Toyota Crown Crossover prepares for a refresh: first official photos

The refreshed crossover saloon from the Japanese marque is expected to receive not only styling tweaks but also changes under the skin.

The history of the Toyota Crown now spans more than 70 years and sixteen generations. The current-generation model made its debut in the summer of 2022, when it was decided to bestow the recognisable name upon an entire family of vehicles. Previously, the Crown was produced only as a saloon and was aimed mainly at Japan, whereas the current line-up is global and comprises four models. The family includes: a conventional saloon, its "raised" version with the Crossover suffix, an SUV-style model bearing the "Sport" name, and an estate-style SUV with the Estate suffix.

Now official information has emerged that the crossover saloon is preparing for an imminent facelift. The Japanese company has not yet gone into detail about exactly what changes the four-door will receive during the restyle, but it has already published a couple of official images demonstrating the styling adjustments to the refreshed Toyota Crown Crossover.

Judging by the photographs, the main exterior changes concern the two-tone body paintwork, or more precisely, a different distribution of the areas painted in contrasting colours. On the car in the photos, the following are finished in black (which, incidentally, the company claims is a new shade): the air intakes, the radiator grille, the "smile" running above the headlights, the bonnet, all the pillars including the front ones, and the sloping roof, the door mirror housings, the trim on the bodysides and wheel arches, as well as the narrow lower section of the rear bumper and the element beneath the thin strip of the "light bar" on the slightly revised tail.

For reference, on the crossover saloon that debuted in 2022, the roof pillars were finished in the main body colour, with silver inserts on the upper line of the side glazing and on the door handles. Meanwhile, the entire boot lid and the side elements encompassing the edges of the "light bar" and the strip at the bottom of the rear bumper, where the parking sensors are mounted, were painted black.

It has been reported that red brake calipers will be included in the standard equipment list for the Toyota Crown Crossover in RS specification. A raft of changes is also expected inside the cabin. For instance, the "winter pack" and steering wheel paddle shifters have been added to the standard equipment list, while the spare wheel and digital rear-view mirror have been removed from it. Furthermore, the Z and RS versions will now come with a digital key.

The company has not yet disclosed any mechanical changes that the Toyota Crown Crossover might receive during the facelift. However, according to the Japanese publication Creative Trend, the crossover saloon could subsequently gain an upgraded hybrid powertrain. This would still be based on the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, which would work in tandem with a more powerful electric motor (16 bhp more). The combined output of the system is expected to rise by 5 bhp, bringing it to 239 bhp. In addition, the car is expected to see an increase in the time it can run on electric power alone. Meanwhile, the Toyota Crown RS will likely retain its existing maximum of 349 bhp.

The full unveiling of the updated Toyota Crown Crossover will take place in mid-September 2026. Prices will be announced later. The current crossover saloon starts at 5,150,000 yen in Japan (equivalent to roughly 2.46 million roubles at the current exchange rate), while the top-spec version costs no less than 6,800,000 yen (around 3.25 million roubles).