger, heavier sports cars spend fortunes trying to replicate. The JDM 3S-GE naturally aspirated option is also worth noting — not offered in the US, where only the 5S-FE NA was available.
- True mid-engine layout — 47/53 front/rear weight distribution
- 3S-GTE JDM turbo: Gen 2 225 PS, Gen 3 245 PS — both significantly more than export specs
- 3S-GE NA: JDM only — the USDM received the inferior 5S-FE instead
- Four distinct production revisions — Rev 3 and Rev 4 are the most refined
- Double wishbone suspension all corners — proper sports car engineering
- One of the best-value exotic-feeling sports cars available at any budget
Japan's grand touring coupe — the Soarer is what the Lexus SC would have been if Lexus had made the interesting version. The JZZ30 carries the twin-turbo 1JZ-GTE (converted to single VVT-i on later units), while the UZZ32 brings a naturally aspirated 1UZ-FE V8. Premium build quality throughout, with a cabin that rivals anything from Europe at the same price point. One of the most undervalued platforms in the JDM market.
- JZZ30: 1JZ-GTE — originally twin turbo, later converted to single VVT-i from the factory
- JZZ31: 2JZ-GE naturally aspirated — the refined GT spec
- UZZ30/31/32: 1UZ-FE V8 — luxury touring with V8 character
- Shares the platform with the Lexus SC — European-comparable build quality
- Full parts overlap with Chaser JZX100 and Supra — wide parts availability
- Significantly undervalued relative to its spec and quality level
How to Import a
JDM Toyota
Importing a Toyota from Japan is more straightforward than most people expect. The US 25-year rule removes the majority of federal compliance hurdles — for most of the vehicles on this page, the process is well-established and the documentation is standardised.
Setsu handles the full pipeline: sourcing from Japanese auction, inspection, shipping, customs clearance, and delivery to your door.
Setsu sources directly from Japanese auction — every car comes with a full auction sheet, verified history, and complete import documentation. Tell us what you're after and we'll find it.