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Check Drive: 2023 Toyota Crown Platinum | 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-
Gasoline Economic system B+
Worth A-
Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup.
Huge & Tall Consolation
Huge Man A
Tall Man B
Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score 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 Computerized
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 worth: $52,350 (not together with $1095 vacation spot cost)

Choices on check automobile: Particular paint ($425), two-tone paint ($550), mud guards ($149)

Value as examined: $53,474

 

Fast Hits

The good: Roomy and cozy cabin, sporty character

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

The not so good: Cabin supplies feel and look minimize charge

 

Tom Appel:

With a view to talk about how good the all-new Toyota Crown its, we have to spend a while figuring out precisely what the Crown is. It’s slightly difficult. Moreover, there’s the query as to how properly the Crown matches 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 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 journey top give the Crown a crossover-ish look that’s by no means an accident. Observe that in Japan and in different Asian markets, the Crown is offered 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 12 months.

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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 stepping 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 known as the Crown a direct substitute 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 grow to be a barrier to Avalon gross sales. However, even when the Crown does enchantment to the geriatric set, there’s a terrific deal right here to enchantment to youthful American drivers as properly.

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

New for 2023, the Crown is little modified for ’24. Minor tweaks for the brand new 12 months embrace 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 commonplace 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 would possibly 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
  • Possible 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) beneath the hood
  • Extra historically a premium automotive

 

Whereas we are going to miss the Avalon’s easy 3.5-liter V6, the Hybrid Max engine serves up loads of prepared energy, and offers the Crown of sense of sporty vitality the Avalon by no means had. Moreover, on the highway, the Crown is surprisingly quiet and easy using, matching—or practically 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 stunning 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, stepping into and out of the automobile is simple. Likewise, we discovered the infotainment programs to be simple sufficient to function, and the massive touchscreen simple to learn, even in direct mild. And, we thank Toyota for together with a correct quantity knob on the dashboard. Additionally, large reward for the super-handy slot-style telephone charger which each retains the system in place and costs it and a good clip.

As we famous early, the Crown cabin just isn’t the fashionable 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 reasonably sporty. Likewise, the JBL-brand audio system is solidly high-quality, if not fairly premium stage.

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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 automobile.

One shock: In typically vigorous driving, our check 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 Shopper Information.

Whereas we mourn the passing of the fashionable and refined Avalon, we totally admire 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 customers 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 form of a disgrace, as a result of it’s actually a high quality journey. And, hopefully now you admire what precisely the Crown is.

Check Drive Gallery: 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Restricted 

2023 Toyota Crown Platinum
2023 Toyota Crown Platinum

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2023 Toyota Crown Gallery

Click on under for enlarged picture

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