2023 Toyota Crown arrives in Australia

Toyota has repeatedly insisted it has no current plans to release the new 2023 Toyota Crown in Australia, leaving the door open for at least one enterprising independent importer to bring the luxury crossover Down Under.

Believed to be just the second example to come to Australia so far, this two-tone brown and black vehicle was imported from Japan earlier this year and is now listed on carsales by VansWest in the Perth suburb of Dianella for $89,990 plus on-road costs.

With that asking price you might expect it to feature the high-output 260kW/550Nm ‘dual-boost’ 2.4-litre turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain, but instead it’s fitted with the less powerful 2.5-litre hybrid system as seen in the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Dealership staff told carsales the advertised figure included the car’s Japanese retail price and all the shipping, compliance and registration costs involved in importing it.

Interest in the vehicle has reportedly been promising thus far, but not at a local level with most enquiries so far coming from interstate. Perhaps that’s why the other example imported by VansWest was sent to South Australia.

We’re yet to see a listing for the other vehicle but there’s every chance it was imported for a private buyer keen to get their hands on what so far remains forbidden fruit as far as Toyota is concerned.

The current-generation Crown was revealed in July last year as the absolute pinnacle of Toyota’s passenger and car-based SUV model range, which turns out to have been its undoing for the Australian market so far, with Toyota Australia claiming its introduction here would clash with the local Lexus portfolio.

“It’s not something we’re considering at present. We’ve got Camry and anything bigger and more luxurious goes into Lexus territory,” a spokesperson said after the global reveal.

This decision was at odds with evidence at the time – nameplate and logo trademark applications – suggesting the model would eventually be released in Australia.

But it seems that attitude softened somewhat over the following 11 months, based on what Toyota Australia sales, marketing and dealer development chief Sean Hanley told carsales in June.

“Crown’s certainly got a good name and certainly has strong brand recognition in this country and it’s a great car,” he said. “But there are no plans to bring it here at this point.

“You never know your luck, but… I can categorically tell you there is no plan at the moment.”

VansWest said it would be able to continue importing new Toyota Crown vehicles – and other new models not offered here via official retail channels – up until 12 months before Toyota releases the model itself, if it does so.

Click here to view the listing on carsales

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