2027 Toyota Crown Updates Leave Us PuzzledManufacturer - MotorTrendThe story of Toyota's strangest car, the Toyota Crown hybrid sedan, just got a little stranger. Among the, er, improvements to the 2027 model is an updated hybrid drive system that produces the same amount of power but returns slightly worse fuel economy.A New Hybrid DrivelineAccording to Toyota, the headline change for the 2027 Crown is the adoption of the THS (Toyota Hybrid System) 5 for the XSE, Nightshade, and Limited models. THS 5 is a newer generation of the hybrid drivetrain system first introduced in the 2023 Prius. But according to the press release and its accompanying spec sheet, the engine displacement (2.5 liters), number of motors (2), battery type and capacity (NiMH, 5.0 Ah), and combined horsepower rating (236) are unchanged. (Toyota doesn't list total system torque for this powerplant.) Toyota's claimed 0–60 time of 7.6 seconds is also unchanged. (We timed the 0–60 run of a 2024 model we tested at 7.1 seconds.)What has changed is fuel economy: The lower-trim 2027 Crowns are now rated at 42 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 40 mpg combined, down from 42/41/41 in the 2026 models.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe asked Toyota for a better explanation of what changed in the powertrain, and got this boilerplate non-answer: "It delivers more responsive acceleration, smoother power delivery, and improved efficiency compared with the previous generation." (Er, Toyota, you read your own spec sheet, didn't you?)Paddle YourselfOne other significant change to the THS 5-equipped Crowns is the addition of paddle shifters, although they aren't actually shifting anything as the Crown uses a continuously variable transmission. It's possible that addition could have triggered the need for recertification, though if that was the case, you'd think Toyota would have told us. (Then again, you would not expect them to tout the "improved efficiency" in a less-fuel-efficient powertrain.) The goal, sayeth Toyota, is to deliver a more involved driving experience, and we applaud that. Based on our past experience, many lovely things can be said about the Crown, but "What a thrill to drive!" is not among them.The Hybrid Max powertrain in the Crown Platinum, which uses a turbocharged engine, more powerful motors, and a six-speed automatic transmission, remains unchanged for 2027 as in actually unchanged. Its engine stays pat at 2.4 liters, its output at 340 hp and 400 lb-ft, its fuel economy at 29/32/30 city/highway/combined, and its claimed 0–60 time at 5.7 seconds, a number we matched in our own testing.Manufacturer - MotorTrendMore Stuff for Limited, Better Colors for PlatinumThe Limited model gets a serious bump in equipment levels, effectively adding the former Advanced Technology Package as standard. It includes a bird's-eye parking camera, digital key capability, Traffic Jam Assist (a hands-free driving system that accelerates, brakes, and steers when the car is in very slow traffic), and more saddle tan in the saddle-tan-and-black interior.AdvertisementAdvertisementOther improvements across the lineup include a restyled rear bumper, and some new color combinations. Platinum models with the two-tone paint treatment now get a body-color rear fascia rather than the all-black treatment (which, in our opinion, made the Crown look a bit like its trunklid had been replaced by one found at a junkyard).And yes, of course, there's a price bump, both in MSRP and destination and delivery (up $100). With D&D factored in, the XLE, Nightshade, and Platinum models all rise by $300 to $42,395, $50,260, and $54,485 respectively. The Limited, with its greater level of standard equipment, gets an eye-watering $3,870 bump, to $51,015. (The math here works out perfectly; the 2026 package price was $3,570, plus the $300 increase to other models.) Toyota has not said when the new Crowns will start shipping, but we expect to see them in dealerships as the trees turn autumn gold.
+6 others
