10 Japanese Luxury Cars That'll Last You 500,000 Miles

Jun 17, 2023

Here are some of the most luxurious cars from Japan that are known for their exceptional reliability.

Japanese cars offer the best of luxury and innovative features without sacrificing reliability. As a result, luxury cars from the land of the rising sun are known for their bulletproof build quality and fuss-free ownership. Automakers like Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti are known for giving European luxury cars a run for their money without costing an arm and a leg. While modern cars are built well and can easily munch miles without breaking a sweat, classic cars from these premium automakers offer the best value. The '80s and '90s gave the automotive industry some of the finest luxury cars from Japan that can easily attain half a million miles, if not more.

Looking at data from CarSurvey.org and J.D. Power, we have put together this list of some of the most reliable Japanese luxury cars that will last you at least 500,000 miles.

The Toyota Century is one of the most iconic Japanese luxury cars and has gone down in history as a motoring legend. The first generation of this flagship luxury sedan hit the Japanese markets back in 1967. Since the launch of the first generation, it has been the choice for wealthy business executives and senior-level government leaders. The second generation G50 Toyota Century brought a host of incremental changes that made the car modern and even more comfortable. It had a production run that spanned twenty years, from 1997 to 2017. It was replaced by the third generation (G60) models.

The old-school luxo-barge featured a mammoth 5.0-liter V12, a first for Toyota. This engine was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission until the 2004 model year, with later second-gen cars getting a six-speed automatic instead.

Priced at the equivalent of $100,000 back then, making it one of the most expensive cars available. With the car now being twenty-five years old, they have started seeing more interest among JDM enthusiasts in the U.S., too.

While owner feedback is limited due to the rarity of the car, the lucky few that own these luxury sedans have nothing but good things to say about them. The consensus is that the Century is an underrated car that feels way ahead of its time.

Related: 2024 Toyota Century SUV Aims To Redefine Luxury Vehicles

The Lexus LS 400 is one of the most reliable Japanese luxury cars on the market today. In fact, Matt Farah's LS 400 recently crossed the 1,000,000-mile mark! These cars were known to be well-engineered, reliable work-horses with all the luxury one would expect from a car of this generation. All generations of the classic LS are quite easy to recommend, but the second-gen struck a good balance between modern features and the classic appeal. In fact, the second-gen LS even got the Skyhook adaptive computerized air suspension.

The car comes with a 4.0-liter V8 (1UZ-FE) engine under the hood, and while it won't break any top speed records, the LS 400 does not feel slow by any means.

Owner feedback for this car is overwhelmingly positive, with most describing it as being built like a tank. Most niggles reported are usual for cars as they age, and the type of usage may further affect the life of suspension and drivetrain parts.

The first-gen Acura Legend had the impossible task of showcasing Honda's prowess in the premium end of the market. The Legend offered a host of unique features and managed to undercut its immediate rivals. This combined with its unparalleled reliability made it a hot-seller. Second-gen cars came with a new engine, more modern looks, and a new six-speed transmission that was reserved for the Type-II.

Despite being a front-wheel drive car, the Legend was a fun car to drive. It was also way ahead of its time and came with features like speed-sensitive steering, a telephone, heated mirrors, and even soft-close doors!

Most owners reported minor issues including slow power windows, issues with the power antenna, etc. A few reported instances of cracked radiators, too.

Related: Japanese Luxury Cars We'd Buy Over A Mercedes-Benz Any Day

The Toyota Crown is one of the longest-running sedans and has an interesting history. Ever since its launch back in 1955, it has been a Japanese staple, and although it isn't sold in the US currently, the car is in its sixteenth generation. Combining luxury with performance, the 1991-1995 Crown was offered with the iconic 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE engine. Two other, smaller gasoline engines as well as a 2.4-liter diesel were also on offer.

Most owners were extremely satisfied with their cars and felt it was a great balance of comfort and power, especially with the 2JZ engine, albeit at the cost of fuel economy in city driving.

