Talking Cars 398: Driving the 2023 Toyota Crown

Main theme: With many stalwart, boxy four-door sedans being given the heave-ho—such as the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, and Nissan Maxima—Toyota had to come up with something snazzy to replace the long-running and now retired Avalon. The 2023 Toyota Crown now slots into the company’s lineup as its top-shelf sedan, complete with a very striking and swoopy profile. 

All versions get standard hybrid powertrains. The lower-tier models get an economical 236-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid that’s rated by the Environmental Protection Agency for up to 41 mpg combined. The top-of-the-line Platinum version that we drove comes with a more robust 340-hp, 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain that trades greener fuel efficiency for a bigger acceleration punch; the Platinum checks in at an EPA-rated 30 mpg combined. (Read our 2023 Toyota Crown first drive review.)

We share our first impressions of Toyota’s latest mainstream sedan, discussing exactly who we think this car’s target audience is, as well as lamenting whether it has what it takes to replace the much-loved Avalon hybrid in the hearts and minds of many of us here at CR’s Auto Test Center.

Audience question: Why does it seem that many service techs appear overwhelmed by various—and, at times, intermittent—electronic glitches? Will the increasing popularity of all-electric vehicles only make things worse?