2023 Toyota Crown Arrives Early Next Year And Starts From Under $40,000

The 2023 Toyota Crown will arrive at U.S. dealerships early next year and pricing will begin at $39,950.

Costing $3,125 more than the outgoing Avalon, the entry-level Crown XLE is an “elevated sedan” that features LED lighting units and 19-inch alloy wheels with a two-tone finish. Buyers will also find an acoustic windshield as well as acoustic front glass to keep the cabin hushed.

Speaking of the interior, the cabin comes equipped with eight-way power and heated front seats with fabric and SofTex upholstery. They’re joined by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Other highlights include a leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic steering wheel, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink. Rounding out the highlights are a six-speaker audio system, a wireless smartphone charger, and split-folding rear seats.

Driven: The 2023 Toyota Crown Is A Hybrid, Hail Mary Pass For Mainstream Sedans

The mid-level Crown Limited begins at $45,550 and has a lightly revised exterior with fancier LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and a fixed panoramic glass roof.

Bigger changes occur in the cabin as the Limited is more luxurious thanks to heated and ventilated leather front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated leather steering wheel. The upscale trim also includes an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system.

Both the XLE and Limited are powered by a fourth-generation Toyota Hybrid System, which consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, and a small nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The powertrain produces a combined output of 236 hp (176 kW / 239 PS) and allows for a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 7.6 seconds. More importantly, the models are slated to return an estimated 42 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 41 mpg combined.

The good news doesn’t end there as the Crown comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Electronic On-Demand AWD system features a rear-mounted electric motor, which activates as needed to provide additional traction.

Customers looking for maximum performance and luxury can opt for the $52,350 Crown Platinum. It ups the ante with larger 21-inch wheels and an available two-tone paint job.

However, the car is more notable for having an all-new Hybrid Max powertrain. It features a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, a front electric motor that helps to maximize torque production, and a rear eAxle for improved performance as well as all-weather traction. The model also sports an adaptive variable suspension and a direct shift six-speed automatic transmission with a hydraulic multi-plate wet start clutch.

This setup gives the Crown Platinum a combined output of 340 hp (254 kW / 345 PS) and a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 5.7 seconds. Unfortunately, the performance comes at a cost as the estimated fuel economy rating drops to 29 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined.

Regardless of which trim is selected, all Crowns come equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of driver assistance systems. It includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, and a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection. Buyers will also find Automatic High Beams and Proactive Driving Assist, which “provides gentle braking and/or steering to help support driving tasks such as distance control between your vehicle and a preceding vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist.” Other standard safety features include a Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Rear Seat Reminder.

The Limited builds on that extensive list by adding Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking, while the Platinum goes one step further with a Panoramic View Monitor and an Advanced Park System. The latter uses sensors to identify an open parking space, so the vehicle can automatically park there as the steering, shifting, acceleration, and braking is done for you.

Note: Prices exclude a $1,095 destination charge

TOYOTA CROWN XLE