Toyota Crown Platinum: A Modern Twist on Classic Luxury

Words and Photos by Jennifer Jensen

The Toyota Crown has returned to the U.S. after decades of absence, aiming to bridge the gap between a sedan and an SUV with modern styling and unique engineering. The Crown Platinum, the highest trim level in the Crown lineup, brings a distinct identity, combining a premium interior, powerful hybrid powertrain, and a spacious layout. For those seeking refinement, a dash of luxury, and a versatile cabin all mixed in with a brand famous for reliability, the Crown offers something unique.

Design: Sophisticated Yet Unexpected

First impressions of the Toyota Crown may be mixed. The Crown looks just a little bit different from your standard sedan. It provides a blend of sedan elegance and SUV stance. Sitting higher than a traditional sedan, the Crown provides drivers an elevated view of the road without having to deal with the bulk of an SUV. Toyota wanted the Crown to stand out in an increasingly crowded market, and the result is definitely a distinctive silhouette.

The Platinum trim enhances the visual impact with large 21-inch wheels, contrasting roof color options, and unique design cues. The shape may take some getting used to, but it grows on you. The roofline is low, which adds to the streamlined look, though taller passengers may have to mind their heads on entry. Ask me how I know.

Interior: High-Tech and Spacious

Inside, the Crown Platinum impresses with Lexus-like levels of quality. The cabin is laid out with ease of use in mind and everything falls readily to your hands. The Platinum model adds a bronzed finish to trim pieces, including the shifter and it all just looks, and feels, right.

Front passengers have plenty of head and body room (after ducking the roofline to get in) but rear-seat passengers may be a little tight on headroom if they’re on the tall side. The panoramic glass roof, which doesn’t open, adds a sense of airiness, but it doesn’t help with clearance for taller passengers.

The interior layout, however, is fantastic. Toyota placed a lot of thought into driver and passenger comfort. A large 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster complements the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, providing a modern and sleek dashboard. The infotainment screen is easy to navigate, and the system responds quickly, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

I love, love, LOVE that Toyota equipped the Crown with physical buttons for the HVAC controls—a thoughtful addition that makes it easy to adjust the climate without navigating through menus. The front seats offer heating, ventilation, and good support for long trips, while rear passengers enjoy heated seats, though they might feel a little constrained in terms of legroom if the front seats are set far back. Those poor rear passengers just aren’t getting a break here.

The Powertrain: Hybrid MAX Brings the Power

Lesser Crown variants come with Toyota’s 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder churning out 236 combined 163 lb-ft of torque. The Crown Platinum, on the other hand, rolls out with Toyota’s Hybrid MAX system, which pairs a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four with electric motors to deliver a combined 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. This is Toyota’s most powerful hybrid system available in the U.S., and it gives the Crown a bit of a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality. In Normal or Comfort modes, it’s a smooth, easygoing cruiser, but switch to Sport or Sport+ mode, and the Crown comes alive.

The electric motors in the hybrid system contribute to a strong torque curve, with maximum torque available from 2,000 to 3,000 RPM, making acceleration feel brisk. The Crown Platinum can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 5.7 seconds, none-too-shabby for a large sedan-ish vehicle. Having had the opportunity to drive XLE and Limited versions of the Crown with the non-MAX system, I am happy to say that the Crown Platinum is designed to provide a rewarding driving experience.

One of the highlights of the Hybrid MAX system should be its fuel efficiency. However, the system can be deceptive in what it presents to the driver. I took the Crown to Road America and back to our offices and when I started the return journey the Crown indicated I had 45 miles of range. That was fine as I had planned a fill up at a gas station about 15 miles away.

But over the course of about two miles, that range went from the indicated 45 miles all the way down to 10. Yes, TEN. I’m pretty sure we coasted into the gas station on fumes and prayers, but we did make it. The XLE and Limited models are rated at 38 MPG but the Platinum only gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined. So don’t expect typical hybrid mileage here—the Crown Platinum trades that efficiency for performance, making it more of a grand-tourer than a gas sipper.

