The 1955 Toyota Crown was the forerunner of the Toyota Crown nameplate. However, the Crown brand hasn’t been used in North America since 1972. The big Avalon is being replaced by the brand-new 2023 Crown in Toyota’s domestic range, which is now in its 16th generation. Despite its nearly coupe-like fastback looks, it is “unabashedly a sedan,” according to Toyota marketing manager Joe Moses.
The Crown’s shadow is 196.1 inches long, almost precisely matching the Avalon’s, but it stands out because of its higher roofline. The Crown’s trunk lid wraps around the sides and gives a respectably big opening despite the small rear deck, but it would be better off as a hatchback. It could pass for a Venza at 40 paces if you added a body crease, a spoiler, and a little more protruding bumper.
As a big sedan, the Crown enters a market quickly contracting, competing against models like the Chrysler 300, Kia Stinger, and Nissan Maxima, all slated for discontinuation shortly. All three available trim levels—XLE, Limited, and Platinum—have an all-wheel-drive hybrid engine as standard equipment.
Highlander, Avalon, and Sienna. The new Lexus RX500h F-sport’s 2.4-liter turbocharged Hybrid Max system is also included in the Platinum. While the standard configuration offers excellent fuel economy, especially for a vehicle of its size, the Hybrid Max powertrain produces much more excellent performance, feel, and sound.
The taller stance results in a higher hip point, facilitating access and egress more easily than climbing into a Camry or Avalon. Still, it has little effect on the ground clearance, which only increases by half an inch. Just higher off the ground, the sitting posture doesn’t seem more upright than an Avalon. The front and rear head and legroom are comparable to the previous Avalon’s; given its profile, one would anticipate an abundance of headroom, but that is not the case. In the end, it looks from the packing that Toyota has left some capacity to add a bigger battery for a completely electric version in the future.
Although the Hybrid Max-equipped Crown displays unexpected agility, it should not be confused with a performance sedan. Compared to other car-based utility vehicles that now fit that classification, it has a distinct form factor that makes it more of a natural crossover. Toyota is marketing to the younger empty-nester generation who still want sedan-like vehicles but prefer SUVs’ higher stance and sitting position. Toyota acknowledges that it does not anticipate that the Crown will become the next big thing but rather that a particular segment of the automotive market will find the Crown appealing due to its unique design.
Performance: Toyota Crown
All Toyota Crowns have a hybrid drivetrain with an electrically powered rear axle to offer all-wheel drive. The XLE and Limited grades come standard with a 2.5-liter normally aspirated four-cylinder engine and a tried-and-true Prius-style hybrid powertrain with an electronic variable gearbox. This configuration is mainly front-wheel drive and produces a combined 236 horsepower. It also has a rear electric drive activated when the front wheel slip occurs. The reported time from zero to sixty is 7.6 seconds, which indicates that this setup offers a respectable acceleration. Even yet, the noise increases when the car catches up since the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) allows the engine to run above 4,000 rpm.
The new 2023 Lexus RX500h was the first to have Platinum’s new Hybrid Max technology. It had a more robust rear axle motor and a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that always provided at least 30% of the system’s total torque. The Max powerplant has a traditional six-speed automatic gearbox rather than a CVT. With a combined 340 horsepower, the car can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds and has much enhanced sound and handling capabilities.
Fuel efficiency: Toyota Crown
About the available performance and vehicle form factor, both hybrid powertrains provide excellent fuel efficiency. Many considerably smaller and lighter cars would struggle to attain the combined fuel economy of 41 mpg that the XLE and Limited are rated for when equipped with the conventional Toyota Hybrid system.
Upgrade to the more thrilling Hybrid Max version for a remarkable combined fuel economy of 30 mpg. With powertrain alternatives like these, Toyota demonstrates why hybridizing all cars will likely significantly impact energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions more than going all-electric on a few vehicles.
Safety and driver support technology:
Independent crash testing and safety ratings have not been performed on the new Crown. But it comes with the latest Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system as standard. The pre-collision system consists of radar adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind spot warning, and pedestrian, motorcyclist, and guardrail recognition.
Proactive driving assistance is a function that is brand-new to TSS 3.0. A forward-looking camera will attempt to identify approaching bends on the road while adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are engaged. The system will gradually reduce the vehicle’s speed to assist it in negotiating the curve with the least disruption if the current set rate is too high. Once the road straightens out, the system will increase the vehicle’s speed. Without Toyota’s remark, the system’s functioning may have gone unreported since it was so clear.
