Best of both worlds plus standard AWD. Signing up?
The patent images (renderings) of the 16th gen Toyota Crown we saw just a few days ago, showed only one bodystyle, and that is a high-riding fastback sedan—the likes of the Citroen C5 X and C4 X. However, this time around, Toyota is using the Crown nameplate for four different bodystyles: a four-door fastback sedan; a high-riding fastback sedan—which Toyota classifies as a Crossover; a coupe-SUV classified as Sport, and a traditional SUV classified as Estate. Will talk about these other bodystyles in a different story, but for this story, it’s the so-called Crossover, billed as a high-riding sedan for the U.S. market.
The U.S.-spec 2023 Crown will be available in three trims: XLE, Limited and Platinum. The photos here showcase only the latter two. Depending on the trim, key exterior features include multibeam LED headlights, a fixed panoramic glass roof, and 21-inch machined 10-spoke alloy wheels with black accents.
The new Crown is built around the TNGA-K platform that underpins some of the company’s latest sedans and crossovers. It measures 4,927 mm (194-inch) long, 1,839 mm (72.4-inch) wide and 1,539 mm (60.6-inch) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm (112.2-inch). Suspension setup comprises MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear; the Platinum trim comes with Adaptive Variable Suspension as standard.
Inside, you get a very contemporary-looking dashboard with asymmetrical elements. The touchscreen (12.3-inch, standard) is “floating” while the instrument display (also 12.3-inch, standard) is recessed fairly deep into the housing, and also, notice the outer air vents which are in different shapes altogether.
Other key features depending on the trim include voice commands activated with “Hey Toyota”; a Qi wireless charging pad; wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity; dual Bluetooth phone connectivity; USB ports; a 12-volt charging socket; LED lighting inside the cabin; a 11-speaker JBL audio system; 8-way power adjustable front seats; heated & ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. Dual-zone climate control is standard on all trims. The Platinum trim comes standard with Bird’s Eye View Camera with Perimeter Scan, which offers a panoramic overhead view of the vehicle’s surroundings.
All Crown trims come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of active safety and driver assistance systems. These include Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection; Dynamic Radar Cruise Control; Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist; Lane Tracing Assist; Road Sign Assist; Rear Seat Reminder, and more. Advanced Park System is standard on the Platinum trim; it offers hands-free parallel or perpendicular parking.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story, the U.S.-spec Crown offers two hybrid powertrain options. For starters, there’s a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine combined with two electric motors, a CVT and an AWD system. The system output of this one is estimated to be 176 kW or 236 bhp or 239 metric hp. Toyota also estimates a 38 MPG combined fuel economy rating.
There’s also a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (standard on the Platinum trim) combined with front & rear electric motors forming an E-Four AWD system. Transmission in this case is a 6-speed automatic, and the hybrid system output is estimated to be 253.5 kW or 340 bhp or 345 metric hp. Toyota estimates this version to return 28 MPG city/highway combined fuel economy.
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