2026 Toyota Crown Review + Video

The Toyota Crown is a mostly forgotten nameplate in this part of the world, having helped launch the brand in Canada back in the 1960s before making way for other models.

But it’s been around in Japan since 1955, meaning it’s Toyota’s second-longest-running nameplate after the Land Cruiser, which was also recently resurrected in Canada after a decades-long absence. It’s long been favoured as an executive vehicle, leaning into Lexus-like territory in terms of luxury. And so it goes with the 2026 Toyota Crown, which can be perceived as a bit weird, but weird is wonderful, and the Crown is one of the most well-rounded vehicles I’ve driven in a while.

Styling 8.5 / 10

When the Crown first arrived here, its looks were confusing. It looks taller than a conventional car like the Camry and features pronounced bodywork that’s almost SUV-like, but then the roofline slopes like a sportback, and the rest of it looks like a sedan. Regardless, it has four doors, a traditional trunk, and Toyota calls it a sedan. While it might look strange, its unique looks really grew on me.

[In Japan it’s called the Crown Crossover, while the Crown Signia sold here is known as the Crown Estate. There’s also a conventional crossover version called the Crown Sport, plus a traditionally shaped sedan.––Ed.]

The Crown looks cleaner and more cohesive from the front than the back, but the design is rather daring for Toyota, which has a reputation for conservative styling. However, I wish Toyota took more risks with the interior to match the Crown’s stronger outward personality. The cabin almost seems boring in comparison to the outside.

Power 9 / 10

The Crown is available exclusively as a hybrid, but in two trims with different purposes. The Crown Limited is geared more towards efficiency, while the Crown Platinum tested here focuses on performance.

Both use Toyota’s excellent hybrid components with a four-cylinder engine — a 2.5L in the Limited, and 2.4L in the Platinum — but the Crown Platinum’s adds a turbocharger for net output of 340 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The result is a car that rips surprisingly hard, so passing or getting up to speed happens with more authority than expected.

Since the Crown has all-wheel drive, it uses a separate electric motor in the back to power just those wheels. But where the Crown Limited’s is a part-time system, only powering the rear axle when needed, this one is powered full-time. The Platinum also uses a conventionally geared six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters instead of the Limited’s continuously-variable transmission (CVT).

Driving Feel 9 / 10

Being smooth and comfortable are the defining characteristics of the Crown’s driving demeanour, but the bonus is that it also doesn’t compromise when it comes to handling. The Platinum comes standard with an adaptive suspension that helps it glide over rough roads like a much more expensive vehicle, but it also lets it corner far better than I expected.

Combined with rear-wheel steering, the Crown Platinum offers an excellent balance of comfort and handling. The Crown’s steering also feels responsive and direct, all combining to make this sedan surprisingly nice to drive, feeling composed and confident in any scenario.

Fuel Economy 8 / 10

The Toyota Crown Platinum’s fuel consumption is officially rated at 8.1 L/100 km in the city, 7.3 on the highway, and 7.8 combined — more than the Limited’s combined rating of 5.7. But remember, the Platinum has bigger 21-inch wheels, a more traditional transmission, a turbocharger, and full-time all-wheel drive, all factors that make it less efficient.

Over the course of 545 km of testing, the Crown Platinum’s indicated fuel consumption was 8.2 L/100 km — more than expected, but not unreasonably so. It runs on nothing but electric power when parking, idling (assuming it’s at optimal operating temperature), or coasting, and the trip computer shows how much of the drive was done in electric mode. The Crown runs on regular-grade gas.

Practicality 8 / 10

The trunk measures 430 L, which is decent for a sedan, and the rear seats can fold to make room for long items. There are also four ways to open the powered trunk: from the key fob, a button to the left of the steering column, via a foot-activated kick sensor, or a small button hidden in the trunk lid’s black trim.

The cabin has big door pockets for water bottles, a dedicated vertical wireless phone charger, and some cubbies for small item storage. And, of course, there’s a compartment under the console armrest.

Comfort 7 / 10

Front-seat headroom can be tight for tall occupants, but the situation is even worse in the back, as the stylish sloping roofline really impacts the vertical space. Drivers who often have tall passengers should consider opting for the Crown Signia instead, which addresses perhaps the sedan version’s only sticking point with its taller roof, although the space up front isn’t much better.

Beyond that issue, the seats themselves are comfortable, legroom is decent, the suspension provides a smooth and undisturbed ride, and the cabin is quiet. The Platinum trim also comes with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.

User-Friendliness 9 / 10

The front seats and heated steering wheel can be set to automatic, so they will turn on or off depending on the outside temperature. I love when you can “set it and forget it” with a car — it’s one less thing to think about.

The infotainment system’s touchscreen is also more user-friendly with the addition of a row of shortcuts that’s always visible, but the usability of having physical buttons and toggles for climate control cannot be understated. The system’s menus make sense for the most part, and you never have to dig around too much to find what you’re looking for.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, and with the head-up display, it also projects turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps, a feature typically exclusive to built-in navigation systems. This is excellent because it reduces the need to toggle between pages on the main screen, which is more distracting.

Features 9 / 10

The Crown Platinum comes fully loaded with lots of great features. Highlights include five USB-C charging ports, an 11-speaker stereo, power tilt and telescopic steering column, driver’s seat memory settings, active noise cancellation, digital key capability, surround-view cameras, and a washer for the back-up camera. The Crown Platinum doesn’t feel like it’s missing anything, and all the included features are actually useful and not of the gimmicky type.

Safety 9 / 10

Of course, every Toyota Crown comes standard with a full suite of safety and driver-assistance features including driver monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with front and rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam control, traffic jam assist, lane change assist, safe exit alert, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian and cyclist detection. The systems in the Crown also work as advertised, and they weren’t annoying with the over-zealous beeping and constant warnings that I’ve experienced in other Toyotas.

Value 9 / 10

The 2026 Toyota Crown Limited starts at $55,227 plus the $1,860 destination fee, while the Platinum goes for $64,660. The tested model’s Finish Line Red paint is an extra $350, bringing the as-tested price to $66,870 before taxes.

While that might seem a bit much for a Toyota hybrid sedan, consider that it’s executed so well that the quality of the entire package creeps into Lexus territory, and that it’s incredibly well-rounded and packed with useful features. The Toyota Crown Platinum checks a lot of boxes and offers excellent value, especially when you consider the brand’s reputation for reliability and retaining resale value.

The Verdict

The 2026 Toyota Crown is full of pleasant surprises, and the more time I spent with it, the more I liked it. I appreciate how easy and frictionless it is to live with daily, its excellent balance of comfort and driving dynamics, its unique style, and fantastic powertrain. The Crown offers an almost perfectly executed, well-rounded package that I can easily recommend to anyone who wants a car that can do it all without making many compromises.