Some people will tell you that a Lexus is "just a fancy Toyota." There's some truth to that. Many of these cars are built on the same platforms, pack the same engines, and offer a comparable driving experience. Lexus models are generally built to a higher standard of quality, but Toyota isn't exactly chopped liver, so you could be very happy with either brand.To get an idea of how these brands compare, and what you're getting for the price, let's take a top-trim Toyota Crown and see what it looks like next to a new entry-level Lexus ES, and, more importantly, what it costs. Can we turn a Toyota into a sleeper Lexus, or does it make more sense to go with the premium car? The Toyota Crown Has Nearly 100 Horses On The Lexus ES ToyotaThe 2026 Lexus ES has yet to hit the market, but we know that Lexus is dropping combustion-only models in favor of hybrids and EVs. While many automakers have backpedaled, Toyota has been one of the few brands to stick to its commitment to electrification, for better or for worse.Toyota only managed to sell 12,309 Crowns in 2025, down from 19,647 units sold in 2024, representing a downwards trajectory of 37.4% over the course of a year. We can't know what Toyota's sales goals for the nameplate look like, internally, but we have to assume that this isn't exactly what the brand was hoping for.In our last review for the Crown, for the 2025 model year, we found plenty to like in the sedan. The Crown delivers considerable power for the price, easily outpacing competing hybrid sedans, including, at the time, the since-discontinued Volkswagen Arteon.We compared the Crown favorably to Lexus, we liked the heated and cooled leather seats, and we found the cabin to be remarkably luxurious for what is supposed to be a mid-market car. The 12.3-inch touchscreen looks like a big-screen TV on the dash, and you won't feel any cheap, tacky plastic panels anywhere inside the car.In short: if you're picking a Lexus over a Crown, it's not because the Crown is wanting for luxury. This is as close as you can get to a Lexus without actually buying a Lexus. The Crown Can't Make Up Its Mind Toyota If we were to pin the Crown's failings down to a single factor, it may be that it doesn't really know what it is. A top-spec Crown is designed to deliver the best of both worlds, being a sort of halfway point between an SUV and a full-size sedan.It feels like a medium-sized SUV, except for the coupe-like sloping roof, which cuts the headroom off at just 37.5 inches in the back row. It feels like a sporty coupe, but it stands at a ground clearance of 5.8 inches, it weighs in at around two tons, and yeah it's a comfortable ride, but it also feels a bit floaty. Toyota has done a commendable job of limiting body roll, but, regardless, they've produced a car that's difficult to market. The Lexus Promises A Luxurious Experience At A Lower Price Than The Crown Lexus We're still waiting for a full list of standard features for the 2026 Lexus ES 350h, but, so far, we know that we're getting the following an entry-level model. 14-inch touchscreen 3D-printed bamboo interior details 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster Suede and synthetic leather trim Ambient lighting Mark Levinson Surround Sound Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 We have to assume that the 350h's yet-to-be-announced standard features will follow the pattern set forth by these design choices, and that the cabin will deliver on the expectations of quality that Lexus has, heretofore, more than lived up to. The Platinum Crown Delivers Luxury Features At A Luxury Price Toyota Advanced features and creature comforts in a top-level Crown include the following. Head-up display Adaptive cruise control Heated and cooled leather seats Heated steering wheel Sunroof Wi-Fi hotspot These are welcome features, but we're spending $3,995 more than we would on an entry-level Lexus, and the ES is still a tad nicer. Lexus fans will be happier in the Lexus. Lexus Enjoys A Clarity Of Vision Lexus The Lexus ES benefits from having a clear vision of what it wants to be, as a capable, electrified sedan with a cabin that feels like a home away from home. It's easy to imagine the ideal buyer for a brand-new Lexus ES 350h. It could be someone who just got a promotion and wants to reward themselves, or it could be a retiree who's been loyal to the ES since it first launched all those years ago, or a mid-level executive tired of paying out the nose for BMW maintenance.If you try to imagine the ideal top-spec Toyota Crown driver, you'll likely draw a blank. It's sort of a smallish SUV, but isn't that what the Toyota Corolla Cross is for? It's a family-sized sedan, but the top-selling Toyota Camry already covers that demographic. It's luxurious, but not as luxurious as a Lexus ES. The top trim level is sporty, but a Toyota GR Supra delivers 382 horsepower at around the same price.Ultimately, the top-spec Toyota Crown is a difficult car to dislike, but it's also a difficult car to recommend, especially at such a steep asking price, because, everything it does, Toyota or Lexus has produced something that does it better, and at a more attractive price. Is A 2025 Lexus ES Still Worth A Buy? Lexus The 2026 Lexus ES 350h is not up for sale yet, as of the time of this writing. You can still buy the 2025 Lexus ES, though, which will be the last combustion-only ES sold by the brand, marking the end of an era dating back to the 1990 Lexus ES. Depending on your feelings regarding hybrids, your decision on the matter may already be made up, but let's take a look at what you're getting in an entry-level 2025 Lexus ES.There's a lot to like about the entry-level ES for the 2025 model year. First, the price, $43,435 is several thousand dollars cheaper than the cheapest hybrid model for 2026. Add to that, all-wheel drive comes standard, and it has a real eight-speed automatic transmission, which offers plenty of benefits over a CVT.Standard features include the following. NuLuxe leatherette seating Keyless start and keyless entry Sunroof Wi-Fi hotspot Power-adjust front seats Adaptive cruise control Remote start Remote trunk release Ultimately, it's easy for us to imagine the ideal 2026 Lexus ES buyer, being someone who appreciates the finer things in life. It's easy for us to imagine a 2025 ES buyer, being someone who appreciates all of that, but only at a fair price.As for the Crown, well, have you ever heard the joke that a camel is a horse designed by committee? It's a bit like that. For a very specific driver, a top-spec Toyota Crown may be exactly what you've been looking for. But Lord help us if we know who that driver is.Sources: Toyota, Lexus.