HIGHS

LOWS

VERDICT

It's an SUV, it's a sedan, it's the 2027 Toyota Crown. This ambiguous automobile combines the higher ride height of a compact crossover with the sleek styling of a mid-size luxury sedan, essentially creating a niche all its own. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on your point of view.

All Crowns are hybrids, with most models getting a fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder-and-electric-motor combo. The top-of-the-line Platinum trim comes with a different setup called Hybrid Max, which pairs a turbocharged 2.4-liter four with two electric motors for a punchy 340 horsepower. Regardless of powertrain, the Crown delivers a relaxed driving experience and a premium cabin worthy of the Lexus badge, making it a mixed metaphor in the mid-size luxury sedan class.

Expert Tip: If you like what you see here but prefer a more traditional SUV shape, consider the Crown's sibling, the Crown Signia, which has a classic square-roof SUV body.

Toyota reworked the Crown's rear bumper for 2027 and added a new black paint color called Inked. Top Platinum trims get red brake calipers and black window trim. The available two-tone paint job has been toned down to look more subtle, with the trunk lid remaining the body color instead of being painted black to match the roof. A Saddle Tan interior scheme is now available in the Limited and Platinum models; paddle shifters have been added to the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims. Toyota also says the base hybrid powertrain has been tweaked, but performance is expected to be the same as last year's model.

• Hybrid Powertrains: 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors, 236 hp combined, turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors, 340 hp combined (Hybrid Max)
• Transmissions: continuously variable automatic, 6-speed automatic
• Drivetrain: all-wheel drive

All Crown models have a hybrid powertrain, but only the top-spec Platinum model gets Toyota’s Hybrid Max setup, which pairs a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors for a combined 340 horsepower. The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade models get a less powerful 236-hp hybrid system that uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors.

The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade all have a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) while the Platinum uses a conventional six-speed automatic—which works better in our experience. All-wheel drive is standard on every trim. The Crown's suspension has been tuned for a relaxing ride, so don't expect cornering heroics. The Platinum model does come with adaptive dampers that sharpen things up, however, and give the big four-door a slightly more fun-loving nature.

• C/D 60-mph Test: 7.2 seconds (Limited), 5.1 seconds (Platinum Hybrid Max)

In Comparison: With the base powertrain, the Crown's acceleration is adequate; at our test track it hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The Platinum trim, with its more powerful setup, is noticeably brisker, as proven by its 5.1-second launch to 60 mph.

• C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Tests: 42 mpg (Limited), 32 mpg (Platinum Hybrid Max)
• EPA City Ratings: 29-42 mpg
• EPA Highway Ratings: 32-41 mpg

The EPA estimates that the Crown with the base hybrid powertrain is capable of returning 42 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 40 mpg combined—impressive for such a large car. The Platinum model's more powerful Hybrid Max powertrain should deliver 29 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined.

On our 75-mph, 200-mile highway fuel economy route, the Crown Limited delivered an impressive 42 mpg while a top-spec 2024 Platinum returned 32 mpg, exactly as the EPA predicted. For more information about the Crown's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

First Row: Inside, the Crown's cabin looks appropriately premium. Its interior is a step above typical Toyota quality, especially in Limited and Platinum models. Thanks to its additional ride height, the driving position is raised from a traditional sedan's seating height to something akin to a compact SUV. All Crowns come standard with eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and ambient interior lighting. Limited and Platinum trims add a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, and ventilated front seats.

Second Row: Passenger space in the back seat is generous, which is to be expected given the Crown's size and positioning in the Toyota lineup. The rear seat is a three-across bench. Center-console-mounted air vents provide good air circulation to the rear passengers, and a pair of USB-C charging ports are also available to keep devices juiced.

Cargo Capacity: In our testing, we fit five carry-on suitcases inside the Crown's trunk and a total of 20 with the rear seats folded.

• Infotainment: 12.3-inch touchscreen
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Audio System: 6-speaker stereo (standard), 11-speaker JBL stereo (optional)

A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard across the range, and it runs Toyota’s latest—and much improved—software interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are integrated into the infotainment software and connect to smartphones via a wireless connection. A second 12.3-inch display has digital gauges in front of the driver, and the Crown also includes niceties such as a wireless smartphone charging pad, onboard Wi-Fi, and USB-C ports.

The base XLE trim comes with a six-speaker stereo, but Nightshade, Limited, and Platinum models get an 11-speaker JBL stereo instead. When we last drove a Crown fitted with the optional system, its JBL stereo failed to impress, lacking the richness of the setups offered in rival luxury sedans.

Toyota equips most of its cars with a host of standard driver-assistance features, and the Crown is no different. All models come with a package of features including automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, and more.

• Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
• Optional Safety Features: front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree exterior camera system

For information about the Crown's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

While the Crown's warranty and two years of complimentary maintenance are a decent standard package, the Genesis G80 offers more value here, including longer powertrain coverage and an extra year of dealer maintenance.

• Limited Warranty: three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles
• Hybrid Component Warranty: 10 years or 150,000 miles
• Complimentary Maintenance: two years or 25,000 miles

Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because this vehicle hasn't changed since we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.

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