Toyota’s Crown nameplate has been part of the company’s lineup since the 1950s, but to keep it relevant in a market increasingly disinterested in sedans Toyota reinvented the mid-size machine as a four-strong family that included a crossover and a pair of SUVs.
The crossover is already on sale in the U.S., and it looks like one of the SUVs is also heading to North American dealerships soon, but we suspect Japan might be keeping the sedan variant to itself. That’s a shame, because it’s a handsome car, a sleek, low-slung fastback whose 118.1-inch (3,000 mm) wheelbase promises plenty of interior space.
Toyota says the rear seat space meets “the need of chauffeured cars,” which gives you an idea of the kind of market it’s chasing. Passenger comfort is a major priority, so the Crown comes with adaptive suspension for a smooth ride and features like power sunshades, wood-grain decor and interior lighting inspired by traditional Japanese lanterns.
Related: 2024 Toyota Crown Gets Interior Updates And $40,050 Sticker Price
There’s nothing olde-worlde about the drivetrains, though: buyers get a choice of hybrid or hydrogen power. The fuel-cell Crown gets its guts from Toyota’s Mirai and can travel an impressive 510 miles (820 km) when its three tanks are filled, a process that takes just three minutes. It can also be used as a power bank, supplying juice to to your home or electrical appliances.
Over on the hybrid side, the Crown Sedan is the first Toyota to get a new 2.5-liter multi-stage hybrid system that uses two motors and stepped gears. This new setup allows the engine to deliver its maximum output at only 27 mph (43 km/h) instead of 87 mph (140 km/h), but just as importantly, given the Crown’s luxury remit, it means that engine revs stay low at high speeds, helping to reduce noise and fuel consumption.
Toyota suggesting sales in the order of 600 per month in its home market, and while it doesn’t mention a predicted split, it seems likely that the hybrid will be the one pulling in the buyers, both for its more familiar powertrains and lower price. The fuel-cell Crown costs ¥8.3 million ($54,900), compared with ¥7.3 million ($48,300) for the hybrid.
