2010 Toyota Mark X Review
The Toyota Mark X is the hallmark of Japanese car luxury and elegance. It is an ultra-luxurious 4 door saloon manufactured and sold in Japan since 2004. In the Kenyan market, it is a worthy competitor to the German luxury brands such as Mercedes Benz and BMW.
Detailed Review
The Toyota Mark X is the hallmark of Japanese car luxury and elegance. It is an ultra-luxurious 4 door saloon manufactured and sold in Japan since 2004. In the Kenyan market, it is a worthy competitor to German luxury brands such as the Mercedes Benz and the BMW. Of course we cant forget to mention the premium grade Toyota Lexus GS which is in a class of its own. However, most of the Mark X’s body styling, chassis and interior is borrowed from the Lexus GS. In the Toyota classification tree, the Mark X is graded above the Toyota Camry and below the Toyota Crown. There is a station wagon by the name Toyota Mark X Zio which is not related to the Mark X and should not be confused as such.
The first generation known as the X120 was in production from 2004 to 2009. The second generation known as the X130 has been in production from 2009 to present. The 2010 Mark X comes equipped with 2 engine options, the 2.5L 4GR V6 engine and the 3.5L 2GR V6 engine, all mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The 2010 Toyota Mark X comes in 5 grades. These are; the Mark X 250G, The Mark X 250GS, the Mark X 250G Four, The Mark X 350S and the Mark X Premium . These grades are grouped into 3 broad categories which are; Standard(250G, 250G Four), Sports(250GS, 350S) and Premium. Below are the specs for each of these grades
1. Toyota Mark X 250G – This is the standard package that comes with the 2.5L 4GR engine, 2WD, 16″ Steel rims with plastic covers, CD/DVD Player, key start, no fog lights, No steering controls
2. Toyota Mark X 250GS – This is a sports version that comes with the 2.5L 4GR engine, 2WD, 17″ alloy rims, fog lights, Infotainment screen with Navigation, keyless, sharper throttle response, and chrome pedals, steering controls.
3. Toyota Mark X 250G Four – This is the 4WD version that comes with the 2.5L 4GR engine, 17″ alloy rims, fog lights, infotainment screen, key start, and No steering controls.
4. Toyota Mark X 350S – This is a sports version that comes with the 3.5L 2GR engine, 2WD, 18″ alloy rims, infotainment screen with navigation, keyless, sharper throttle response, chrome pedals, steering controls
5. Toyota Mark X Premium – This is premium grade that comes with the 3.5L 2GR engine, 2WD, 18″ alloy rims, fog lights, infotainment screen with navigation, keyless, beige interior, wood trim on dashboard, steering controls
Interior
Legroom & Space
The Toyota Mark X borrows heavily from the Toyota Lexus GS and as such, it has a touch of class and elegance that is not common with other Japanese saloons. It is a wide car which affords it excellent interior space and legroom. The dashboard is neatly arranged with all the dials and buttons easily accessible to the driver. At the first row, the legroom is excellent for both driver and passenger. At the second row, the outermost seats have good legroom but the middle seat is cramped. This is because the Mark X is a rear drive car and the transmission tunnel intrudes into this space.
Cabin Storage
The 2010 Toyota Mark X has sufficient cabin storage compartments. These are useful for storing items such as smartphones, beverages, goggles, handbags etc. For the 1st row, there 4 cup/bottle holders, door panel storage , a storage shelf below the dashboard, a glovebox and the center-box. For the second row, the storage is on the front seat jacket pockets and door side pockets.
2010 Toyota Mark X Boot Space
The Mark X is a saloon, therefore the boot space is only meant for light luggage. It can carry maybe 2 large suitcases and some space for groceries, nothing more. If extra space is required, the rear seats can fold down to create additional space.
Other Extras – Infotainment, Navigation(Optional), Keyless Entry, 7 Airbags
Exterior
The 2010 Toyota Mark X is a wide saloon car with a slanting exterior and double exhausts. The current generation has got a sharper styled front and a trimmed rear but otherwise everything else remains the same. Some people have complained of the redesigned rear that makes the car look smaller than the previous generation. The standard Mark X comes with steel rims with plastic covers while the higher spec versions come with alloy rims.
