Toyota Crown Returns to North America After 50-year Hiatus

Perhaps the best way to think about the return of the Toyota Crown nameplate to Toyota’s lineup in North America after a 50-year hiatus, is that of one door opening as another closes.

While the Crown returns, the Avalon sedan will depart at the end of the 2022 model year. That brings its 27-year run as a staple in Toyota’s lineup to a close. And it’s fitting, given the Crown will slot into the space vacated by the Avalon. While no means a successor, the Crown is built on the TNGA-K platform shared with the Avalon and current gen Camry, so it isn’t completely unrelated.

Crown is Toyota’s longest-running nameplate, with a history that began in 1955 with the Toyopet Crown and is beginning its 16th generation in 2022. It was sold in the U.S. from 1958 (1965 in Canada) through 1972 but has been in continuous production in Japan in the intervening decades.

The Crown has always been a sedan, but for the new 16th generation, it will also be sold as a sedan-crossover hybrid. This is where the 2023 Crown bound for North America comes in.

Starting with the fundamentals, the Crown will be sold in North America in three grades: XLE, Limited and Platinum. All models will come equipped with on-demand all-wheel drive.

Two hybrid powertrains will be offered. The standard powerplant for XLE and Limited grades is the fourth generation Toyota Hybrid System. It’s comprised of a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, two electric motors and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack that works in conjunction with an electronic CVT. Estimated fuel economy is rated at 38 mpg (6.2 L/100km).

The Platinum grade comes standard with Toyota’s HYBRID MAX powertrain, a first-ever application for a Toyota sedan, which consists of a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine (peak torque 2,000 – 3,000 rpm) and a high-output electric motor paired with a direct-shift 6-speed automatic transmission. Total horsepower is estimated at 340 with a projected 28 mpg (8.7 L/100km).

In terms of all-wheel drive, the systems differ depending on grade. XLE and Limited grades come with E-Four AWD, while the Platinum has E-Four Advanced. These systems differ form conventional AWD systems in that there’s no transfer case and driveshaft to deliver torque to the rear wheels. Instead, a rear-mounted motor delivers torque directly to the rear wheels when road conditions warrant.

E-Four AWD is a more advanced version of Toyota’s conventional e-AWD system that the company says is better for cornering. The torque split ration from front to rear is variable, ranging from 100:0 to 20:80.

E-Four Advanced, meanwhile, uses a front hybrid motor and a rear e-Axle to deliver torque to the front and rear wheels. The front / rear torque split for this setup ranges from 70:30 to 20:80. The rear motor uses water cooling to generate power for maximum torque delivery to the rear wheels.

Generally, the Crown’s AWD system is designed to give the car a RWD feel (straight line stability, more precise cornering and better acceleration), while still delivering the benefits of AWD (better grip and handling in wet and slippery conditions).

From a chassis standpoint, the Crown is a TNGA-K car that aims to deliver sedan-like comfort with the benefits of a crossover. This is accomplished with an available Advanced Variable Suspension (AVS), which is comes standard on the Platinum and uses variable oil pressure shock absorbers which helps control damping force for a smoother ride on rougher roads. All grades feature a MacPherson strut suspension up front, with a new multi-link set-up in the rear. The Crown also features Active Cornering Assist (ACA), which engages the stability control to scrub off understeer while cornering.

A big nod to the crossover side is the Crown’s ride height. It’s almost four inches (101.6 mm) higher than that of the Camry, which is a not only a big asset for ingress / egress but is also helpful in navigating snow-covered roads. Big wheels are another prominent aspect of the Crown’s “lift-up” styling. XLE and Limited grades come with standard two-tone 19-inch alloys, while the Platinum is fitted with 21-inch machined 10-spoke alloys with black accents. The Limited can also be optioned with 21-inch 10-spoke dark metallic alloys that come with the Advanced Tech package.

As for the Crown’s appearance, to these eyes it looks more like a car than a crossover. But Toyota was clever enough to settle on a design that could pass for a utility, albeit a sleek one, that should appeal to North American tastes. The one thing that puts it more in the sedan column for yours truly is the presence of a traditional trunk. The liftback appearance makes for sleeker styling (and trickier rear seat access), but it’s just a visual disguise.

Other noteworthy exterior styling cues include available multibeam LED headlights (Limited and up), fixed panoramic roof (Limited and up) and two-tone paint options (Limited), which features a black section from the hood to the trunk that can be paired with Oxygen White, Heavy Metal, Supersonic Red and Bronze Age (two-tone only).

On the inside, the Crown comes with a long list of standard kit. Included are 8-way power adjustable drive and front passenger seats, dual zone climate controls, 12.3-inch color instrument cluster, 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display with Toyota’s new multimedia interface, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Lane Tracing Assist and more, is also standard on all Crown grades.

The 2023 Toyota Crown goes on sale later this year. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

NOTE: All cars shown are U.S. pre-production models.