Toyota Crown 2023 Review – International

In the United Arab Emirates, the entry-level 2023 Toyota Crown XLE costs the equivalent of $A81,880, while the range-topping Crown Platinum (which is the model we tested) is priced from $94,273.

To put these numbers in perspective, the Lexus ES 350 starts at $88,163 in the UAE, so there is some justification for Toyota Australia’s fears that the Crown could cannibalise Lexus sales locally.

Listings through independent importers on carsales.com.au (at the time of writing) place the Crown at about $90,000 drive-away. The Lexus ES 300h Sports Luxury through franchised dealers is similar money at $80,170 plus on-road costs, which takes you up to $90K drive-away. (Only the ES 250 and 300h are offered in Australia.)

Even the base-model 2023 Toyota Crown XLE comes loaded with features, as the standard kit list includes heated/cooled leather seats (eight-way adjustable up front), 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, eight-speaker sound system, 21-inch alloys, electric boot opener with kick sensor, panoramic sunroof, soft-close doors, LED headlights and plenty more.

The Crown Platinum gets some notable extra features, including two-tone paintwork, head-up display, wireless charging, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, 11-speaker JBL sound system, dynamic headlights and a powered rear sunshade.

There’s no shortage of safety features in the 2023 Toyota Crown as standard across the range is a pre-collision system, radar cruise control, lane departure alert, lane tracking assist, blind spot monitor, electronic park brake and brake hold, hill start assist, stability control, front and rear park sensors and tyre pressure warning.

Also standard are dual front, side, curtain and knee airbags and a rear-view camera in the Crown XLE, while the Platinum scores a 360-degree camera.

In the US, the Toyota Crown has received a ‘Good’ overall rating and ‘2023 Top Safety Pick+’ classification from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – the highest possible rating.

A potent hybrid powertrain is the standout tech feature in the flagship 2023 Toyota Crown, but we’ll cover that in the next section.

The Crown is underpinned by the Toyota New Global Architecture K (TNGA-K) platform, which, in this application, provides the sedan with crossover-like ride height (about 10cm higher than a Camry), offering drivers a more commanding view of the road, as well as making entry and egress easier for those with less mobility.

Toyota says it has also worked hard to minimise noise intrusion to provides a cocoon-like cabin, while Adaptive Variable Suspension (adaptive dampers) in the Crown Platinum provides pillowy ride quality without reducing the car to a dynamic blancmange.

There’s also torque-vectoring by brake (Active Cornering Assist in Toyota-speak), which helps to quell understeer.

One of the key highlights of the 2023 Toyota Crown is the Hybrid Max powertrain that pairs a transverse-mounted 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a rear eAxle to serve up outputs of 254kW and 550Nm.

Even though the Crown tips the scales at a beefy 1971kg, acceleration is still lively as it dispatches the 0-100km/h sprint in comfortably under 6.0sec. There’s a wave of instant grunt that’s accessible right from the get-go.

The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo engine pumps out 197kW and 460Nm on its own and is a smooth unit that doesn’t get raucous even when you cane it.

The fact that the rear permanent magnet synchronous electric motor kicks in an additional 60kW and 292Nm means there’s enough torque on tap to make for effortless acceleration, and even half-throttle getaways from traffic lights will see you surge ahead of other vehicles.

The six-speed auto is also seamless and intuitive, so there’s little to fault in the drivetrain.

As is the norm with Toyota hybrids, the Crown is equipped with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack (230V) that’s charged on the go (no plug-in hybrid here).

Toyota quotes an overall consumption figure of 5.6L/100km, and although you’d have to drive with tiptoes to match that number, the 2023 Toyota Crown doesn’t fare too badly in terms of economy for a two-tonne vehicle.

The 2023 Toyota Crown proved somewhat of a surprise packet as our expectation was that it would be a flaccid limo that erred towards comfort at the total expense of dynamism.

The reality is otherwise as the Crown Platinum is an entertainingly lively sedan that’s not averse to being hustled – up to a certain point.

As alluded to earlier, there’s no lack of straight-line performance from the turbo hybrid powertrain, and it’s backed up by a chassis that serves up a tidy blend of ride comfort and agility (thanks in no small part to the adaptive dampers that are standard in the Platinum).

The suspension soaks up most road surface imperfections in its stride, although sharp corrugations are transmitted through to the cabin.

There’s almost total silence in the cabin at steady cruising speeds, with only a trace of wind noise from around the front A-pillars disturbing the serenity.

The steering offers a decent level of feedback, and the Crown Platinum doesn’t mind being flung at corners, although you will ultimately encounter understeer and body roll if you really push it.

At the end of the day, this is a luxury-oriented two-tonne vehicle that stands almost 1.6m tall, so physics takes over at a certain point.

All in all, the Crown Platinum is an enjoyable and relaxing vehicle to steer, and it’s certainly more rewarding to drive than a Lexus ES 350.

One of the few gripes is that the lane assist feature is overeager to keep you centred in your lane.

There’s a pleasingly premium ambience inside the cabin of the 2023 Toyota Crown, and it’s interesting to note that the only Toyota badge on the car is the one on the boot lid.

The logos on the bonnet, alloy wheel centres and steering wheel hub all feature the Crown motif.

So, we’d once again suggest there’s validity to Toyota Australia’s concern that the Crown would pinch sales from Lexus if it were to be sold in our market.

The cockpit layout is neat and modern, with a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster showcasing key information in an easy-to-read format.

The large infotainment touch-screen is also generally easy to scroll through, although the navigation can occasionally be slow to calculate the route when prompted for guidance.

We like the fact there are physical buttons for all the climate functions, so there’s no need to scroll through several screens just to alter the fan or temperature settings.

Although most controls fall easily to hand and are nicely tactile, I found the transmission lever a bit fiddly to operate, so it’s easily possible to end up in ‘N’ when you wanted to select ‘D’ or ‘R’.

The seats are nicely sculpted in both front and rear, although I found the driver’s seat a tad high for my liking. That said, the elevated position does at least make for good visibility in all directions.

The Crown measures a whisker under 5m in length and its transverse engine format ensures there’s ample legroom in the rear, although the tapered roofline means headroom is tight for anyone above 1.8m tall.

Boot capacity of 430 litres is modest for a car of this size, but there’s still enough space to throw in a couple of full-size golf bags or suitcases.

For the time being, the only way you’d be able to buy a 2023 Toyota Crown is if you managed to snare one of the low-volume ‘grey’ imports that have begun trickling into our market through independent operators.

If you go down that route, you should establish exactly what aftersales service and warranty provisions you’ll have access to.

The Crown is certainly an oddball from a visual perspective, especially in the two-tone paintwork that adorns the Platinum spec. It’s neither conventional sedan nor SUV but, in our view, that’s not a bad thing.

We’d suggest the Crown’s mould-breaking design and proportions are a welcome departure from the frumpy styling that was a hallmark of the nameplate in its past generations.

Its visual pizzazz could entice a younger set of buyers than the hat-wearing lawn bowls brigade that the model formerly attracted.

There’s certainly merit to the new-age Toyota Crown, and it’s a far more capable sedan than we had anticipated.

You’re unlikely to be disappointed if you do manage to snaffle one from a private importer.

2023 Toyota Crown at a glance:
Price: From $88,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: To be confirmed
Powertrain: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 197kW/460Nm (electric motor: 60kW/292Nm)
Combined output: 254kW/550Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.6L/100km (UAE Combined)
CO2: 130g/km (UAE Combined)
Safety rating: Good/Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS 2023)