Toyota’s Most Premium Mainstream Sedan Just Received An Athletic Powertrain Upgrade
Technically, the Toyota Crown is in its 16th generation, though it’s still in its first generation back on North American soil since the 1970s. That generation kicked off with the 2023 model year, which reintroduced the nameplate as a replacement to the underappreciated Avalon. It brought with it a somewhat confusing identity — too nice for a Toyota badge, but not enough prestige for Lexus, which has left it in a purgatorial state between luxury and mainstream. This is reflected in its sales, with it experiencing a near 40-percent sales drop in 2025. Regardless, it’s holding steady in 2026, and it just got a refresh. Here’s what changed.
Visually, The Refresh May Go Unnoticed To The Average Observer
The Crown is an excellent car, and Toyota knows it. It’s also still relatively fresh in the U.S. market, so it didn’t get a massive overhaul. That said, it did get a few new paint options, as well as a re-sculpted rear bumper that smooths out the edges a tad. The Platinum trim received a few cosmetic touch-ups, including red brakes, a black belt window surround, and a reformatting of the signature two-tone paint scheme — it now features a body-colored trunk to accentuate the black roof. Beyond cosmetic refreshes, the most notable improvement promises more power and excitement.
The Real Upgrade Is Found Under The Hood
The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims get the Toyota Hybrid System 5 upgrade. This powertrain is both more athletic and more efficient than the previous-gen system, giving the Crown a more sporty feel. These trims also come with paddle shifters, which should make the peppier powertrain more enjoyable.
The 2027 Crown XLE, Limited, and Nightshade get the 2.5-liter version, similar to the unit found in the Camry, which makes up to 232 horsepower in AWD form. The outgoing Crown’s base engine put out 236 horsepower combined, though Toyota hasn’t disclosed the 2027 model’s output yet. The EPA pegs fuel economy at 40 MPG combined — one MPG less than the previous Crown’s system, and 10 MPG under the Camry’s base AWD trim figure, though only three less than the top-spec Camry XSE AWD trim. The main draw of the THS 5 system is the increased agility it provides without severely decreasing efficiency, thanks to advanced regenerative braking, better battery chemistry, and more powerful electric motors.
The top-trim Platinum still features the 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Hybrid MAX powertrain pumping out 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels through a six-speed direct-shift auto transmission. The transmission is tuned to deliver excellent low-end torque, which pairs well with the full-time electronic on-demand AWD system, giving the Platinum muscle and cornering comparable to mid-range BMWs and Mercedes sedans.
The Already-Stacked Features List Gets A Slight Improvement
Those familiar with the Crown are aware it comes loaded with tech and convenience features, and while not as posh as a Lexus, especially the new models, the Crown is definitely at the top of the Toyota range (next to the Crown Signia) in terms of premium additions. Leather upholstery is standard, as are large screens, heated and ventilated seats, wireless charging, and more, though the 2027 model year adds a few previously-optional features to the Limited trim. These include full saddle tan leather seats, as well as a few driver assist aids and digital key capability.
What’s Going On With The Limited Trim?
There isn’t an exact date on which the 2027 Crown will be available yet, though Toyota lists prices for the range at $41,640 for the base XLE, $49,720 for the Limited, $48,965 for the Nightshade, and $55,190 for the Platinum, and these prices do not include the mandatory $1,295 delivery fee. This represents a $200 price bump over all of the 2026 Crown models except the Limited, which sees a $3,015 price jump. For the XLE, Nightshade, and Platinum trims, this isn’t a bad premium to pay for the updates — especially the XLE and Nightshade’s THS 5 addition, though the Limited’s price jump seems a bit suspicious in these early stages. It gets a few more features, but we’re not sure if it warrants such a price hike.
Sources: Toyota, The EPA
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