The sedan segment has been losing ground to the SUV and crossover market for years, as consumers prefer these vehicles' higher seating position, spacious cabins, and versatile utility. However, one of the world's leading automakers, Toyota has not given up on the sedan category. Instead, it has reinvented its flagship sedan, the Toyota Crown, into a hybrid model that combines the best of both worlds: the SUV-inspired design and performance with the sedan's efficiency and technology. The result is the Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid, a new model that debuted in Japan in October 2023.
The Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid is not just a regular hybrid sedan. It is a sporty and rugged sedan that draws inspiration from Toyota's popular SUVs, such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Grand Highlander. The Crown Sport Hybrid features a raised suspension that gives it a higher ground clearance and a better view of the road. It also has large 18-inch or 19-inch wheels that enhance its stability and traction. The Crown Sport Hybrid also sports black cladding around the wheel arches, lower body, and rear bumper, adding contrast and protection to its body. The Crown Sport Hybrid also boasts a two-tone paint scheme that creates a dynamic and stylish impression. The Crown Sport Hybrid is available in six colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Black Mica, Precious Silver Metallic, Emotional Red II, Dark Blue Mica Metallic, and Ice Gray Metallic.
The Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid does not compromise its sedan heritage. It still maintains a sleek and aerodynamic body that reduces wind resistance and improves fuel efficiency. The Crown Sport Hybrid also has a sophisticated and elegant front fascia, with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights that provide excellent visibility and illumination. The Crown Sport Hybrid also has a large grille that expresses its boldness and confidence. The Crown Sport Hybrid also has a rear spoiler that adds a touch of sportiness and improves its aerodynamics.
The interior of the Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid is equally impressive, as it offers abundant luxury, comfort, and technology. The Crown Sport Hybrid can accommodate five passengers comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The seats are upholstered in leather or synthetic leather, depending on the trim level, and offer heating, ventilation, and power adjustment functions. The driver's seat also has a memory function that can store up to three settings for different drivers. The rear seats have a 60/40 split-folding function that can increase the trunk space from 15.9 cubic feet to 40.6 cubic feet for extra cargo.
The 2024 Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid has a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB, and wireless charging. The system also integrates with Toyota's SmartDeviceLink (SDL) technology, which allows users to access various apps and services through voice commands or steering wheel controls. For example, users can check the weather, traffic, news, sports scores or even order food using SDL. The Crown Sport Hybrid also has a 10-inch head-up display that projects key information such as speed, navigation, and safety alerts onto the windshield. The Crown Sport Hybrid also offers a premium JBL sound system with 14 speakers and a subwoofer that delivers crisp and clear audio quality.
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The Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid is powered by two hybrid powertrain options: a 2.5-liter series-parallel hybrid system (HEV) and a 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid system (PHEV). Both systems combine a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with one or two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack to produce impressive power and torque outputs.
The HEV system produces a total output of 236 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The HEV system is paired with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) that sends power to all four wheels through an electric all-wheel drive (e-AWD) system. The ECVT optimizes the power delivery according to the driving conditions and preferences. The HEV system can achieve an impressive fuel economy of 42 mpg combined, according to the Japanese JC08 test cycle. The HEV system also has three driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Power. Normal mode provides balanced performance and efficiency; Eco mode prioritizes fuel economy by reducing engine output and air conditioning; Power mode enhances acceleration and responsiveness by increasing engine output.
The PHEV system uses the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine as the HEV system but adds a second electric motor on the rear axle to boost the total output to 340 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The PHEV system is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that also distributes power to all four wheels through an e-AWD system. The PHEV system can run on electric power alone for up to 37 miles, according to the Japanese WLTC test cycle, thanks to a larger lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged from an external source. The PHEV system also has four driving modes: EV Mode, Auto EV/HV Mode, HV Mode, and Charge Mode. EV Mode allows the vehicle to run on electric power only; Auto EV/HV Mode automatically switches between electric and hybrid modes depending on the battery level and driving conditions; HV Mode uses the gasoline engine as the main source of power and the electric motors as assist; Charge Mode uses the gasoline engine to charge the battery while driving.
The Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid offers excellent road holding and vibration suppression for a confident driving experience. Dynamic Rear Steering (DRS) enhances agility at low speeds and stability at high speeds by adjusting the rear wheel angle according to the steering input and vehicle speed. Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) adjusts the damping force of each shock absorber according to the road conditions and driving style to optimize comfort and handling. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), and Electric Parking Brake (EPB) are some of the standard features that help the driver maintain control and safety.
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The Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid also comes with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assist and safety features, collectively known as Toyota Safety Sense (TSS). TSS includes a Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, Automatic High Beam (AHB), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Parking Support Brake (PKSB), and Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS). These features help the driver avoid or mitigate potential collisions, keep the vehicle in the intended lane, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, recognize road signs, and monitor blind spots and rear traffic. The Crown Sport Hybrid also has a 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) that provides a bird's-eye view of the surroundings to assist with parking and maneuvering.
The Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid is a sedan that redefines the segment with its SUV-inspired design and performance. It is a unique and innovative model that showcases Toyota's commitment to creating ever-better cars for the future. The 2024 Toyota Crown Sport Hybrid is available only in Japan, starting at 4.4 million yen ($38,000) for the HEV system and 5.6 million yen ($48,000) for the PHEV system. There has yet to be an official word on whether the Crown Sport Hybrid will be sold in other markets, but we hope that Toyota will consider bringing this exciting sedan to the U.S. soon.
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