It was buried for more than five decades, but roughly three years ago Toyota finally decided it was time to reintroduce the Crown name to its fleet of vehicles.
The Japanese automaker reintroduced the Crown sedan in 2022 and apparently was enamored with the name, because it came out with the Crown Signia SUV last year. Neither vehicle has taken off in terms of sales, so it’s anyone’s guess how long these two will remain in Toyota’s stable of cars.
We sampled the SUV a year ago and recently got a good introduction to the 2026 Toyota Crown, a full-size, hybrid sedan. It has lots of upside that car shoppers will enjoy. However, just like the Crown Signia, the price tag (starting between approximately $41,500 and $54,900) is getting some pushback. The Crown is reportedly the highest priced sedan in the non-luxury hybrid segment.
Some suggest Toyota has priced both Crown vehicles too high and made them closer to a luxury brand. But the company would no doubt counter that there’s considerable value in either vehicle’s upscale offerings and the cost is worth it. One of those offerings is every Crown sedan is equipped with all-wheel drive.
The Crown is only offered as a hybrid, much like the company did with its historically high-selling Camry in 2025. The Crown delivers excellent fuel economy, ride comfort, has a spacious cabin and cargo area, and is slotted above the more affordable Camry in the Toyota sedan lineup.
If fuel economy is an important item on the check list, the Crown passes that test, at least the standard engine does, offering 41-42 mpg. But the same can’t be said for the optional engine, which gets 29-32 mpg. That’s extremely low for a hybrid.
The standard engine is the same one as the Camry – two electric motors (front and rear) that combine with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder to produce 236 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. It’s no slouch in the power department, going 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds.
If accelerating quickly is more your thing, the optional engine is preferable. It also has two electric motors and combines with a turbocharged 2.4-liter, four-cylinder to generate 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. It goes nearly two seconds faster than the standard engine, traveling 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
The Crown delivers in the power department and is also pleasant to drive. We gave it a test on a challenging, winding road and were impressed with the tire grip. Overall, the handling is composed and gives the driver a great feel for the road.
Standard driver safety features include pre-collision system with pedestrian detection; lane departure alert with steering assist; lane tracing assist; radar cruise control; road sign assist; and proactive driving assist.
AT A GLANCE – 2026 TOYOTA CROWN
- Performance: two electric motors, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder, 236 horsepower; two electric motors, turbocharged 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, 340 horsepower
- Mileage estimate: 41-42 mpg; 29-32 mpg
- Price estimate: $41,500 to $54,900
- Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles; Drivetrain: 5 years/60,000 miles; Roadside Assistance: 2 years/unlimited; Corrosion: 5 years/unlimited; Hybrid battery:10 years/150,000
All four trim models (XLE, Limited, Nightshade and Platinum) come standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. There is a learning curve that takes some time to master, yet there are also some physical controls that make the Crown’s interior workings easier to grasp. It also has an excellent voice recognition that can handle various tasks.
The Crown comes standard with a wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, six-speaker audio system, wireless device charging, and five USB-C ports – two in the front and two in back. Also standard are the heated rear seats.
Seating is not as good as expected. The front seats provide good head and leg room, plus excellent comfort. In the rear seats, leg room is solid, yet taller passengers might feel a bit cramped due to the vehicle’s sloping roofline. The cargo area is sizable at 15.2 cubic feet.
While overall, the 2026 Toyota Crown has abundant upside, the one major strike against it is cost. That might be a sticking point when car shoppers do a comparison check on the hybrid sedan segment.
Weidel on Wheels is featured regularly on www.tahoeskiworld.com. Auto writer Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweidel.bsky.social
