2023 Toyota Crown Platinum: Check Drive | The Day by day Drive


2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

Consumer Guide Test Drive

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

Class: Midsize Sedan

Coloration: Bronze Age/Black

Miles pushed: 160

CG Report Card
Room and Consolation A-
Energy and Efficiency B+
Match and End B-
Gas Financial 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 should not replicate Client Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup.
Huge & Tall Consolation
Huge Man A
Tall Man B
Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” 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 Kind Turbocharged 4-cylinder hybrid
Transmission 6-speed Automated
Drive Wheels AWD

Noticed gasoline economic system: 28.4 mpg

Driving combine: 60% metropolis, 40% freeway

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

Snow Efficiency: N/A

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

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

Value as examined: $53,474

 

Fast Hits

The good: Roomy and comfy cabin, sporty character

The nice: Good gasoline economic system, simple ingress and egress, long-trim consolation

The not so good: Cabin supplies appear and feel reduce price

 

Tom Appel:

As a way to talk about how good the all-new Toyota Crown is, we have to spend a while figuring out precisely what the Crown is. It’s somewhat sophisticated. Moreover, there’s the query as to how nicely the Crown suits within the showroom area 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 inform you 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 trip peak give the Crown a crossover-ish look that’s under no circumstances an accident. Word that in Japan and in different Asian markets, the Crown is bought as we see it right here, and as a wagon. We are going to 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 turn out to be a barrier to Avalon gross sales. However, even when the Crown does attraction to the geriatric set, there’s an important deal right here to attraction to youthful American drivers as nicely.

There’s an outdated saying within the automobile enterprise, “You possibly can’t promote a younger man an outdated man’s automobile.” Taking that to coronary heart, Toyota noticed to it that, although the Crown will doubtless meet the wants of returning Avalon homeowners, it’s something however an outdated man’s automobile.

New for 2023, the Crown is little modified for ’24. Minor tweaks for the brand new yr embody some up to date inside bits, and expanded availability of the Advance Know-how bundle. 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 automated transmission.

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

 

Relative to the Avalon, the Crown is…

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

 

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

Relative to the Crown, the Avalon is…

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

 

Whereas we are going to 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 using, 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 car is straightforward. Likewise, we discovered the infotainment programs to be simple sufficient to function, and the massive touchscreen simple to learn, even in direct gentle. And, we thank Toyota for together with a correct quantity knob on the dashboard. Additionally, large reward for the super-handy slot-style cellphone charger which each retains the gadget in place and expenses it and a good clip.

As we famous early, the Crown cabin shouldn’t be the stylish affair that the Avalon’s was, however the deftly employed two-tone cabin remedy goes a great distance towards overlaying up the mid-grade supplies used, and comes off wanting slightly 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 shortage of sunshine output appeared odd in a contemporary car.

One shock: In typically vigorous driving, our take a look at Crown Platinum averaged 28.4 mpg, and spectacular determine given the facility 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 totally recognize the Crown, and acknowledge its place in a contemporary Toyota lineup. The brand new Crown is each sensible and sporty, and can function an fascinating step-up for consumers trying 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 large gross sales quantity from Crown, which is kind of a disgrace, as a result of it’s actually a wonderful trip. And, hopefully now you recognize what precisely the Crown is.

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2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

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