Our Rides: An Elevated Hybrid For Us

When you think of a Toyota hybrid, your brain immediately goes to a Prius.

It is sort of a default when it comes gasoline-electric hybrid automobiles. Not exactly the most attractive automobile in the world, but it is practical, efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Those reasons alone are why the Toyota Prius is one of the most popular vehicles in our community. We just love our Priuses – no matter the age, the mileage, the condition of the battery, and so forth.

It is worth noting that Toyota was one of the first to offer a hybrid automobile. For over 20 years, Toyota took the lead in giving consumers choices in sustainable transportation. In fact, there are only two Toyota models that do not offer a hybrid driveline.

Recently, Toyota has been on a push to expand their electrified lineup.  That strategy includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell systems. All towards an effort to reduce emissions to zero – or, close to it.

Sticking by the technology that put them on the map, an all-new model was just introduced that will not only solidify Toyota’s electrified strategy. They are doing so with panache, flair, and a whole lot of style.

This new vehicle is called the Toyota Crown.

Sounds familiar? If you recall back in the late 1950s when Toyota arrived on American shores, the first sedan sold here was called the Toyopet Crown. Three generations of Crowns were sold through 1970 until the fourth-generation model was unable to meet the new standards set forth by the environmental and safety regulators of the time.

Yet, the Crown continued to be produced and sold in various Asian markets. They became the preferred taxicab, the choice ride for key government officials, and the stuff of legend in the underworld. In all, the executive sedan continued to carry the legendary name we have forgotten about for 50 years.

This new Crown is a radical departure from any vehicle wearing its nameplate. For one, it is a fastback sedan. That is not a hatchback in the rear, but a trunk. It is also sleek, bold, and bucks every design trend Toyota had been working on for the past several decades. At its core, it is still an executive sedan – an “apex” model according to Toyota.

The biggest piece of the new Crown is the all-hybrid driveline lineup. The XLE and Limited is powered by the familiar 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine attached to two electric motors. The smaller of the two electric motors is attached to the rear axle to complete the standard all-wheel drive system. This driveline yielded 237 net horsepower.

Having driven the Limited model, it felt just fine. I wished there was some more punch when passing on the highway while making cruising through a mix of suburban and rural roads outside of Chicago a bit more smoothly.

The advantage of choosing the Crown Limited is its potential fuel consumption. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the Crown with the standard hybrid driveline could earn up to 42 MPG.

That is where you opt for the Platinum model and its Hybrid MAX driveline. Everything is elevated from the engine bay to the rear axle. Starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the hybrid system adds more power electric motors both front and back. In all, we’re talking 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.

In a twist compared to other hybrid models, the Crown Platinum comes with a six-speed direct-shift automatic transmission with a wet clutch for the Hybrid MAX driveline.

On top of that, the Platinum adds an Electronic On-Demand All Wheel Drive system that includes electronic power transfer control between the two axles and water cooling for the rear electric motor. All of this to distribute grip and performance between both axles for more precise control.

The Crown also promises a better driving experience with an available Adaptive Variable Suspension that can be adjusted for a firm ride favoring better handling or a more comfortable setting for a nice cruise down the highway. This is also coupled with an upgraded Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of driver assistance features. Chief among these advanced features is a Proactive Driving Assist, which makes going through the curves a more pleasant experience.

The 2023 Crown is available in three trim levels – XLE, Limited and Platinum. Pricing starts from $39,950.

There are many ways to see the new Crown. This could be an elevated Prius – something worthy of a serious upgrade to a roomier premium hybrid. The emphasis should be on the “premium” part.

Toyota intends to market this Crown as a cut above your image of a hybrid. It looks like the immediate future and offers a lot of promises towards giving you an elevated experience. If you concentrate on the Platinum model with its Hybrid MAX driveline, you would be able to take one home for under $55,000.

With all of these promises being offered to those of us who live a more sustainable lifestyle, the Toyota Crown’s proposition is quite tempting. While it continues the brand’s leadership in electrified propulsion, it also demonstrates that it can offer a vehicle to match various consumer bases.

Does the luxury and sustainability of a Toyota Crown sound like the right vehicle for you? They’re available right now from your local Toyota dealer.