2025 Toyota Crown

A particular mix of attributes makes the Crown an intriguing choice. It rides higher than a typical sedan and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. That makes it almost like an SUV, only with a conventional car’s roof. This raised stance brings benefits in outward vision as well as getting in and out, while all-wheel drive brings reassurance in tricky conditions. The Crown also features a fuel-efficient hybrid drivetrain as standard, which gets the thumbs-up from us. After all, Toyota is a master of the hybrid.

The result is a car that offers a more responsive driving experience than an SUV (and a sleeker look), yet still feels confidence-inspiring for those who cherish an elevated driving position. The Crown only launched a couple of years ago, so people might still be getting used to this between-the-niches model. Another way the Crown mixes things up is how its cabin is quite luxurious for a Toyota. Back in the pre-Lexus days, the Crown name was used for the company’s most cosseting creations, which Toyota is reviving here.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of hybrid cars, including the Toyota Crown.

What’s New for 2025

The Nightshade Edition makes its debut this year. It’s a cosmetics package based on the Limited trim, so it only comes with the less-powerful drivetrain, offering suitably dark-tinged colors. Every new Toyota Crown also gains heated/ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather seating surfaces. The top Platinum trim now comes with a head-up display as standard.

The Crown offers a choice of two hybrid powertrains. The standard one in XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims is best for fuel efficiency, while the one in the Platinum is the choice for power and speed. The standard hybrid delivers a total 236 horsepower — which we’ve found is absolutely fine for around-town driving and highway cruising alike.

Toyota Crown Platinum models get the Hybrid Max powertrain, using a turbocharged engine on the combustion side and making a total of 340 horsepower. It also benefits from a 6-speed automatic transmission, vs. the continuously variable transmission (CVT) of the other models. Toyota claims a standstill-to-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds with the Hybrid Max, about two seconds faster than the standard hybrid powertrain. We definitely felt the difference.

Neither one is meant to be a sports car, though, and the Crown has a plush ride quality and well-controlled body movements overall. The car’s Active Cornering Assist (ACA) system applies subtle braking to whichever wheel needs it, making the Crown feel more nimble. The Platinum trim feels livelier (again) because it can direct more power to the rear wheels. Another benefit for drivers choosing this top trim is adaptive dampers, tailoring ride quality from comfortably soft to sportingly firm.

In our time behind the wheel, we’ve found the Crown to be a pleasant and well-rounded package. It’s also familiar yet new. For example, we appreciate the inherent responsiveness of a sedan compared with an SUV, yet we also like the plentiful outward vision made possible by the Crown’s high-ish ride height. And like many SUVs, the Crown has traction-enhancing all-wheel drive. In a sense, this is the best of both worlds.

Fuel Economy

Toyota Crown models with the standard hybrid powertrain, the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims, are rated at 41 mpg in combined city/highway driving. This is impressive, but trails the slightly smaller Camry Hybrid’s 52 mpg combined. The Crown Platinum, with its Hybrid Max powertrain, achieves 30 mpg combined, reflecting its priority on power over fuel economy.

With accommodation 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, 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. Or you can simply give a command by saying something like: “Hey, Toyota, set the temperature to 70 degrees.” Such voice command systems are also proliferating, and we’ve found that Toyota’s system works remarkably well.

In general, the Crown’s cabin is roomy, and even rear passengers can spread out pretty well with 38.9 inches of 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.

Trunk space measures 15.2 cubic feet, virtually the same as the Camry.

The Crown stands out from every other sedan because it stands taller. At 60.6 inches, it’s almost four inches above the Toyota Camry, yet has nearly identical ground clearance. However, that’s still about six inches less than a typical compact SUV like the Toyota RAV4.

Other attributes include a wide grille, tapered roof, and wheels that are, at minimum, 19 inches in diameter — increasing to 21 inches on the Platinum trim. To stand out further, the Platinum offers a two-tone paint scheme with a black hood, roof, and trunk contrasting with a choice of body colors.

The new-for-2025 Nightshade Edition is available in black or Storm Cloud (dark gray) and complemented by black exterior elements.

Dual 12.3-inch screens
The Crown’s innovative instrument cluster is all digital, while its adjoining central display is configurable and includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration.

Heated/ventilated front seats
These are now standard across the 2025 Crown lineup, and come with power adjustment as well. A heated steering wheel is also part of this year’s update, plus leather seating surfaces.

Easy entries and exits
We like how the Crown’s slightly raised stance makes it easy to get in and out — no squatting or climbing necessary in most cases.

Fixed panoramic roof
Adding some airiness to the cabin, this becomes standard at the Limited trim level.

JBL audio
Coming in at popular Limited trim, this 11-speaker system is supplied by a company with a rich reputation in the sound reproduction world.

Advanced Park
Another standard feature in the Limited model, this is a self-parking function for parallel or perpendicular spaces.

All versions of the Crown use a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain. The first three trims — XLE, Limited, and Nightshade — employ a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, plus two electric motors energized by a nickel-metal hydride battery. One motor powers the rear wheels. Total output is 236 horsepower. Every new Toyota Crown has this electronic form of all-wheel drive as standard.

The second drivetrain, the Hybrid Max, is exclusive to the top Platinum trim and puts more emphasis on muscle than fuel economy. The engine here is a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder unit. Along with its electric motors, output is 340 horsepower and a substantial 400 lb-ft of torque.

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. These terms are 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 Ratings

The Crown is considered a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the institute’s second-highest honor. 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/or braking inputs when necessary.