The 2024 Toyota Crown Platinum is likely Toyota’s most unconventional model to date. Replacing the Avalon in 2023, the Crown sits above the midsize Camry in Toyota’s lineup. With its quirky styling, the Crown evokes a sense of intrigue, much like your eccentric Uncle Bob. I’m taking a second look at the Crown today to further evaluate its merits.

Quirky Styling

The liftback design and optional two-tone color scheme set this car apart from more conventional family sedans. The floating D-pillar, continuous taillight bar, and prominent grille contribute to the Crown’s modern and distinctive styling. While the Crown sits above the midsize Camry in Toyota’s lineup, it is not significantly larger – just an inch longer between the wheels and a couple of inches longer overall, depending on the trim. Additionally, the Crown stands four inches taller than the Camry, but the two vehicles share the same width.

The massive 21-inch wheels wearing Michelin all-season 225/45R tires are the largest ever offered on a Toyota sedan.  The brakes are 12.9-inch vented discs at the front and 12.5-inch discs at the rear.

The Hybrid MAX comes equipped with adaptive dampers that offer a variety of driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport S, Sport+, and Custom. While we tested most of these settings, the car is not optimized for a sporty driving experience, so we found the Comfort mode to be the best choice but Sport S is nice when you want to hustle.

Under The Hood

The powertrain consists of a turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4 engine, which produces 264 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. This is supplemented by two AC motors – one in the front producing 82 hp and 215 lb-ft, and one in the rear generating 79 hp and 124 lb-ft. The combined system output is 340 hp and 400 lb-ft.

Toyota’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that utilizes a wet clutch system rather than a traditional torque converter. This setup delivers silky-smooth, rev-matched downshifts.  Acceleration-wise the Platinum model is quick with a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. Pushing the pedal to the floor through the quarter-mile, the vehicle completes the benchmark in just 13.8 seconds at 101 mph.

Driving

The suspension tuning is biased more toward comfort than performance, but the combined 340 hp makes the Crown genuinely quick through corners. However, the skinny tires and soft suspension mean you have to brake and enter turns a little slower than the power might suggest.

The Michelin Primacy tires provide decent grip, though there is some tire squeal. The best way to enjoy the Crown is to take a relaxed approach – when you need power, simply floor the accelerator and enjoy the smooth, whooshing acceleration from the electric motors.

This is not a car that encourages aggressive driving. The brakes provide good stopping power, but require a firm push. The steering is quite light, even in the most aggressive “Sport S+” setting. The crossover-height driving position offers excellent forward visibility.

Overall, the Crown prioritizes comfort and refinement over outright performance, though its abundant power and smooth powertrain make it genuinely quick when driven at a relaxed pace.

Interior

The high front seating positions and easy entry/exit were the first things that I noticed and once inside, the front seats felt snug for a full-size sedan but extremely comfortable. The interior materials are both nice to the touch and look upscale and the Platinum trim includes leather as standard. There are some hard plastics but most are positioned below knee level.

For day-to-day use, the sedan proved to be a pleasant and capable conveyance. The refined ride, along with the standard acoustic front glass and noise-absorbing firewall lining, contributed to a library-quiet cabin.

The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and central touchscreen were well-sized for the interior, though an infotainment screen tilted more toward the driver would have been appreciated. One standout feature is the vertical phone charger in the center console, which takes up less space than traditional wireless chargers. Other manufacturers, please take note.

The Platinum model also comes standard with a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, rear heated seats, and an 11-speaker JBL premium sound system.

Rear

Trunk space is adequate at 15.2 cubic feet, and the Crown comes with 60/40-split-folding rear seats. However, a power liftgate is not offered. One gripe the button that lets you open the trunk from the outside is tiny and hard to find. Also, I wish it had a tailgate instead of a trunk lid.

Pricing   

The Crown is produced exclusively at Toyota’s Tsutsumi plant in Japan and is aimed at attracting buyers seeking a premium Toyota experience. The base XLE trim is priced from $41,045, and the Platinum trim has a base price of $53,070. There are no available options except this premium paint for $425. That takes the total price to $54,590. Is this too much for a Toyota sedan?

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Verdict

The Toyota Crown is a captivating sedan that blends the sophistication of a four-door with the bold presence of a crossover. Its elevated stance and refined, eye-catching styling set it apart in Toyota’s lineup, appealing to buyers seeking a premium driving experience. If you get the Hybrid Max you won’t be disappointed.

2024 Toyota Crown Platinum  numbers

ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $53,070
ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $54,590
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7 passenger, 4-door SUV
ENGINE: 2.4 liter turbocharged four plus two electric motors
COMBINED POWER: 340 hp
COMBINED TORQUE: 400 ft-lbs
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
0-60 MPH: 5.1 seconds
CURB WEIGHT: 4,250 lb
CARGO VOLUME: 15.1 cubic feet 
FUEL ECONOMY Combined/city/highway: 30/29/32 mpg
OUR OBSERVED: 21.8 mpg
PROS: Super smooth, tons of torque, luxurious inside
CONS: Needs a hatchback