The Toyota Aristo looks like a quiet executive saloon, and in the UK most people know its shape as the Lexus GS. The difference is under the bonnet. The Japanese market got the 2JZ-GTE twin turbo straight six, the same family of engine as the Supra, and the Lexus never did. That makes an Aristo a fast, comfortable four-door that costs far less than a Supra to buy. The questions are which version you are looking at and what it will cost to bring in.
- Chassis codes
- JZS147, JZS161
- Turbo engine
- 2JZ-GTE 3.0 twin turbo straight six
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Test
- MOT, as every Aristo is over 10 years
The Aristo and the Lexus GS
Toyota sold the car as the Aristo in Japan and as the Lexus GS abroad. The bodies and much of the running gear are shared, so a lot of trim, glass and service parts cross over. The engines are where they part company. Export GS models had non-turbo engines, while the Aristo could be ordered with the 2JZ-GTE.
Not every Aristo is a turbo, though. Both generations were also sold with the non-turbo 2JZ-GE, and those cars are much closer to a UK GS300. Check the chassis code and the grade on the auction sheet so you know exactly what you are buying.
Two generations
| Feature | JZS147 | JZS161 |
|---|---|---|
| Built | 1991 to 1997 | 1997 to 2004 |
| Lexus twin | First GS300 | Second GS300 and GS400 |
| Turbo version | 3.0V, 2JZ-GTE twin turbo | V300, 2JZ-GTE VVT-i twin turbo |
| Non-turbo version | 3.0Q, 2JZ-GE | S300, 2JZ-GE |
| Tax today | 5% VAT, no duty, on most | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The JZS147 is the rounder, older car and the cheaper of the two. The JZS161 is the one most people picture, with its four round headlights, and the V300 is the model most buyers ask about. Both turbo cars were sold with automatic gearboxes, so a manual Aristo has been converted after it left the factory.
What to check before you buy
The good news is that many Aristos were bought as comfortable daily cars and looked after. The catch is that the 2JZ-GTE tunes easily, and a lot of V300s have been given more boost, bigger turbos or a manual conversion. A clean, standard car is the safer buy, and the easier one to insure.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 9 done
Our guides to Japanese auction grades and checking the mileage on an imported car cover the checks in more detail. If the car has been tuned, our guide to importing a modified car explains what to expect.
The test depends on age
The age of the car decides most of the work. GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, so they take an MOT instead of an IVA test.
| Age of the car | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test, and a speedometer reading in mph |
| Over 10 years | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
Production of the Aristo ended in 2004, so every one is well past 10 years old. None needs an IVA test, and the speedometer conversion to mph is only required on cars under 10, so they keep their originals.
Shipping an Aristo
From Japan, RoRo is the usual route and costs less than a container. The car has to run and drive, and it should be empty, with no spare parts or loose wheels inside. A non-runner or a project car can go in a container instead.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks. Our cost of importing from Japan guide works through a full example.
Import tax
A car under 30 years old pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus the shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. In October 2026 that means built before October 1996, which takes in most JZS147s. The last ones, built from late 1996 into 1997, do not qualify yet, and no JZS161 does.
Looking at a late JZS147? Send us the chassis number before you buy. A few months of build date can be the difference between 5% VAT and the full rate.
Our worked tax examples show the sums side by side, and the import tax calculator runs your own numbers. If you are moving to the UK and qualify, Transfer of Residence can bring the car in with no VAT or duty at all.
Road tax and clean air zones
Road tax goes by the date the car was first registered anywhere. A car first registered before 1 March 2001 is taxed on engine size, and a 3.0 litre Aristo pays the higher of the two rates. Later cars are taxed on their CO2 band. Our guide to road tax for imported cars explains it. If you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone, a petrol car needs evidence of Euro 4, and our guide to ULEZ and imported cars covers how to show it.
Getting it road legal
Because the Aristo is right-hand drive, the usual job is a rear fog light, fitted in the right position if one is missing. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down. We do any changes in our own workshop in Castle Donington, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days.
For the wider route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan. If you are weighing up other 1990s Toyotas, our guides to the Supra Mk IV, the Chaser and Mark II and the Crown and Century follow the same pattern. Before you commit, get a quote from an insurer that knows Japanese imports.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Toyota Aristo to the UK?
Yes. An Aristo follows the same route as any car from Japan: shipping, customs, a rear fog light if needed, an MOT, then DVLA registration. Every Aristo is over 10 years old, so none needs an IVA test.
Is the Aristo the same as a Lexus GS?
Largely, yes. They share the body and much of the running gear. The big difference is that the Aristo was offered with the 2JZ-GTE twin turbo engine, which the Lexus GS never had.
Does an Aristo qualify for the 5% import VAT rate?
A JZS147 built before October 1996 does, as it is over 30 years old, and that covers most of them. Late JZS147s and every JZS161, including the V300, pay 10% duty and 20% VAT.
Is every Aristo a turbo?
No. Both generations were also sold with the non-turbo 2JZ-GE. The turbo cars are the 3.0V on the JZS147 and the V300 on the JZS161, so check the grade on the auction sheet.
How long does it take to ship one from Japan?
Usually about 5 to 8 weeks door to door, plus time for customs, any changes, the MOT and registration.
Found an Aristo you like? Send us the auction lot or listing on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
