The Toyota Crown became the top sedan for Toyota after the Toyota Avalon. It has different types of hybrid engines and combines features from crossover cars. It competes directly with cars like the Nissan Maxima, Subaru Legacy, and Volvo V90 in its category.
DESIGN
The Toyota Crown, introduced by the U.S. last year, maintains its 2024 model with minimal changes. Featuring a sleek fastback design, it incorporates SUV-like elements, including 21-inch alloy wheels and an optional Heavy Metal color for an extra $425.
While the Crown presents an elegant exterior with sculpted sides, its tall roof and high shoulder line create a somewhat awkward aesthetic, despite its fastback appearance. Although lacking off-road capabilities, it firmly asserts itself as a car not geared for trail exploration.
With a grille reminiscent of the Toyota Venza but with a distinctive overbite, the Crown boasts a raised sedan configuration, sitting 4.0 inches higher than the Camry. In the premium Platinum model, two-tone paint enhances the overall elegance of the vehicle.
Inside the Crown, there’s a slightly elevated aesthetic, but compromises in front and rear headroom are notable. The comfortable front and rear seats offer respectable legroom, and despite a small trunk opening, the overall capacity is commendable.
PERFORMANCE
The Crown Platinum features Toyota’s Hybrid Max powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with larger front and rear electric motors, resulting in 340 horsepower and 400 pounds-feet of torque. Its six-speed traditional automatic transmission contributes to a fuel efficiency rating of 29/32/30 mpg for city/highway/combined driving.
While driving, the Crown struggles to strike a balance between luxury and sportiness, resulting in a combination that feels disconcerting. The cornering behavior resembles that of an SUV, marked by noticeable body roll.
Despite the generally comfortable ride offered by the Platinum’s electronically adaptive suspension, the excessive floating over bumps, coupled with harsh impacts on the other side, remains an issue. The 21-inch wheels amplify sharp impacts, leading to discomfort for the driver, and there have been reports of significant wind noise entering from the driver-side A-pillar.
VERDICT
The 2024 Toyota Crown Platinum we test-drove for a week here at CarFanaticsBlog has an MSRP of $53,070, with the total price being $54,590.
Competition
Boasting a commanding demeanor, the Crown asserts its presence in the sedan, wagon, and crossover segments.
In contrast, the ES by Lexus, its sibling brand, effortlessly blends comfort and style but falls short in spaciousness when compared to the Crown.
Opting for a more athletic atmosphere, the Nissan Maxima prioritizes comfortable everyday driving experiences.
Shifting focus, the Volvo V90 wagon provides generous space and presents an attractive Scandinavian design.
