The 2023 Toyota Crown Wants To Rule Them All
Sara Lacey
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This 2023 Toyota Crown will sit at the top of Toyota’s sedan lineup.
Upon first glance, the 2023 Toyota Crown is a bit of a mystery. Is it a crossover? Is it a hatchback? Toyota does not indulge any mystery here. Out of the gate, they announced, “It is a sedan.” No question. And it is going to be their most premium one, at that. But if we’ve learned anything about royalty this summer, it’s that a monarch has to have their style of leadership. Does the Crown have one?
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The Crown in Broze Age bi-color paint. Photo: Sara Lacey
But the Avalon is the Reigning Monarch, Right?
Actually, there won’t be an Avalon going forward. In a Game-of-Thrones style plot twist, the Avalon is being discontinued and the Crown is slated to take its spot. The Crown is completely different visually. It’s design leans more toward a crossover look, and even has increased ground clearance like a crossover does. It has what appears to be a rear hatch, but it’s not. It’s actually a trunk. So while visually people may struggle to define it, the Crown knows what it is. And it’s confident.
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The back of the 2023 Toyota Crown. Photo: Sara Lacey
All Hybrids, All All-Wheel Drives for All the Crowns
You could say that the Crown knows what people want, and it will provide it. There are three trim levels for the Crown, and they all will have hybrid drivetrains. And they all will have all wheel drive.
The XLE is the base model and will start at $39,950. It will have a 2.5l engine paired with dual electric motors (one on each axle). You get a nice 12.3” touchscreen multimedia system with 6 speakers, and heated seats. The Limited trim starts at $45,500 and has the same drivetrain as the XLE and adds a panoramic roof (fixed though, it doesn’t open), multi-beam LED headlights, upgraded JBL audio system, rain-sensing windshield wipers and front and rear park assist with automatic braking. Both trim levels have on-demand AWD, and a CVT transmission.
Instrument cluster of the Crown. Photo:Toyota
The Platinum edition comes with the Hybrid MAX drivetrain. It’s different in that it has a turbocharged 2.4l engine so it’s got more power than the XLE or Limited. It too has AWD, but it’s a full-time system. The Platinum is different too in that it has a six-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid MAX system and the six-speed transmission are designed to provide a more thrilling drive experience. Drivers can to do some fun paddle-shifting, and the Platinum trim also comes with multiple drive modes to further customize the driving experience (Normal, ECO, Sport, Sport +, Comfort, and Custom).
The consistency of the exterior design is my favorite part of the Crown. The front angles and rear angles mirror each other. The black gloss trim pieces are sharp, they are on the front, sides, and rear of the car. It’s a sedan that looks good from every angle. And if you find it polarizing, my bet is that will change the more you look at it.
Related: The 2022 Toyota Highlander: Toyota Doesn’t Mess With the Formula
Front angle of the Crown in Bronze Age paint. Photo: Sara Lacey
We Need to Talk About the Paint
I’m laying all my cards out on the table. I love the bi-color paint scheme on the Crown. It completely changes the look of the car. When paired with the Supersonic Red, it gave a strong sport vibe. Inside, you can get all-black, black and chestnut, and macadamia (a creamy white color), but I only drove cars that were all black inside.
But my favorite was Bronze Age, pictured above. It felt a bit subtle and intriguing. I have been seeing a few more manufacturers toying with two-tone paint jobs and I am here for it.
Interior of the 2023 Crown. Photo: Sara Lacey
Driving the 2023 Toyota Crown is so Easy
I had a fun time driving the Platinum through the backroads of Tennessee. There were lots of twists and turns, and lots of long, open, winding roads to test out the Crown’s drive. It was fast, and stuck to the road when I accelerated hard. I pushed the car a bit and did not ever feel out of control. You won’t see gut-twisting accelerations like in an all-electric car, but you will grin and giggle at the speed you can achieve, this is also because the suspension adapts as you accelerated and turn, so I did not feel any body roll. And that is great fun.
For you number-crunchers, the Platinum with the Hybrid MAX is able to get you from zero to sixty miles per hour in 5.7 seconds. Also, the Crown is quiet, even with the 4-cylinder engine under the hood. Despite the taller stance and 21-inch wheels, there is very little wind and road noise.
Having fun in the Crown. Photo: Robert Guio
The 2023 Toyota Crown has some fun interior features, my favorites are the vertical charging pad and cubby and the excellent sounding audio system. Also, the execution of voice commands is fun. Say, “Hey Toyota” and much like Siri, the car will answer and then you can give it a variety of commands. I most commonly used it to turn the volume up and down, and to ask directions, and change the temperature in the cabin. It was responsive and capable. The Crown also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Dash of the 2023 Toyota Crown. Photo: Toyota
The Crown is Sure to be a Crowd Pleaser, If…
To put it simply, the Toyota Crown is a cruiser with a few tricks up its sleeve. It’s a quiet, comfortable ride with some amenities. It’ll give you a nice view of the road. It’ll go fast and handle nicely if you want it to. The most dazzling part of the Crown for me was the exterior that was a fun conundrum. People may need to live with the looks of the Crown to decide how they feel about this monarch. I think it’s interesting, and I like it.
Disclosure: I was Toyota’s guest to drive the Crown. Travel and accommodations were paid for, all opinions are my own.
The 2023 Toyota Crown. Photo-Robert Guio