Toyota's new Crown isn't a crossover, or a crossover sedan. It is however a comfortable sedan with an upright driver's seat, big LCDs and a standard AWD hybrid system. Will Toyota's play in the "full-size sedan" segment be a success? Let's unpack it a bit before you all decide.
How big is the Crown? Not as big as you might think. It's about the same size as the Camry and Avalon in terms of length and width. The major difference is in the roofline which is around 4-inches higher and the front seat position which is also about 4 inches higher. The result isn't more headroom but a more upright seating position. Ground clearance? Just 2/10ths over the Camry so rumors of it being a "crossover sedan" aren't accurate, despite the body cladding.
Under the hood you get either the 236 HP AWD hybrid system from the Highlander, capable of 40ish MPG if you treat it gently, or the new 2.4L turbo hybrid from the Lexus RX good for 340 HP. Neither system will make the Crown a rocketship, it's not a GR afterall, but both seem well suited to Toyota's flagship sedan.
The back seat is generous and comfortable, the trunk is smaller than the Camry's by a hair. Sadly the hatchback versions of the Crown remain forbidden fruit.
How does it drive? Pretty well. It's quiet, comfortable, and fuel efficient. The AWD system allows the regular hybrid to feel more sure footed than the hybrid Camry and peppier than the AWD Camry while the 2.4L turbo is a different animal. The large amount of torque on the front means a hair of torque steer and wheel spin at launch, but the rear motor allows the vehicle to feel more nimble than the curb weight would indicate and the entire package is reminiscent of Volvo's PHEV systems, albeit with less power on the back. What do you think? Is the Crown on your list
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24 окт 2022