Comfort and Space
The inside proportions of the Crown are similar to those of the previous Avalon, providing the room anticipated in a big sedan. However, you may expect the Crown to feel much more spacious, given the significant rise in height and the slight improvement in ground clearance. It seems that Toyota may have engineered the structural package to support a vast battery pack necessary for a full-EV version based on the size and absence of a requirement for a rear driveshaft.
For now, the Crown succeeds in providing a higher hip point for those who no longer wish to sit in a vehicle seat. Although the front seats are comfy, please don’t count on them to provide much lateral support during enthusiastic driving. Despite having lots of leg, hip, and shoulder space, very tall passengers may need to lean their heads forward due to the rear roofline’s slant. The Limited and Platinum add heating and ventilation to the rear and front seats, respectively, while all three trims get heated front seats as standard. While the other versions feature leather seats, the XLEs are fabric-clad.
Infotainment: Toyota Crown
All Crowns come with two 12.3-inch touchscreen screens, one for the infotainment system and the other for the instrument cluster. The next-generation infotainment system debuted in 2022 and has since been incorporated into various vehicles. It has significantly improved, with a more straightforward user interface and excellent responsiveness.
Sadly, Toyota doesn’t support a split screen option showing navigation and media controls side-by-side, as you can if you use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, given the touchscreen’s size and wide aspect ratio. Both phone projection systems support the wireless link. Toyota has shifted from using Amazon Alexa voice services as the backbone for speech recognition to using Google Cloud AI since Google can provide more comprehensive search capabilities for things like places of interest.
Below the screen is a physical switch row for temperature control and a rotating volume knob in the middle. Two more USB-C ports are available for back passengers in addition to the center console’s two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a 12V power outlet. A vertical slot with rubbery grips is also there for holding a phone as it charges wirelessly through Qi. Unfortunately, none of the trim levels provide a head-up display.
Storage & Cargo Space:
The Crown’s fastback appearance makes it regrettable that Toyota needed to make it “unapologetically a sedan.” With the rear seats folded, converting it to a hatchback would provide greater versatility for hauling more big objects. However, the Crown’s 15.2 cubic feet of trunk capacity is designed with enough depth to fit several carry-on luggage turned on their sides. For more straightforward access, the wide trunk opening extends to the bumper. The back seats may be divided in half and folded down to provide room for longer things. Standard water bottles can fit in the door pockets and the center console bin, which is of a good size.
Design: Toyota Crown
The new Crown has a generally beautiful and elegant design, albeit its higher ride height gives the impression that it is a strange hybrid of a crossover and a sedan. The stance on the base 19-inch or optional 21-inch alloy wheels will undoubtedly appeal to those who like the appearance of large wheels. The Platinum trim’s optional two-tone paint scheme is one enticing aesthetic feature. The windows, roof, and trunk lid are also coated in black, which helps to break up some of the perceived bulk of the automobile.
Fit and finish are typically outstanding and characteristic of a Toyota. When closing the doors, there does appear to be a slight degree of hollowness, and the trunk in a vehicle that may cost over $50,000 seems lacking. The Nissan Maxima and the soon-to-be-discontinued Chrysler 300 both have more dated looks than the Crown, which may turn off buyers who want a classic sedan’s lower profile.
The Toyota Crown 2023: Is It Worth It?
The Crown XLE has a higher starting price than any rival at $39,950. However, the others may be optioned up to equivalent maximum values when similarly equipped. Additionally, only the Crown has a hybrid engine that offers much superior fuel economy. As usual, the mid-level Limited, with a starting price of $45,550, provides the most value for the money, while the Platinum, with its Hybrid Max engine, is unquestionably the most fun to drive.
How Much Does the Toyota Crown Cost to Insure?
Insurance costs are unknown since the Toyota Crown will be brand-new in 2023. However, we may draw flimsy, off-the-cuff parallels using the departed Avalon hybrid as an example. An average 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record may anticipate an average yearly premium of $2,265 to $2,869, but this budget covers all 50 states. Comparatively, the Nissan Maxima costs $2,690 to $2,819, the Kia Stinger $2,500 to $3,000, and the Chrysler 300 $2,266.
Verdict
The 2023 Toyota Crown, an entry-level luxury sedan with a sleek design but greater ride height, will replace the Avalon in the brand’s North American range. The Crown provides a smooth ride, many safety features, and exceptional fuel efficiency. Strangely, although making access and departure simpler, the higher stance doesn’t seem to provide any more internal space over the model it replaces.