Drive Modes and Suspension: Comfortable or Engaging, You Choose

The Platinum trim includes six, count ‘em again, SIX drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Sport+, Comfort, and Individual. Lower trims only offer three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. The extra modes in the Platinum also come with the added bonus of adaptive suspension providing a noticeable difference in ride quality and handling characteristics.

In Comfort mode, the Crown becomes a soft cruiser, soaking up bumps and imperfections in the road with ease. It feels like a traditional luxury sedan, smooth and composed, perfect for long highway drives. Switch to Sport or Sport+, and the suspension firms up to reduce body roll, while the steering takes on a bit more weight. There’s still some lean through corners—it’s a large car, after all—but the Crown holds its own when pushed.

A drawback, however, is the brake feel. Like many hybrids, the brakes can feel a bit squishy, and you’ll need to apply a firm foot for strong stopping power. They’re adequate for everyday driving but may leave you wanting more confidence when driving enthusiastically. After I pushed the Crown through a particularly grueling few miles of twists and turns there was some serious brake fade. So I switched back to Comfort and just relaxed the rest of that drive.

Practicality: Sedan Form Meets SUV Function

The Crown’s design hints at SUV utility, but it has the practicality of a large sedan. The trunk is spacious, and there’s ample storage for everyday items. Toyota’s designers made a deliberate choice to make this a traditional sedan rather than a liftback. At first glance, you might think it has a hatchback setup, but the rear opens to a standard trunk. It’s a little surprising, given the high decklid, but the trunk has more than enough room for grocery runs and road trip luggage.

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on the Crown, bringing a full suite of driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and pedestrian detection. The lane-keeping system is especially aggressive, actively nudging the car back if you stray too close to lane markers. I found it to be too intrusive and wound up switching this particular feature off after awhile. But, it’s an effective safety feature for those who appreciate a more hands-on approach to lane management.

On long trips, the Crown’s cruise control system was a particular highlight. Toyota offers a choice between adaptive and regular cruise control, allowing you to choose a traditional cruise control experience if you prefer to “creep up” on vehicles without automatic adjustments. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate that.

Technology: A Modern, Connected Drive

The Crown Platinum comes loaded with tech. The infotainment system is powered by Toyota’s latest North American-developed multimedia interface, which is quick and easy to navigate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the voice recognition system works reasonably well, although it’s a bit limited in some commands. One unique feature: the system’s voice response adjusts based on which seat activated it. Ask it a question from the driver’s seat, and you’ll hear the response from the driver’s speaker. If a passenger asks, the answer plays from their side.

The Crown also has a unique parking aid feature. As you reverse, the car “ghosts” out on the center-mounted screen, providing a view of what’s around and underneath. It’s a helpful feature, especially in tight spots, and is something you won’t see in many other vehicles at this price point. Toyota also added a surround-view camera system, making parking and maneuvering in tight spaces even easier.

One of the negative features I noticed during my time with the Crown Platinum was wind noise. On the highway, you can hear a subtle whoosh around the upper edges of the cabin, particularly near the A-pillars. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s definitely noticeable in an otherwise quiet and insulated interior.

Verdict: A Compelling Blend of Comfort, Style, and Power

The Toyota Crown Platinum stands out in a crowded field of sedans and SUVs by offering something genuinely unique. It’s not quite a luxury sedan, nor is it a traditional SUV. Instead, it’s a fusion of the two—a high-riding, comfortable sedan with a powerful hybrid powertrain and modern design. The Crown Platinum is a stylish and comfortable cruiser that can also handle a bit of spirited driving when asked.

While it has its quirks—such as the limited rear headroom and wind noise—the Crown excels at providing a premium driving experience without the premium price tag of full luxury brands. If you’re looking for a stylish, spacious, and powerful sedan with a unique twist, the Toyota Crown Platinum makes a strong case for itself.

Toyota has taken a bold step with the Crown, targeting those who want the elevated driving position of an SUV without the bulk. It’s a unique choice in today’s market, and one that will likely appeal to drivers who want to stand out from the crowd while enjoying the benefits of Toyota’s hybrid technology and long-standing reputation for reliability.