2010 Toyota Mark X Fuel Consumption
2010 Toyota Mark X 2.5L Fuel Consumption: 12.9 km/L (On Average)
2010 Toyota Mark X 3.5L Fuel Consumption: 10.2 km/L (On Average)
2010 Toyota Mark X Acceleration :
2010 Toyota Mark X 2.5L accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 8.4 sec.
2010 Toyota Mark X 3.5L accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 sec.
2010 Toyota Mark X Fuel Tank Capacity: 71 Litres
2010 Toyota Mark X Ground Clearance
The 2010 Toyota Mark X has a ground clearance of 6.1 Inches(155mm). This is a very low car by Kenyan standards and will not clear some speed bumps. It might be necessary to modify the ground clearance to adjust the car to Kenyan roads. Read our guidelines here on how to safely increase a vehicle’s ground clearance.
2010 Toyota Mark X Stability and Handling
The Toyota Mark X is a very powerful car, the 250G blasts from 0-100km/h in 8.4 sec. That power combined with its mass(1550Kg), requires good stops, but unfortunately this is an area the Mark X 250G falls short. During hard braking, the car feels strained under its weight and takes time to stop. Under normal driving, this should not be a problem, but any enthusiastic driving or racing exposes the car to this weakness. The Mark X 350S and the Premium do not seem to suffer from this problem.
Stability wise, the Mark X is a wide car with a low center of gravity and therefore stable on the road.
Service and Maintenance Costs
Minor Service(Done after every 5000kms can be done by any reputable petrol station) – Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Engine Oil
Major Service(done after every 20,000kms has to be done by a competent garage)-Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter, Plugs, Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Pads(If available), ATF Oil, Engine Oil, ATF Filter
Spare Parts Availability, Cost & Where to buy
Service and suspension parts for the 2010 Toyota Mark X are widely available in Kenya. These parts are shared across many Toyotas and therefore are affordable and easy to find. Body parts are still expensive as the car is still new in the market but will come down with time. In Nairobi, most spare shops in Industrial Area and Kirinyaga Road stock these parts. You can get listings for these shops here
2010 Toyota Mark X Reliability
The driving conditions in Kenya are significantly different from those in Japan and Europe. Reliability reviews done for those markets largely do not apply to the Kenyan market. There are differences in roads, fuel, climate, spares, and technical expertise. To give you accurate and reliable local insights, we interview experts such as mechanics and car dealers, who have in-depth knowledge of the Kenyan market. We also test the cars ourselves. Our aim is to give you the right information to enable you make an informed decision when buying a car.
The 2010 Toyota Mark X is a reliable car with no major long term problems. The engines are virtually the same as in the previous models and we therefore don’t expect any new problems to crop up. The mechanics we interviewed for this review all praised the Mark X’s reliability. The V6 is a big engine that requires extra care, genuine parts and punctual service.
Always follow the recommended guidelines as per the Owner’s manual. To download the 2010 Toyota Mark X Owner’s Manual click here
Resale Value – Good
Comparable Cars: Mercedes Benz C200, BMW 320i, Toyota Lexus GS, Nissan Fuga 250GT
Cost of Ownership
Purchase Price: From Ksh. 850,000
Comprehensive Insurance: Average Ksh. 34,000/ per annum- Or
3rd Party Insurance: Ksh. 7,000/- per annum
Change of Tyres(If neccessary) Ksh. 40,000/- for 4 Tyres
See Latest Toyota Mark X Prices here
What we like about the 2010 Toyota Mark X
1. Spacious Interior
2. Powerful acceleration
3. Good fuel consumption
What we don’t
1. The brakes can be better
2. Some cabin noise at speed
Conclusion
The 2010 Toyota Mark X is an exciting car to drive. The spacious and luxurious interior gives it a touch of class only seen in German cars. The car accelerates so quickly that most people mistake it for a sports car. There are nagging issues around brakes and ground clearance but these are minor issues. Overall, the car scores highly in reliability, fuel economy and comfort.
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