2023 Toyota Crown First Drive Review: High-Riding in Style

The Toyota Avalon has been the brand’s flagship in the US for just about 30 a long time, but now Toyota has decided to transfer in a distinct way, which sees the Avalon disappear. In its location we have the 2023 Crown, a large-driving sedan that will improve what you expect from a sedan. It is no key that sedans are not as appealing as crossovers, so it would make sense that Toyota attempts to merge the characteristics of each a sedan and crossover for the Crown. Will consumers gravitate in the direction of it? We’ll have to see the moment it goes on sale in early 2023.

The Crown badge may well look new to most buyers, but the nameplate has been close to due to the fact 1955 in Japan. Compared to the Camry, the Crown is 3.7-inches taller. That added peak would make receiving in and out of the Crown less difficult than a conventional sedan and also satisfies buyer’s wants to ride greater. In terms of styling, the Crown appears to be like like absolutely nothing else in the brand’s present lineup. Toyota claims that it paired up a seasoned designer with a youthful designer to occur up with the daring styling. The two-tone paint was something that the young designer required.

The Crown is a hybrid-only affair, with two hybrid powertrain options. The XLE and Limited trim amounts get a normally-aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that’s mated to a few electrical motors, to give it 236 horsepower. The base powertrain is mated to a continuously variable transmission that powers the entrance wheels. The rear axle gets its own electric powered motor giving the Crown all-wheel travel, but it only arrives on the internet when additional traction is essential. The foundation powertrain is satisfactory, but not punchy adequate to give it remarkable a -60 time at 7.6 seconds. The superior news is that the foundation powertrain has a blended EPA rating of 41 mpg.

The greater powertrain is the new Hybrid Max system that’s only offered in the Platinum. The powertrain mates a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder to two electric powered motors to produce a combined 340 horsepower and 400 pound-toes of torque. As opposed to the base powertrain, the Hybrid Max process generally has the rear electric motor engaged. The very good news is that the Hybrid Max process is mated to a six-pace automatic transmission as a substitute of a CVT. With that more ability, the Crown can speed up from -60 mph in 5.7 seconds, but its blended fuel overall economy slips to 30 mpg. In addition to the electrical power increase, the Platinum trim level also provides adaptive dampers to make it extra fun to drive on these curvy streets.

Right after tests out both powertrains, the base powertrain is adequate and can very easily get the Crown up to speed. Not surprisingly, the Hybrid Max is the much more exciting solution with its added electricity and greater sounding 4-cylinder. We wouldn’t simply call both Crown quick, but the Hybrid Max is easily the one particular to select if you want to have a bit additional pleasurable. Considering the fact that the Crown’s experience height is only somewhat taller than the Camry, it is no shock that the Crown feels far more like a sedan than a crossover on the street. The large-driving sedan feels planted to the road with the adaptive suspension, due to the fact physique-roll is lessened in Activity S Additionally manner.

Inside of the Crown’s cabin is not as daring as the exterior. Every thing is laid out nicely, without the need of any flashy elements, like Piano Black trim that seems to be the norm now. The cabin is wrapped in higher excellent materials, but it doesn’t come to feel as top quality as the Platinum’s $50k value would propose. There’s a bit much more tough plastic than we’d anticipate. On the center of the dashboard there’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen and there is an more 12.3-inch digital monitor in front of the driver. The infotainment process characteristics Toyota’s new Audio Multimedia process, which is a enormous advancement in excess of the old Entune technique. The new program has crystal clear graphics and is responsive.

In phrases of basic safety, the Crown arrives conventional with Toyota Safety Sense 3., which is the newest model of Toyota’s suite of driver assistance options. The suite contains automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle owner detection, lane-departure warning, lane-holding guide, blind-place checking, adaptive cruise handle and computerized large beams. A new Proactive Driving Assist attribute helps the Crown manage a distance among pedestrians and cyclists.

The pricing for the 2023 Toyota Crown starts off at $41,045 for the base Crown XLE, including spot. The Constrained trim level starts off at $46,595 and the Platinum is priced at $53,445.

At the finish of the day, the Crown is a deserving successor to the Avalon. It is fresh choose on what you assume from a sedan helps it stand out and its typical hybrid powertrains deliver the efficiency that potential buyers want. Will buyers see the Crown as anything other than a large sedan? Only time will convey to, but kudos to Toyota for attempting anything new.