2026 Toyota Crown

In an automotive world where big sedans from mainstream brands have all but vanished, the Toyota Crown is in a class of its own. As the largest and priciest sedan in the Toyota lineup, it serves up Lexus-like levels of luxury and even lively performance when optioned with the available 340-hp Hybrid MAX powertrain. Meanwhile, the subtler standard hybrid powertrain returns up to 41 combined mpg. Add in standard all-wheel drive, a spacious interior, and the safety, reliability, and resale value synonymous with Toyota, and there’s a strong case to be made for the premium yet practical Toyota Crown.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of mid-size cars, including the 2026 Toyota Crown.

The 2026 Toyota Crown carries over into this model year with no notable changes. In 2025, it added the Nightshade trim to its lineup and piled on more standard features.

The pricing of the Toyota Crown falls between a more mainstream hybrid sedan like the Toyota Camry and a hybrid luxury car like the Lexus ES. The most popular of the four trim levels among buyers seems to be the Limited and the Platinum.

Before buying a Crown, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Toyota Crown resale value is about average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Toyota Crown is powered by a 236-horsepower hybrid 4-cylinder powertrain matched with a CVT automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). It’s upgradable to a punchy turbocharged Hybrid MAX setup that produces 340 horsepower. The tradeoff is simple: the base powertrain is more affordable and efficient, albeit slower, while the Hybrid MAX is more performance-oriented and less efficient.

Regardless of the powertrain, the Toyota Crown drives like a dream. Being the big sedan that it is, it floats over the road in smooth and serene comfort. When we tested the Crown, its good driving manners and hushed cabin reminded us of pricier Lexus hybrids. From daily errand running to highway cruising, the Crown is a comfortable way to get around.

The Crown even handled better than we expected when putting it through its paces on twisty roads. Toyota’s Active Cornering Assist (ACA) system delivers sure-footed handling in quick turns by applying subtle braking to whichever wheel needs it. Opting for the Platinum trim adds an Adaptive Variable Suspension system that can transform from firm and sporty to soft and comfy.

Fuel Economy

The 2026 Toyota Crown boasts a fantastic fuel economy rating of 42 city/41 highway/41 combined mpg, and it can go almost 600 miles on a full tank of gas. And remember, that’s with standard AWD. Upgrading to the sportier Hybrid MAX powertrain drops those numbers to 29 city/32 highway/30 combined mpg. According to EPA estimates, the monthly fuel cost of the Hybrid MAX is about $33 more than the base powertrain.

Interior quality and comfort are highlights of the Toyota Crown. Remove the Toyota badges, and we could be convinced we were sitting in a Lexus the first time we got behind the wheel of this upscale sedan.

With accommodations for five, the Crown’s cabin is simple yet sophisticated. Twin 12.3-inch screens dominate the dash. One is in the center for infotainment duties, and the other is a digital instrument cluster. This kind of setup is becoming the norm, and it’s presented well here in the Crown.

There are just enough physical buttons for controlling climate, audio, and other functions without being untidy. You can also simply give a command by saying something like, “Hey, Toyota, set the temperature to 70 degrees.” Such voice command systems are also proliferating; we’ve found that Toyota’s system works remarkably well.

We tested out the Crown as a real-world family vehicle and can confirm that three kids can comfortably fit in the back seats. But it’s not just for kids; the back seats have 38.9 inches of adult-friendly legroom. The one minor downside we found in this respect is rear headroom. At 37.5 inches, it might feel a little tight for taller types. That said, the Camry only has another half an inch.

One other tiny gripe is that the trunk has 15.2 cubic feet of space. That’s roomy enough for groceries, but it’s less trunk space than the Toyota Avalon that the Crown replaced and about the same size as the trunk of the Camry, which is a smaller, more affordable, more efficient hybrid.

The Toyota Crown doesn’t look quite like anything else on the road. It’s ostensibly a sedan but has SUV-like ride height and a sloping, coupe-like roofline. However, it’s still a car with four doors and a trunk, so it’s a sedan. It looks especially distinct when optioned with one of the available two-tone paint jobs.

Two hybrid powertrains
The standard powertrain in the Toyota Crown returns over 40 mpg both in the city and on the highway. For those craving stronger performance but still wanting hybrid efficiency, the Hybrid MAX powertrain pumps out 340 horsepower while keeping fuel costs below the average for a new car.

Standard AWD
Every Toyota Crown comes standard with all-wheel drive. This upscale sedan has no delusions about being an off-roader. Still, the all-wheel-drive system delivers confident traction on slippery roads and satisfying grip when turning on dry pavement.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0
This advanced suite of safety technologies bundles automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane centering, road sign assist, and Toyota’s Proactive Driving Assist, which can gently apply brakes and steering based on the traffic around you.

Wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard in every Toyota Crown. These connectivity features allow you to effortlessly stream music, maps, and more to the screen in your car without taking your phone out of your pocket or purse.

Standard leather seats
The Toyota Crown XLE isn’t your average base-level Toyota. The most affordable trim of this hybrid is packed with desirable features like leather seats (heated and ventilated in front), 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, and the aforementioned safety and smartphone connectivity features.

Platinum trim
The top Platinum trim truly gives more expensive luxury sedans a run for their money. Just a few features include the powerful Hybrid MAX powertrain, an adaptive suspension system, a hands-free power trunk, JBL audio, a 360-degree camera, and available bi-tone exterior color options.

The standard 2.5-liter hybrid 4-cylinder engine in the Toyota Crown makes 236 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) delivers power to all four wheels. Its performance is good enough for the daily commute, and its fuel economy is outstanding at 42 city/41 highway/41 combined mpg.

Meanwhile, the heart of the optional Hybrid MAX powertrain is a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with a total output of 340 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This is a considerable upgrade in performance, but fuel economy is reduced to 29 city/32 highway/30 combined mpg.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles, which is typical among mainstream manufacturers. Hybrid components have a warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, and the hybrid battery is protected for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota also includes two years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, plus two years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage.

Safety

The Crown is considered a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the institute’s second-highest honor. It also earns a 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist/motorcyclist detection, lane tracing assistance, and Proactive Driver Assist — a system that adds gentle steering and braking inputs when necessary.