Students of automotive historical past will know the Toyota Crown has sat atop the aspirational ladder in Japan for the reason that Fifties and hasn’t been a part of the Big T’s portfolio in America since 1973 when it was changed by the Corona. Our personal Murilee can expound on this household tree in excruciating element, which is among the many causes we respect his ramblings.
Now, the Crown in again on this nation. Technically changing the Avalon, it’s a hybrid-powered four-door automobile (automobile? SUV?) with a traditional sedan trunk opening sitting on a construction that locations it 4 inches greater than a Camry. If Toyota was trying to defy categorization because it introduced the Crown title again to America for the primary time in 5 many years, it has positively succeeded.
There can be three trim ranges, all of which can be acquainted to the Toyota devoted – XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Powering the primary two is a 2.5-liter four-banger which has a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and three electrical motors as its dance companions. This configuration is nice for a claimed 236 horsepower and knocks on the door of 40 mpg in mixed driving circumstances with its CVT. Thanks to the position of these motors, these Crowns are all-wheel drive.
Platinum-grade fashions are the recipient of an annoyingly capitalized HYBRID MAX powertrain, which we henceforth won’t ever capitalize once more. Here, we discover a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed, wet-clutch transmission which does the two-step with a hybrid system made from a battery and two electrical motors, the latter of which is liquid-cooled on the rear axle. Toyota says these gubbins make 340 horsepower, however gas financial system drops to an estimated 28 mpg on the mixed cycle.
The snazzier hybrid system flings energy to all 4 wheels constantly, whereas the XLE and Limited trims may be front-wheel drive in sure circumstances. Thanks to the Hybrid Max’s rear motor which generates energy by means of water cooling, Platinum trims can ship as much as 80 % of its energy to the rear wheels for – hopefully – tail-out motion on unfastened surfaces.
But what about its look? What, certainly. Using the TNGA-Ok platform, it looks like the Crown is making an attempt to meld sedan driving consolation with crossover-like experience top. If you need to reference the Subaru Legacy SUS or AMC Eagle Sedan within the feedback, we received’t cease you. Taking a measuring tape to the Crown provides an total top of 60.6 inches (in comparison with 56.9 for a Camry), size of 194.0 inches on a 112.2-inch wheelbase, and 72.4-inch width.
For reference, a 2022 Highlander is listed as being 68.1 inches tall, 194.9 inches lengthy (112.2-inch w/b), and 76.0 inches extensive. If you’ve famous its wheelbase is equivalent to the Crown, give your self a gold star. Both automobiles are constructed utilizing the TNGA-Ok bones which at the moment underpin a yaffle of Toyota automobiles from Venza to Sienna and RAV4 to Camry. The previous Avalon used it as nicely. The Crown’s inside is acquainted to anybody who’s been in a brand new Toyota not too long ago, which isn’t a foul factor.
Availability is about for this autumn, although Toyota was mum on value. For what it’s value, the 215-horsepower Avalon Hybrid at the moment begins at $37,850 so we anticipate the Crown to push previous $40k to start out.
[Images: Toyota]
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Source: www.thetruthaboutcars.com
