Take a look at Drive: 2023 Toyota Crown Platinum | The Each day Drive

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

Consumer Guide Test Drive

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

Class: Midsize Sedan

Shade: Bronze Age/Black

Miles pushed: 160

CG Report Card
Room and Consolation A-
Energy and Efficiency B+
Match and End B-
Gas Economic system B+
Worth A-
Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not replicate Client Information’s impressions of the whole mannequin lineup.
Massive & Tall Consolation
Massive Man A
Tall Man B
Massive & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester.
Drivetrain
Engine Specs 340-horsepower 2.4-liter
Engine Sort Turbocharged 4-cylinder hybrid
Transmission 6-speed Automated
Drive Wheels AWD

Noticed gas economic system: 28.4 mpg

Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway

EPA-estimated gas economic system: 29/32/30 (mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed)

Snow Efficiency: N/A

Base worth: $52,350 (not together with $1095 vacation spot cost)

Choices on take a look at automobile: Particular paint ($425), two-tone paint ($550), mud guards ($149)

Worth as examined: $53,474

 

Fast Hits

The nice: Roomy and comfy cabin, sporty character

The nice: Good gas economic system, straightforward ingress and egress, long-trim consolation

The not so good: Cabin supplies appear and feel lower fee

 

Tom Appel:

With a view to focus on how good the all-new Toyota Crown its, we have to spend a while figuring out precisely what the Crown is. It’s slightly sophisticated. Moreover, there’s the query as to how effectively the Crown suits within the showroom house as soon as occupied by Toyota’s wonderful Avalon massive sedan. Right here’s the deal:

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

The Crown is a sedan—don’t let anybody let you know in any other case. It options 4 doorways and a trunk, and it’s roughly sedan formed. We are saying roughly as a result of the sloped rear roofline and raised experience peak give the Crown a crossover-ish look that’s on no account an accident. Observe that in Japan and in different Asian markets, the Crown is bought as we see it right here, and as a wagon. We’ll see the latter arrive within the States because the Crown Signia for the 2025 mannequin yr.

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2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

As for changing the Avalon in Toyota’s lineup, take into account this: The Avalon was a sedan in a market the place sedans are on the wane. Plus, Avalon consumers weren’t getting any youthful, and entering into and out of the low-set Avalon was changing into a chore for mannequin loyalists.

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2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

And whereas Toyota has by no means referred to as the Crown a direct alternative for the Avalon, it’s priced and sized to be precisely that. And, wanting like a sedan, and boasting elevated seat heights, the Crown addresses each points that had develop into a barrier to Avalon gross sales. However, even when the Crown does enchantment to the geriatric set, there’s an important deal right here to enchantment to youthful American drivers as effectively.

There’s an previous saying within the automobile enterprise, “You’ll be able to’t promote a younger man an previous man’s automobile.” Taking that to coronary heart, Toyota noticed to it that, although the Crown will possible meet the wants of returning Avalon house owners, it’s something however an previous man’s automobile.

New for 2023, the Crown is little modified for ’24. Minor tweaks for the brand new yr embrace some up to date inside bits, and expanded availability of the Advance Expertise package deal. The Crown is obtainable in XLE (round $42,000), Restricted ($47,000), and topline Platinum ($54,000) trim ranges. All come normal with AWD and a hybrid powertrain.

The XLE and Restricted make use of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder 236-horsepower engine mated to a CVT-automatic transmission. The Platinum is powered by Toyota’s “Hybrid Max” turbocharged 2.4-liter engine rated at 340 horsepower and makes use of a 6-speed computerized transmission.

In evaluating the Crown to the outgoing Avalon, we thought a few useful lists would possibly assist make sense of issues. Take a look:

 

Relative to the Avalon, the Crown is…

  • Extra enjoyable to drive
  • Extra gas environment friendly
  • Simpler to enter and exit
  • Simpler to see out of
  • Seemingly higher handing in deep snow

 

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

Relative to the Crown, the Avalon is…

  • Extra inexpensive
  • Extra spacious within the rear seat
  • Extra luxuriously appointed
  • Extra refined (quieter, smoother) underneath the hood
  • Extra historically a premium automobile

 

Whereas we’ll miss the Avalon’s clean 3.5-liter V6, the Hybrid Max engine serves up loads of prepared energy, and provides the Crown of sense of sporty power the Avalon by no means had. Moreover, on the highway, the Crown is surprisingly quiet and clean driving, matching—or almost matching—the dynamic refinement of the Avalon.

The place the Crown shines, particularly in Platinum trim, is in dealing with. Whereas nobody would have ever accused the Avalon of being sporty, the Crown takes corners with shocking athleticism, and feels properly planted on on/off ramps, even when hustled.

The Crown cabin is one thing of a blended bag. We discover the front-row seats particularly comfy, and as we’ve famous, entering into and out of the automobile is straightforward. Likewise, we discovered the infotainment methods to be straightforward sufficient to function, and the big touchscreen straightforward to learn, even in direct mild. And, we thank Toyota for together with a correct quantity knob on the dashboard. Additionally, massive reward for the super-handy slot-style telephone charger which each retains the gadget in place and costs it and an honest clip.

As we famous early, the Crown cabin is just not the stylish affair that the Avalon’s was, however the deftly employed two-tone cabin remedy goes a great distance towards masking up the mid-grade supplies used, and comes off wanting fairly sporty. Likewise, the JBL-brand audio system is solidly high-quality, if not fairly premium degree.

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2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

One annoyance: We did discover the headlight low beams considerably dim in rural driving, and located ourselves utilizing the “highs” for as a lot of our drive as potential. The dearth of sunshine output appeared odd in a contemporary automobile.

One shock: In usually vigorous driving, our take a look at Crown Platinum averaged 28.4 mpg, and spectacular determine given the ability and AWD. This compares favorably to the 20.9 mpg we noticed within the final V6-powered Avalon evaluated by Client Information.

Whereas we mourn the passing of the stylish and refined Avalon, we absolutely respect the Crown, and acknowledge its place in a contemporary Toyota lineup. The brand new Crown is each sensible and sporty, and can function an attention-grabbing step-up for consumers seeking to improve from their Camrys and perhaps even RAV4s. And whereas Crown costs common about $2000 greater than the Avalon on a trim-for-trim foundation, the usual AWD and hybrid drivetrains assist justify that premium. Toyota isn’t in search of massive gross sales quantity from Crown, which is form of a disgrace, as a result of it’s actually a high-quality experience. And, hopefully now you respect what precisely the Crown is.

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2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

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