2024 Toyota Crown

The 2024 Toyota Crown is unlike any other new car on the market. And how often can you make that claim? It is a sedan, yes, but one with a raised stance, standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and a choice of two hybrid powertrains. This 4-door flagship arrived just last year, the de facto replacement for the Avalon. With it, Toyota aims to rethink what a full-size sedan can be in a segment where others such as the Chrysler 300, Nissan Maxima, and Dodge Charger have all bid adieu. That leaves the Crown as a lone contender for shoppers who still prefer the comfort and driving dynamics of a large sedan over a bulky SUV. Those who do will be rewarded with a sedan with good fuel economy and distinctive styling that has some SUV-like attributes, such as AWD and easy entry and exit.

After debuting as an all-new model for 2023, the Crown returns for 2024 with a few extra driver-assistance features. Traffic Jam Assist, lane-change assist, and front cross-traffic alert are now standard on the Platinum grade and optional on the Limited.

In our time behind the wheel of the Crown, we found it a pleasant and well-rounded companion. It’s also at once familiar yet new. For example, while we appreciate the inherent responsiveness of a sedan versus an SUV, we like the increased visibility afforded by the Crown’s higher-riding platform. And like many SUVs, the Crown has traction-enhancing all-wheel drive. In this sense, you’re getting the best of both worlds.

The Crown offers a choice of two hybrid powertrains. The standard one in XLE and Limited trims is best if you prioritize fuel efficiency, while the one in the Platinum trim is the pick if you prefer power and speed. The standard hybrid setup outputs a combined 236 horsepower – more than suitable for around-town driving and enough for highway cruising – and returns 40-plus mpg. It uses an electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), which can drone when you floor the accelerator. That’s totally normal, but it can take some getting used to. As does the brake feel, which, like other hybrids, can be a bit spongy.

Toyota Crown Platinum models get the Hybrid Max powertrain, which uses a turbo engine for the combustion portion and makes over 100 additional horsepower – 340, to be exact. It also benefits from a 6-speed automatic transmission. We found the difference in acceleration over the base setup noticeable. Toyota claims a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds with the Hybrid Max, about two seconds faster than the standard hybrid powertrain.

Of course, neither of these is meant to be a sports car, and overall, the Crown has a plush ride quality and well-controlled body movements. It is fun enough in corners, though, and here again, the Platinum trim feels livelier thanks to its ability to direct more power to the rear wheels. Another benefit for drivers who spring for this top trim is adaptive dampers, which can tailor ride quality from comfortably soft to sportingly firm.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of sedans, including the Crown.

Fuel economy

Toyota Crown models with the standard hybrid powertrain – the XLE and Limited trims – are rated at 41 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. This is an impressive number, but it trails what the slightly smaller Camry Hybrid can achieve – up to 52 mpg combined. The Crown Platinum, with its Hybrid Max powertrain, earns 30 mpg combined, reflecting its priority on power over fuel economy. More fuel economy information can be found on the EPA’s website.

You notice something welcomingly different about the Crown’s cabin as soon as you step in – it’s easy to enter. You’ll notice the same as you get out. That’s all by design. In automotive fancy speak, we call this ingress and egress, and all it refers to is plopping into and getting out of a vehicle. Because the Crown sits higher than an ordinary sedan, it’s easier to get in and out of the cabin. In that respect, the Crown is similar to an SUV.

Once inside, you’ll find a 5-passenger space that is simple yet sophisticated. You can’t miss the twin 12.3-inch screens that dominate the dash. One is in the center to handle infotainment duties, while the other acts as a digital instrument cluster. This sort of setup is becoming the norm in cars, and it’s nicely presented here in the Crown. There are just enough buttons to be convenient yet not overwhelming when it comes to controls for climate, audio, and other functions. Or you can simply give your command by saying what you want: “Hey, Toyota: Set the temperature to 70 degrees.” Such voice-command systems are also becoming the norm, but we’ve found Toyota’s system works remarkably well. Isn’t the future awesome?

In general, the Crown’s cabin is roomy, and even rear-seat passengers can spread out pretty well with 38.9 inches of legroom. The only nit we found in this respect is rear headroom, which at 37.5 inches might feel a little tight for taller riders. A Camry has 38 inches.

The Crown stands out from every other sedan on the market because it stands up from every other sedan. With its raised stance, the Crown, at 60.6 inches in height, is almost 4 inches taller than the Toyota Camry, yet has nearly identical ground clearance. However, that is still nearly half a foot shorter than the Venza SUV, so it’s very clearly a (brawny) sedan. Attributes beyond its taller roof contribute to that trait, including a wide grille, muscularly tapered roof, and wheels that, at a minimum, are 19 inches and expand to 21 inches on the Platinum trim. To further stand out, a 2-tone paint scheme is available on Platinum trims, with the hood, roof, and trunk all dressed in black to contrast with various body color choices.

Dual 12.3-inch screens
The Crown’s innovative instrument cluster is all digital, while its adjoining central display is configurable and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto phone connectivity.

Heated front seats
These are standard across the Crown lineup and come with power adjustment as well. The Limited and Platinum trims add ventilation and leather seating surfaces.

Fixed panoramic roof
Adding some airiness to the cabin, this panoramic roof becomes standard at the Limited trim level.

JBL audio
Coming in at the Limited trim, this 11-speaker system is supplied by a company with a rich reputation in the sound reproduction world.

Advanced Park
This self-parking function for parallel or perpendicular spaces is a standard feature in the Limited model.

That this car even exists
It’s not often we see cars that break the mold. But the Crown does. Not only is it a new full-size sedan, but one that looks and operates differently than any that have come before it.

All versions of the Crown use a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. The first two trims of the 2024 Crown — XLE and Limited — employ a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors. The electric motors take their energy from a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. One of them powers the rear wheels. Total output is 236 horsepower. Every new Toyota Crown has this electronic form of AWD as standard. The second gasoline/electric drivetrain in the 2024 Crown — exclusive to the top Platinum trim — is the Hybrid Max, which puts more emphasis on muscle than fuel economy. The engine here is a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder unit. Along with its electric motors, output is 340 horsepower.

3-year/36,000-mile warranty

Toyota’s new-vehicle warranty conforms to the class norms of three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first, with powertrains covered for five years or 60,000 miles. Hybrid batteries are covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles warranties, whereas the typical arrangement is eight years or 100,000 miles. Toyota also includes complimentary scheduled maintenance and roadside assistance over the first two years or 25,000 miles.

Safety

The Toyota Crown has earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the agency’s top honor. It has yet to be rated by the government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).