By 
The 2025 Toyota Crown makes up its own rules. Much like other niche vehicles of the past, the Crown fills a need in the market that we weren’t aware was there.
Toyota gives this vehicle an upscale feeling with impressive features that could put it in competition with some luxury vehicles, but it wears the Toyota badge. That means owners receive an impressive level of quality and comfort without the high price of a luxury brand name. The Crown is a sedan, but it sits up tall where you would expect to see an SUV. This is the uniqueness of this Toyota vehicle.
What makes this Toyota special?
When you mention Toyota hybrid vehicles, the first model to come to mind is typically the Prius. Many Toyota-branded vehicles have a hybrid variant, but the Prius is only offered as a hybrid, and so is the Crown. This might be a new name in the market for many people, but now, when you look for a hybrid Toyota, you don’t have to stick with the Prius. The Crown has a 236-horsepower powertrain and returns as much as 42 mpg on the highway, making it a good option when you want the high fuel mileage of a hybrid vehicle.
Did anything change for 2025?
The 2025 Toyota Crown lineup now features a dark Nightshade trim that gives it black exterior elements to provide the dark appearance many drivers desire. The Nightshade trim is only offered in two colors: Storm Cloud, which is a moody blue-gray color, and Black. Regardless of exterior color, the Nightshade theme continues into the cabin with black leather upholstery that makes this car look amazing. You’ll ride on 21-inch matte black wheels when you choose this sinister trim.
The other upgrades to the Crown include heated and ventilated front seats that are part of the standard packaging, a heated steering wheel, and a head-up display, which is only offered in the top-spec Platinum trim.
What’s the powertrain story?
Every Crown is a hybrid model, but the story doesn’t end with the base powertrain. The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade models use a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and three electric motors to produce 236 horsepower. This system mates to a CVT to maximize fuel mileage during your drive.
If you choose the Platinum trim, you’ll have the Toyota Hybrid Max powertrain. This is a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, with an electric motor on the rear axle that produces 340 horsepower. This power system uses a 6-speed automatic transmission to give you a desired shifting feel. All Crown models are AWD vehicles.
Are all Crowns efficient?
The 2025 Toyota Crown is a hybrid at every stop, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient vehicle you can drive. The base powertrain returns good fuel mileage figures at 42 city/41 hwy mpg, which could be an attractive quality for most drivers. If you have the Hybrid Max powertrain, the fuel mileage drops to 29 city/32 hwy mpg. This is still a good figure, but not nearly as good as other hybrid vehicles.
Remember the Avalon!
Shouting, “Remember the Avalon,” isn’t nearly as impactful as “Remember the Alamo,” but it’s something. The cabin area of the Crown looks like it came right from the Avalon sedan lineup, making it easy to enjoy the spaciousness and impressive quality of this Toyota vehicle. The Limited and Platinum models take things to a new level, ensuring you have the look and feeling you want to enjoy when you’re behind the wheel.
Every model comes with heated power front seats, dual-zone automatic climate controls, and ambient interior lighting. The Limited and Platinum models give you a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, and ventilated front seats.
Plenty of tech to admire
Once you’re done admiring the impressive cabin layout and quality materials inside the 2025 Toyota Crown, you’ll be impressed with the tech package included in this vehicle. Every trim features a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen using Toyota’s latest software and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There’s a second 12.3-inch screen displaying the gauges in front of the driver. You’ll also find a wireless smartphone charging pad, Wi-Fi hotspot, and USB-C ports. The XLE has a 6-speaker audio system, but the Limited and Platinum models give you an 11-speaker JBL audio setup.
The 2025 Toyota Crown makes its own rules and acts as a lifted sedan with SUV qualities, sedan-like driving, and upscale style and comfort in the cabin. This hybrid vehicle could be the perfect choice when you want a Toyota that feels more like a luxury vehicle than a traditional Toyota.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.