LUXURY SEDAN
Whether sporty can be comfortable
Toyota introduced the Toyopet Crown in 1955 as its medium-large mainstream sedan. It was also the first Toyota to try and conquer the XL size US market. But it failed badly, the reason being that the Crown was designed for Japan where the roads were often muddy or snowy and this meant slower speeds with a focus on comfort.
On the other hand, the Americans had built their wide carpeted expressways and smooth open roads around a car culture that demanded power, as well as the ability to munch up the miles.
The first generation, which was powered by the R-series 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine, was seriously underpowered for its proportions. The US was all about excess – huge cubic inches and hardly any emphasis on emissions or consumption.
Toyota realised that this significant market required a product that would cater to its specific needs and it did exactly that with its second generation.
The S40 Crown was larger and the medium-size car requirement was fulfilled by the new Corona, which means
matic with paddle shifters, a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder hybrid with a CVT and a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid with a 10-gear stepped system.
It’s a safe evolutionary step forward in terms of its aesthetic appeal and that’s understandable since the Crown is Toyota’s S-Class.
Styling is a mix of flowy lines and distinct creases. Adhering to Toyota’s corporate theme, the wraparound headlamps kink down to the nose to frame the massive central front grille and air intake. The bumper incorporates large simulated intakes on either side of the grille, which also curve down to form the base of the grille opening.
The side profile has a strong shoulder line, which is highlighted by a crease that flows all the way through to the rear lamps that also wrap around and curve down centrally.
Soft touch materials are found inside in all areas that may come into human contact and the controls are well laid out. The electric seats in front and at the rear are adjustable, and make the cabin a very pleasant space. And the two central air vents have a swing action similar to a domestic air conditioner.
But we didn’t like the interior. Though it’s better than that of a Prado or an Axio, the Crown’s central display placement looks like a hasty afterthought.
Toyota is using the Crown as a commercial launch pad for its connected cars technology with an inbuilt DCM (Data Communication Module) on all trims. All the usual preventative and accident SOS safety tech is standard, including a day/night pedestrian and daytime cyclist avoidance system.
Driving our RS, we noted that a great deal of chassis tuning has been done although it’s seemingly biased towards comfort rather than handling. Toyota released a few promotional videos with Japanese racing driver Kazuki Nakajima to highlight its performance characteristics. The RS series has a sportier trim than the more luxurious G grade.
We can safely say a Crown will be as reliable and unbreakable as a Hilux although it’s unlikely to hold value in the secondhand market. Nevertheless, we would suggest buying a Crown as an alternative to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series or Audi A8 if you are looking for a more discreet large luxury sedan.