Toyota Mark X 250G (2009-2019) Expert Review

The Mark X Still Looks Like A Proper Sedan

The second-generation Mark X is one of those Japanese sedans that understood an important principle: a car does not need to look angry to look expensive.

The GRX130 has a long bonnet, low roofline, wide body and a properly planted stance. It measures approximately 4,770 mm long, 1,795 mm wide and 1,435 mm tall, with a substantial 2,850 mm wheelbase.

That gives the Mark X an executive-sedan silhouette rather than the upright shape now common among crossovers.

The proportions are particularly attractive from the side. The bonnet is long, the cabin sits slightly rearward and the short overhangs give away the rear-wheel-drive architecture underneath.

For Bangladesh, however, the low stance has consequences.

The car's approximately 155 mm ground clearance is perfectly manageable on normal paved roads, but Dhaka speed breakers are not normal paved roads. Some appear to have been designed by people who believe suspension travel is a character flaw.

The standard 250G's 16-inch wheels with 215/60R16 tyres also provide more practical sidewall than the 18-inch setup found on sportier RDS cars.

That is actually useful in Bangladesh.

The Mark X exterior has also aged better than many competitors from the same period. A clean GRX130 still looks premium rather than ancient.

Comfortable, Spacious And Built For Long Drives

Inside, the Mark X feels substantially more expensive than an ordinary compact Japanese sedan.

The 2,850 mm wheelbase provides generous cabin space, particularly for front passengers and two rear adults. The seating position is low and natural, giving the driver a proper sedan driving position rather than the upright posture of a crossover.

The 250G provides useful equipment such as automatic climate control, cruise control, power windows, telescopic steering adjustment, split-fold rear seats and power driver's seat on relevant specifications. Toyota's factory catalogue confirms automatic climate control and cruise control as standard on the 2016–2019 250G F Package, with equipment varying by grade.

The cabin's strongest quality is comfort.

The seats are suitable for long highway trips, the suspension is composed and the relatively long body gives passengers a relaxed environment.

But the interior is unmistakably from the previous decade.

The factory infotainment system does not offer the smartphone integration expected from a modern vehicle, and many Bangladesh cars have been upgraded with aftermarket screens, reverse cameras and USB chargers.

That is perfectly sensible — provided the installation was done properly.

A badly modified Mark X can have electrical problems that are far more irritating than the original old navigation system.

Look for clean seats, functioning climate control, healthy power windows, working steering controls and an untouched electrical system.

The Mark X's interior does not need to pretend it is a 2026 car.

Useful Equipment Rather Than Gimmicks

The Mark X 250G was never a basic taxi-like sedan.

Depending on year and package, buyers could get automatic climate control, cruise control, power driver's seat, leather steering wheel, smart entry, engine start/stop, navigation, sunroof and upgraded audio equipment.

The problem is that 250G equipment changed across production years and packages, so CarHub should not mark every luxury feature as universally standard.

Toyota's 2016–2019 250G F Package, for example, confirms automatic climate control, cruise control, power windows, telescopic and tilt steering, split-fold rear seats and VSC, while leather steering and power driver's seat are not universal on that particular F Package.

That is why △ is important in the database.

The genuinely useful equipment remains the climate control, cruise control, power windows, comfortable seats, smart-entry equipment where fitted and the smooth six-speed automatic.

The technology, however, has aged.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were not factory features, wireless charging is absent and modern connected-car services are nonexistent.

For a Bangladesh owner, a quality aftermarket multimedia system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a reverse camera is a sensible upgrade.

But don't turn the dashboard into an electronics laboratory.

A Mark X with working factory systems and clean wiring is much better than one with five screens, three GPS boxes and enough aftermarket wiring to frighten an electrician.

Strong Fundamentals Without Modern ADAS

The Mark X 250G has respectable safety hardware for its generation.

Toyota specifies ABS, Brake Assist, EBD, traction control, VSC, driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners and three-point rear belts on relevant final-generation specifications.

That gives the car a solid conventional safety foundation.

The important word is conventional.

The Mark X does not have the modern Toyota Safety Sense package found on newer Toyota sedans. There is no factory autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition or sophisticated blind-spot ecosystem.

That does not make the Mark X unsafe by definition.

It means the driver remains responsible for avoiding the motorcycle that suddenly appears from between two buses.

For Bangladesh driving, tyres and brakes deserve particular attention. A rear-wheel-drive V6 sedan should have quality tyres with appropriate tread and correct alignment. Cheap, old or mismatched tyres can undermine the car's handling considerably.

Before buying, inspect the ABS/VSC warning lights, airbags, brakes, suspension, steering and accident history.

A chassis repaired after a major crash deserves considerably more scrutiny than a scratched bumper.

The Mark X is therefore reasonably well equipped for its era, but buyers should understand exactly what they are purchasing.

The V6 Is The Star Of The Show

The Mark X 250G's reason for existence is the 4GR-FSE 2.5L V6.

It produces 203 PS and 243 Nm, with power delivered through a six-speed Super ECT automatic to the rear wheels in the FR version.

And it is wonderfully smooth.

There is something increasingly unusual about a naturally aspirated V6 in a normal sedan. There is no turbocharger waiting for boost and no CVT droning while pretending to be a gearbox.

You press the accelerator and the engine simply responds.

For Bangladesh highway driving, this is excellent.

The Mark X is stable, quiet and comfortable at cruising speeds. The long wheelbase contributes to its planted feel, while the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension provide a sophisticated ride.

In Dhaka traffic, however, the fuel gauge becomes considerably less amusing.

Realistically, a healthy car should return around 7.5–9 km/L in city traffic, 11–13 km/L on highways and 9–11 km/L combined.

Heavy congestion, AC use, frequent acceleration and long idling can reduce that further.

The 155 mm ground clearance is another Bangladesh-specific limitation. The Mark X is perfectly happy on highways, but it is not a vehicle for casually attacking enormous speed breakers.

The reward is its driving character.

The steering, rear-wheel-drive layout and naturally aspirated V6 give it a more engaging personality than most ordinary commuter sedans.

It is not a sports car.