At a previous outlet, I once wrote some somewhat mean things about the Toyota Crown. Then I drove a higher-trim Crown and took back some of my criticisms, but stood by some of my other brickbats. Earlier this spring, I drove the Crown again, this time in Nightshade trim. Where would my opinion land this time?
How The Toyota Crown Nightshade Is Equipped
The Nightshade isn’t the top Crown trim - that’s the Platinum - but it’s next in line. The base price for this trim is $48,765 and it comes with standard features such as LED headlights and LED daytime running lights with automatic o/off, 21-inch wheels with a matte-black finish, dark badging and accents, a fixed panoramic glass roof, 12.3-inch multimedia/infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, satellite radio, JBL audio with subwoofer and amp, leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, 12.3-inch gauge screen, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and wireless cell-phone charging.
Standard advanced driver-aid systems included Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 with pre-collision, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, and rearview camera. Keyless entry and starting were standard, as well.
Options included connected services, a rear bumper applique, illuminated door sills, a dash cam, mudguards, side puddle lamps, carpeted floor mats, and a delivery service.
As-tested, with delivery and destination fees, the total came to $51,803.
The Crown is motivated by a hybrid system that combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors for all-wheel drive and a total system horsepower of 236. The transmission is an electronically-controlled continuously-variable automatic.
On The Road With The 2026 Toyota Crown Nightshade
Toyota folks likely won’t call the Crown a replacement for the Avalon, but as a step up from the Camry, especially in price, and with a disposition that favors highway cruising and road-tripping, it’s hard not to think of it that way. Where the Crown confuses a little is that it has a slightly raised ride height but it’s not a crossover - Toyota has it categorized as a “car” on its consumer Web site.
What the Crown does well is ride - it’s smooth. Hard to distinguish from the Lexus ES sold by Toyota’s luxury line. When it comes to handling, it’s not quite as good as the Camry but it’s worlds better than the Avalon ever was, and a tad more engaging than even the new ES is. It’s not meant as a sport sedan - the mission is comfortable around-town cruiser. This is where the Crown shines.
Acceleration is of the garden variety - you’ll be fine in urban commuting, but, again, the mission is all about comfort.
Comfort obviously extends way beyond driving dynamics. Interior room matters, and the Crown felt just a tad cramped in terms of legroom and headroom, but the seats were nice and comfy. The button-heavy interior is a welcome departure from the industry’s mostly ill-fated ventures into haptic-touch and touchscreens. Speaking of touchscreens, the updated infotainment system is much, much better than what Toyota offered just a few short years ago.
The drop-in wireless cell-phone charger is a great design solution in terms of space saving, but it often failed to actually charge my iPhone, case on or off.
Out back, the trunk is cavernous - golfers and travelers, take note.
Some interior materials feel right for the price, others a tick too downmarket.
Toyota’s Crown is meant to be a large, comfortable sedan that flirts with luxury but doesn’t step on Lexus’s toes. With hybrid fuel economy - the numbers read 42/41/41 in terms of city, highway, and combined mgs - the Crown is a pretty good choice for longer drives. A smooth ride, comfy seats, and fuel economy that sips, not guzzles, make this sedan an easy choice for the two-hour road trip to the beach town.
Flaws include an interior that feels a tad tight, especially in terms of headroom, and average acceleration. Handling is a tick lacking in verve, though that’s not necessarily a criticism, given the prioritization of comfort.
If you’re looking for entry luxury/comfort and don’t want to cross into true luxury-brand territory, the Crown is a strong, fuel-efficient highway cruiser.
Images: Tim Healey
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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