2023 Toyota Crown Debuts With 4 Body Styles For The First Time

The 2023 Toyota Crown has just been unveiled. While the Crown has always been known as a full-size luxury sedan, this is the first time in its history that it will be sold with three other body styles–all of which cater to the continually-growing demand for SUVs and crossovers.

The first body style to go on sale in Japan and across 40 markets globally before the end of 2022 will be the “Crossover Type” that you see here. This body style blurs the lines between a sedan and a crossover SUV, as it comes with a fastback body style with sleek lines as well as a raised ride height and body cladding. The theme is very much like the recently-unveiled Peugeot 408, which is also a sedan that blends crossover elements.

The Crown Crossover Type rides on the TNGA-K architecture, which means, unlike the traditional Crown we’re used to seeing, this is a front-wheel drive (FWD) architecture as opposed to rear-wheel drive (RWD). It is unknown whether the other body styles are riding on the TNGA-K platform as well, though our hunch is that the sedan will still continue to be RWD.

Along with the Crossover Type, the Crown will also come as a “Sports Type” (SUV, in red) and an “Estate Type” (midsize SUV, in yellow). If the red vehicle looks eerily familiar to you, that’s because it debuted last year in concept form as the Toyota Crossover EV Concept that’s part of the company’s electric vehicle offensive.

SUVs and crossovers have once again dominated the headlines for the Crown’s unveiling, but thankfully, Toyota will still sell a traditional sedan body style for the Crown. It comes with a similar fastback body style as the Crossover Type Crown, but with more classic lines and without the body cladding. As a matter of fact, it looks very similar to the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell sedan.

As for its interior design, only the production-ready Crown Crossover Type was unveiled. Given its premium positioning, the interior is loaded with plush materials as well as plenty of new technology. A 12.3-inch fully-digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system come as standard, and you can summon the infotainment by saying “Hey, Toyota”. There’s also extensive use of sound deadening and acoustic glass for a quiet interior, as well as other premium features such as an 11-speaker JBL audio system and a panoramic sunroof.

Likewise, only the Crown Crossover Type’s powertrain has been detailed as of the moment. Two engine choices are available, both of which are hybrids. The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that’s mated to two electric motors, effectively making the Crown Crossover Type all-wheel drive (AWD). The total system output of the base powertrain is 236 hp and this is mated to a CVT.

On the other hand, higher variants will come with a new fourth-generation Hybrid Max powertrain that bundles a 2.4-liter turbo gasoline engine and a water-cooled electric motor driving the rear wheels. This has a total system output of 340 hp, with power being sent through a 6-speed automatic. If this powertrain combination sounds familiar, that’s because this is also used in the new Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance, albeit in a slightly lower state of tune.

The 2023 Toyota Crown range will go on sale first in Japan and for the first time in decades, in North America as well. Only the Crown Crossover Type is expected to be a global car, while the Crown sedan will most likely be limited to Japan.