The 2004-2008 Acura TL is one of the most reliable generations of this mid-size premium sedan. Buyers had the choice of either a 3.2-liter V6 with 258 hp or a 3.5-liter V6 in the Type-S that produced 286 hp. Both these J-series Honda engines came with VTEC and were paired with either a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, with the latter being the more reliable and fun-to-drive option. The Type-S is sportier and came with a slightly stiffer suspension setup, so those looking for a more comfortable ride could stick to cars with the 3.2-liter engine. Even cars equipped with the smaller are capable of doing the 0-60 sprint in under six seconds.

Overall feedback for the TL is quite positive and the 2004-2008 generation is quite reliable, especially with the six-speed manual gearbox.

The original Infiniti Q45 was Nissan's first full-size luxury sedan. It was meant to be an answer to cars like the BMW 7-Series, and despite being heavily underrated, the car managed to do quite well for itself. First- and second-gen cars are classics in their own right, but the third generation Q45 is the one that packs the most features. The car cost the equivalent of nearly $100,000 in today's money (MSRP of $56,200 in 2002) and was the first vehicle outside Japan to offer voice-activated satellite navigation. Under the hood was a 4.5-liter V8 that produced 340 hp.

Older Infiniti cars do not have the best reputation for reliability, owing to their complex engineering. However, cars from later model years (2002 onwards) are a lot better to work on.

Often considered to be the Japanese equivalent of the BMW 8-Series, the Toyota Soarer is an underrated luxury performance car. The Z30 generation came with a choice of three engines: a single- or twin-turbo 2.5-liter 1JZ-GTE 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE I6 from the Supra, and the 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V8. Despite being a sporty two-door car, the Soarer was longer and wider than the Toyota Crown. The interiors were draped in leather and the car was way ahead of its time, with some trims even coming with active suspension and four-wheel steering!

Ownership experience for the Toyota Soarer is largely fuss-free. The most commonly experienced niggles are quite small and are cheap fixes.

The Infiniti G37 is known for its handling and powerful engine options. This generation of the G37 was available as a sedan and a coupe and is a good choice for those looking a sporty luxury car. Since this is more modern compared to most other cars in this list, it comes with smarter features, too. For instance, the G37 comes with intelligent cruise control that can match the speed of traffic. The infotainment screen also shows unique information like the yaw rate, lateral acceleration wheel speed, and comes with satellite navigation.

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Whether it's the sandy dunes of the Middle East or snowy peaks in Alaska, the Lexus LX series effortlessly ferries its passengers in absolute comfort. While full-size SUVs like the Land Cruiser were not the first names in luxury, Lexus changed the game with the LX. It combined the practicality and ruggedness of a full-blown SUV with the comfort of a comfortable sedan. The J100 marked a turning point in the history of this SUV as it transitioned from a work-horse to a plush luxury car. In fact, J.D. Power named the LX 470 the most reliable luxury SUV over a three-year period in its Vehicle Dependability Study back in 2005. Newer models like the 2022 LX 600 are even more luxurious, and it even won our Best SUV award for 2022!

The LX 470 is one of the most reliable and niggle-free luxury cars in the market, with most work being related to normal wear and tear.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The New Toyota Land Cruiser Should Be Your Next SUV

The second-generation Lexus GS is one of the most well-rounded classic Japanese luxury cars in the market. These cars were similar to the JDM icon, the Toyota Crown. Several engine and transmission choices were on offer, ranging from a 3.0-liter 2JZ-GE I6 to a 4.3-liter 3UZ-FE V8. All power was directed to the rear wheels making this Lexus quite fun to drive for a luxury car.

The S160 Lexus GS is a supremely reliable luxury car, and most owners have had to do not much more than routine maintenance.

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With over seven years of experience in the automotive space, Krunal has lived and breathed cars since before he could talk. He has worked with several automotive and tech publications and has even worked on campaigns directly with supercar brands as a marketing and PR consultant. When he isn't writing or driving cars, he is planning his next travel adventure. Outside of cars and motorsports, he is a finance educator and is passionate about brands and business.