Toyota refreshes Crown cross-sedan: revised rear end and updated hybrid system

A Japanese company has revealed the list of changes and announced the price of the refreshed four-door model destined for the American market.

The Toyota Crown is by no means a young model; its history spans over 70 years and sixteen generations. As a reminder, the current generation debuted in the summer of 2022, with the well-known name being assigned to an entire family of vehicles. As a result, the current lineup includes: a standard saloon, its crossover version with the Crossover suffix (without a 'surname' in the US), a Sport SUV, and an Estate SUV (with the Signia 'surname' in the States).

Now, the American office has detailed the updates bestowed upon the 2027 model year Toyota Crown crossover saloon. It is known that the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims have received a modernised fifth-generation hybrid system – THS 5. The company did not disclose whether the system's characteristics have changed, merely noting an improvement in efficiency. At its core remains a 2.5-litre petrol engine working in tandem with two electric motors mounted on the front and rear axles.

The aforementioned versions are equipped with an electronic all-wheel drive system, which uses a separate electric motor located on the rear axle when necessary: the additional traction on the rear wheels helps improve road grip and manoeuvrability during cornering. It is known that the refreshed XLE, Limited, and Nightshade variants come with steering wheel paddle shifters.

The top-spec Toyota Crown Platinum retains the previous Hybrid Max system, which includes a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors. The combined output of this setup is 345 bhp, with a maximum torque of 542 Nm. This modification is equipped with an electronic all-wheel drive system that constantly adjusts the distribution of traction between the front and rear axles.

Recently, the Japanese company showcased a slightly revised exterior for the updated Toyota Crown Crossover intended for the domestic market. The US version of the crossover saloon has been refreshed in a similar vein. The list of exterior adjustments includes a redesigned rear bumper: on two-tone models, the boot lid and rear bumper (excluding the lower section) are painted in the main body colour, with only the 'full-width light bar' highlighted in black gloss.

The Toyota Crown Platinum trim also gains red brake callipers. Inside, there are no changes; the dashboard still features a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster, as well as a similarly sized touchscreen for the infotainment system with wireless support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Interestingly, the prices for the 2027 model year crossover saloon have risen disproportionately. For instance, the cost of the XLE, Nightshade, and Premium trims has increased by only $200 – to $41,640 (equivalent to approximately 3.26 million roubles at the current exchange rate), $48,965 (around 3.83 million roubles), and $55,190 (around 4.32 million roubles) respectively. Meanwhile, the price tag for the Toyota Crown Limited has jumped by $3,770 to $49,720 (around 3.89 million roubles).