Toyota Unveils the 2023 Crown, a Lifted Hybrid Sedan With 340 HP

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

The push to electrified vehicles has given automakers some leeway in what vehicles they introduce and styling. Case in point, there's an all-new 2023 Toyota Crown. And for the first time in approximately 50 years, it will be coming to the U.S. This time around, one of Toyota's oldest nameplates is returning with a confusing design that Toyota doesn't even know how to classify. 

Toyota Crown Returns

In Toyota's teaser video for the 2023 Crown, the Japanese automaker asks, "Sedan or SUV?" It's a fitting question, because the Crown manages to look like both. When it comes to dimensions, the Crown is slightly larger than the Camry, but smaller than the Avalon. It's 194 inches long and has a wheelbase that's 112.2 inches long. The odd thing about the Crown is that it's slightly lifted. The vehicle has a roofline that 60.6 inches tall, making it roughly 3.7 inches taller than the Camry. 

The designers have also managed to accent the Crown's height with chunky proportions, tall fenders, and prominent body lines in the right places. For a "premium sedan," the Crown certainly looks unique. It has a peculiar mix of crossover and sedan, which could be something that consumers are interested in with the popularity of SUVs. 

Underneath the funky design, the 2023 Toyota Crown has a standard hybrid powertrain, though the automaker will offer two different hybrid engines with the vehicle. The standard setup pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for all-wheel drive. Output is rated at 236 horsepower, while the vehicle is estimated to get up to 38 mpg combined. This powertrain will be standard for the XLE trim.

Hybrid Only Powertrains

The Platinum trim will come with Toyota's new Hybrid Max system. This powertrain includes a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor on the front axle and a water-cooled electric motor on the rear axle. The result is a high-performance, all-wheel-drive system. Peak output is rated at 340 hp and an estimated 28 mpg combined. 

The Crown utilizes Toyota's New Global Architecture K (TNGA-K) platform that also underpins the RAV4, Camry, Sienna, and Highlander. While we're slightly surprised to see Toyota only offer the Crown with hybrid powertrains and not an all-electric version, the automaker has been vocal about its belief that hybrids and PHEVs are better than EVs. 

On the inside, Toyota has packed the Crown with high-tech features that include two 12.3-inch screens, the latest version of Toyota's Audio Multimedia infotainment system, a "Hey, Toyota" voice recognition system, a wireless charging pad, nad USB type-C ports. The automaker's Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of advanced safety features is also standard.

There's no denying that the 2023 Toyota Crown seems like an oddity. At a time when automakers are focusing on electric SUVs, Toyota has released a hybrid sedan with crossover-like styling. We'll have to wait to see how consumers feel about the Crown when Toyota officially starts selling the vehicle at the end of 2022.  

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods