Toyota Crown Crossover (SH35)

For over seven decades, the Toyota Crown has been a symbol of Japanese pride and each generation is its heritage and culture. With the arrival of the 16th generation Crown, the pride of Toyota has been reborn for the Reiwa era, and for the first time, it will be offered as a global model starting with the controversial Crossover model.

2023 Toyota Crown Crossover

The Crossover model is the first of the new Crown family and it's basically the most controversial Crown ever made because by morphing the Crown brand into a coupe crossover a la BMW X4, fears of witnessing a Crown SUV became a nightmarish reality and because this is the new normal, it's hard to face the music for the time being. Anyway, being the first of the new Crown family, let's get to know more about the Crown Crossover.

2023 Toyota Crown Crossover

The Crown Crossover, priced at 4.35 million Yen plus additional costs, features a coupe-like styling inspired by German hits such as the BMW X4, the Audi Q3 Sportback, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. On the scale between the German trio, I would say the Crown Crossover now behaves like...an Audi Q3 Sportback. More with that later on but continuing on the styling, the exterior boasts a conservative front view that is less radical than the old S220 Crown's massive grille while the side view adopts a coupe-like silhouette and the rear view looks vaguely similar to the Porsche Taycan. Overall, the styling is part conservative, and part questionable at the same time. You can't say why.

2023 Toyota Crown Crossover interior

2023 Toyota Crown Crossover interior

Although the exterior styling sparked some confusion among insiders, the interior is heavily inspired by the second-generation Mirai, the only surviving rear-wheel-drive Toyota sedan in the lineup. Although adopting the minimalist stance, the driver's side is packed with noticeable techs such as T-Connect, smartphone connectivity, voice control, heated steering wheel, digital rearview mirror, and others. 

On the passenger side, despite its sloping roofline, the Crown Crossover is about as roomy as the previous Crown, meaning you can accommodate up to three clients behind you if you're in the mood for escorting high-profile personalities. Aside from doing contract work for client solutions, it can be used for all sorts of situations be it for family use or for business use, whatever floats your boat. At the back, despite being a coupe crossover, the trunk opens like a typical sedan and it can accommodate up to 450 liters or up to two golf bags. Believe it or not, it can be automatically opened when you lift your foot up. Wise move, Toyota.

2023 Toyota Crown Crossover

In a rather controversial move, the Crown Crossover runs on an FF-derived TNGA-K platform, the same platform used in the current Camry. Despite being only offered in 4WD, the Crown Crossover's driving feel can be somewhat akin to the Audi Q3 Sportback because this platform made it less enjoyable to drive than the S220 Crown but feels like driving on a Sunday afternoon courtesy of its front MacPherson struts and rear multilink suspension. Cozy indeed.

The Crown Crossover is offered only in hybrid with two hybrid configurations to choose from such as the 2.5L A25A-FXS Dynamic Force petrol engine mated to two electric motors, a NiMH battery, and an e-CVT gearbox that promises 22.4km/L on the WLTC Mode scale, and a first for a Toyota hybrid, a 349PS 2.4L T24A-FTS Dual Boost Hybrid system mated to a 6-speed AT and the E-Four Advanced system that brings 80% of its power to the rear wheels, making it almost enjoyable to drive everywhere. The fuel economy is around 15.7km/L on the WLTC Mode scale.

In its 2.5L version, the Crown Crossover can be configured in three driving modes; ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT. In the turbocharged 2.4L version, three additional modes are added including a CUSTOM mode where drivers can personalize their driving experience.

With safety the driving force of the new normal, the Crown Crossover features the most advanced safety features such as the new Toyota Safety Sense which consists of up to 12 ADAS features, and the revolutionary Toyota Teammate advanced drive with Radar Cruise Control and Lane Tracing Assist, giving this crossover the ability to do semi-autonomous driving while cruising through the Shutokou like a commoner.

The Crown Crossover is by no means one of the most controversial vehicles to come out from Japan, probably because of its coupe SUV approach and the use of the FF-derived platform from a Toyota Camry, giving purists the finger as expected. Despite its controversial approach, the Crown Crossover is the start of the Reiwa-era Crown family because pretty soon, it will be expanded with a sports version, a sedan version, and an estate version. Because this will be the first Crown to be offered to the global market, it's about time the Crown name goes global. Welcome to the Crown connection.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation