Toyota Crown is one of the mainstream sedans manufactured by the Japanese automobile maker. First introduced in 1955 as the Toyopet Crown, this model serves as the flagship sedan from Toyota in Japan. The Crown holds the distinction of being the longest running production sedan in the world being produced for over 65 years but it is the second longest running nameplate of any Toyota vehicle behind only the Toyota Land Cruiser which went into production in 1951. Toyota Crown is an executive and full luxury Japanese car aimed at the Japanese market but also sold in other Asian markets.
Toyota produced three superb models of the Toyota Crown such as Toyota Crown Athlete, Toyota Crown Royal Saloon, and Toyota Crown Majesta. In November 2013, The Crown Athlete and Royal received the JNCAP five-star award.
The Crown is rear-wheel drive which instantly puts it into competition with the European sedans which are always the benchmark. But the Crown has always been a luxury car and not a sporty sedan. It’s luxurious just like a Lexus but not as sporty as the Lexus F sedans and certainly not even close to being comparable to its European counterparts. Design wise its interesting since the different trims that are available for any particular Crown has different styling ranging from aggressive sporty designs to subtle restrained designs on the same platform. It also showcases the latest technology that Toyota have at their disposal at the time of each iteration. But don’t let the restrained outlook of the Crown fool you as just another boring Toyota sedan. It is very different from other sedans in the Toyota lineup such as the Camry and Avalon, and the driving experience and riding experience is on a different level. Speaking of other Toyota models, there is an interesting fact about the Crown and other Toyota sedans regarding their names. The Toyota Corona which was originally introduced as a smaller companion to the Crown, means “Crown” in Latin, the Corolla means “small crown” in latin, and the Camry is derived from the Japanese phrase “kanmuri” meaning “little crown”. So basically Toyota named all of their original sedans as Crowns.
Crowns are popular for a multitude of roles from a luxury sedan, government vehicle, police vehicle to a taxi. They are a staple vehicle of Japanese culture. The Crown is a very popular choice of car for “VIP style” or “bippu” alongside other rear-wheel drive large sedans where enthusiasts modify their cars by making them lower and wider in stance with the addition of aggressive wheels, suspensions and body kits. The Mark X and the Crown are at the heart of this automotive culture in recent years.
The Crown range has its own unique insignia which has also seen 15 generations of change with each iteration. Only the Crown and Century carry their own unique insignia at present. The insignia can be found on the front grill, steering wheel, and the C pillars on every model.
SAFETY
With a high-rigidity cabin, 7 airbags, an impact-absorbing body, and front- and rear-seat belt reminders as standard features, the Crown Athlete and Crown Royal offer a superb level of occupant protection. Also, the vehicles have many advanced preventative safety features such as the Intelligent Clearance Sonar to help mitigate potential damage resulting from pedal misapplication, a Pre-collision System with enhanced brake assist, and the Adaptive High-beam System that blocks out certain portions of high beams to aid the visibility of drivers of preceding or oncoming vehicles.
ENGINE & POWER
The Athlete is available with a V6 2.5-liter (4GR), V6 3.0-liter (3GR), and V6 3.5-liter (2GR) while the Royal is also offered with the same engines as the Athlete. Some variants of Crown Royal and Crown Athlete are equipped in both RWD and AWD versions and come with a 6- or 8-speed automatic transmission.
For the latest model, Toyota is offering a hybrid version available for the Rear Wheel Drive models featuring a 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with a high-torque motor that enables the sedan to return 23.2 km/L (4.3 l/100km) according to the JC08 test cycle. The conventional engine has an output of 131kW (178 HP) at 6,000 rpm and a peak torque of 221 Nm between 4,200 rpm and 4,800 rpm. The electric motor delivers an additional 105 kW (143 HP) and 300 Nm of torque. The combined output power is rated at 162 kW (220 HP).
INTERIOR
The Toyota Crown has a very luxurious and comfortable interior that is comparable to the Mercedes Benz E-Class. The Crown cabin is actually big in size and offers enough space and legroom. The leather seat package is optionally available along with a driver support package (automatic anti-glare rearview mirror, automatic windshield wipers, etc.), and a rear comfort package (rear power seats, rear accessory socket, rear center armrest, and rear side airbags). The front has an excellent space affordable for both the passenger and driver. At the rear, there is enough space on the outer seats to fully recline and stretch. The leg space for the middle seat is however restricted by the transmission tunnel. The cabin is so well shielded that you hardly hear any engine or road noise.
Other Extras
Navigation (Optional), DVD Infotainment, tire pressure display, Keyless Smart Access, electric seats, Sunroof(optional), and active noise control.
Exterior
The Toyota Crown comes with standard fog lights, alloy rims, and dual exhaust. The Crown Athlete is more angular with a trimmed rear and sharper headlights.
Toyota Crown Stability and Handling
The Crown was reassuringly stable even when pushed hard around corners. In particular, we found the 4-Wheel Drive Crown Athlete to be much more lively and with better traction. The Royal Saloon has a soft suspension that makes for a leisurely and comfortable ride. The Crown Athlete has a stiffer suspension that gives it a sporty feel and a quicker sprint. The 2.5-liter is slightly underpowered and more so when coming off a standstill. The 3.5-liter engine is the most suitable for the big car but it’s a thirsty engine. You can choose the Hybrid engine that returns better fuel economy but it costs more to buy.
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Toyota Crown has a fuel tank capacity of 71 liters whereby the 2.5-liters consume 12.8 km/L On Average, the 3.0-liters consume 10.5 km/L On Average, the 3.5-liters consume 9.0 km/L On Average, the 3.5-liters Hybrid consumes 16.5 Km/L On Average.
