When you run a business importing high-quality Japanese cars, you end up driving a lot of different vehicles. But every now and then, one of them sticks with you—really sticks. For me, that was the Toyota Crown Majesta GWS214.
I recently clocked just over 50,000km behind the wheel of this beauty before finally moving on to the next car. And honestly? I already miss it.
Most of those kilometres were racked up between Newborough and Bairnsdale—a decent highway stretch if you’re from the Gippsland area and know the run. I was doing that trip regularly for basketball, and the Majesta never missed a beat.
The highway comfort is second to none. It’s smooth, planted, quiet, and eats up long drives like they’re nothing. After a full day and night of hoops, I could jump in the Majesta, set the adaptive cruise, and just glide home. No fatigue, no fuss—just a genuinely relaxing drive. You don’t get that often!
Now I’ll be real—I’m usually not a fan of CVT transmissions. A lot of them feel unnatural, drony, and just kind of… wrong. But Toyota really nailed it with the GWS214. The hybrid CVT setup in this car is smooth and smart. It delivers torque exactly when you need it and doesn’t rev endlessly or feel disconnected from the road.
For those who’ve sworn off CVTs—this one will surprise you.
What blew me away most, though, was the fuel economy. I averaged around 6.4L/100km across the 50,000km I drove it, which is wild considering the car’s size and comfort levels. You’d expect something this plush to be thirsty, but the hybrid system is efficient without compromising performance.
The Crown Majesta GWS214 I drove was the F-type variant, which means it came loaded with all the top-end features you’d expect from a flagship Toyota. The full leather upholstery gave the cabin a premium, refined feel, and the rear seats were reclining, making it one of the few cars where passengers actually fought to sit in the back.
Add to that heated seats for both front and rear passengers, a heated steering wheel for those cold balmy mornings, cooled front seats for when the cars been sitting in the blistering Aussie sun, and a tri-zone climate control system that let everyone set their own perfect temp, and you’ve got an interior that’s built for true comfort. Whether it was freezing early morning drives or summer highway runs, the Majesta kept things perfectly dialled in.
One thing that really impressed me about the Crown Majesta’s interior was the infotainment system. Unlike many JDM imports that require aftermarket mods just to be usable, the Majesta’s system is actually intuitive and comes with an English language option from factory, making it easy to navigate right out of the box. The audio quality is genuinely superb for a factory setup—rich, clear sound with deep bass that makes your music feel alive, whether you’re cruising the highway or just idling in traffic. Bluetooth audio worked flawlessly the entire time I owned the car—quick to connect, no dropouts, and perfect integration with phone calls and media. It’s a well-rounded system that adds to the overall luxury experience without needing any major upgrades.
That being said, one of the first things I did was add Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to the factory infotainment system —something we now offer as a service to all our Crown customers. It honestly transforms the whole experience with these cars. Being able to wirelessly stream Spotify, use Google Maps or Waze, respond to messages hands-free really modernises the car without ruining the original feel.
(Enquire with us if you want this done to your Crown—we’ve got you covered.)
After 50,000km, I can confidently say the Toyota Crown Majesta GWS214 is a car I’d own again in a heartbeat. It’s got that rare mix of reliability, comfort, luxury, and practicality. Whether you’re running errands around town or clocking up highway miles like I was, it just delivers.
If you’re after something a bit special—something you won’t see on every corner, but still offers top-tier comfort and economy—the GWS214 should be on your radar.
We’ve brought in a few and can help source one if you’re keen—shoot us a message or come check out what’s in stock. We’re bringing Japan’s best to our Aussie roads—one Crown at a time.
Absolute motoring enthusiast, and Gippsland’s go-to guy for all things JDM imports, especially Toyota Crowns.
We’re located in Morwell, Victoria.
Open by appointment only.
LMCT 0012915
