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Is Crown RWD?

In short, the Crown is not a traditional rear-wheel-drive car. Modern Crown models are offered as front-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) with an electric rear axle, depending on trim and market.

Understanding what that means requires a look at how the Crown’s drivetrain has evolved in the current generation, how the AWD system works, and where the car is available. The Crown’s branding emphasizes luxury and smoothness, and Toyota has aligned its powertrains accordingly, combining gasoline engines with hybrid technology and electronic AWD rather than relying on a classic RWD layout.

What is the Crown?

The Toyota Crown is a long-running luxury sedan that has shifted over generations from traditional rear-wheel-drive architectures to newer hybrid configurations. The current generation, introduced in 2022 for Japan and other markets, emphasizes advanced hybrid systems and an electric rear axle for AWD. Availability varies by trim and by country, with the Crown not being broadly sold under that name in all regions.

Drivetrain options in the current generation

The Crown lineup centers on two main drive configurations in its modern iterations. The following options are common across many regional specs:

2WD front-wheel drive hybrid (FWD): The gasoline engine powers the front wheels, with the hybrid system providing electric assistance as needed. This is the typical configuration for efficiency-focused trims.

AWD with E-Four rear electric axle (AWD): An electric motor at the rear drives the rear wheels, delivering all-wheel traction when required while still leveraging the hybrid system for efficiency.

In practice, there is no traditional, mechanical rear-wheel-drive setup offered across the latest Crown lineup. The AWD variant relies on an electric rear axle (E-Four) to deliver torque to the rear wheels, rather than a fixed rear-drive shaft from the engine.

How E-Four AWD works

The all-wheel-drive system used in the Crown is built around Toyota’s hybrid architecture with an additional electric rear motor. Here’s how it typically functions in real-world driving:

The front wheels are driven by the internal combustion engine and/or front electric motor as part of the hybrid system.

The rear wheels receive power from a dedicated electric motor located at the rear axle, enabling rear-wheel drive when needed.

The system continuously monitors traction and can distribute torque between front and rear axles to optimize grip in varying conditions.

The rear electric motor draws energy from the hybrid battery pack, balancing performance and efficiency without requiring a traditional mechanical driveshaft to the rear wheels.

Concluding this section, the Crown’s AWD configuration is designed to improve traction and stability without sacrificing the efficiency benefits of its hybrid setup. It’s not a traditional RWD system, but an electrically assisted AWD arrangement.

Market availability and regional notes

Drivetrain offerings can differ by market. Here is a broad snapshot of where the Crown’s drive layouts are commonly found and where you should check specifics with a dealer:

Japan and many Asian markets: Availability of both 2WD (FWD) and AWD (E-Four) across several trim levels, with AWD often positioned for higher-end or all-weather packages.

Other export markets: Availability of Crown models with the above configurations varies; some regions may have more limited trim selections or only FWD hybrids.

North America and some other regions: The Crown nameplate has not been a widespread new-model offering in recent years, so local availability and configurations differ from Japan-only or regional markets.

Concluding this regional overview, the Crown’s drivetrain options are not uniform worldwide. Prospective buyers should verify the exact transmission layout (FWD vs AWD with E-Four) for their specific market and trim.

Summary

The Crown is not a pure rear-wheel-drive vehicle. In its current generation, Toyota offers front-wheel-drive hybrids and all-wheel-drive hybrids that use an electric rear axle (E-Four) to provide AWD capability. There is no traditional RWD configuration in the modern Crown lineup, and availability depends on trim and market. For buyers, this means choosing between efficiency-oriented FWD and traction-oriented AWD, with the latter providing enhanced stability without sacrificing hybrid efficiency.

In the broader takeaway, if you specifically want traditional RWD, the Crown’s current lineup may not meet that preference. If AWD competence and hybrid efficiency are your priorities, the Crown’s E-Four-equipped variants are designed to deliver both.

Additional notes for readers

As with any vehicle, drivetrain terminology can vary by market and generation. Always confirm the exact configuration with a local Toyota dealer or official brochure when selecting a Crown model, as regional naming and options can differ slightly from the global narrative described here.

Is the Toyota Crown an AWD?

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Which Toyota sedan is RWD?

The primary rear-wheel drive (RWD) Toyota sedans are the Toyota Crown and Mirai. While older models like some generations of the Corolla and Celica were RWD, modern sedans like the Camry and Corolla are now exclusively available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).
You can watch this video to learn more about the Toyota Crown's features: 50sToyota USAYouTube · Mar 11, 2025

Toyota Crown: This is Toyota's primary RWD sedan offering, available with hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.
Toyota Mirai: This is a hydrogen fuel cell executive sedan and is built on a rear-wheel-drive platform.
Toyota Camry and Corolla: While some older versions were RWD, new models are only available with FWD or AWD.

This video explains the differences between some Toyota sedan options: 1mUpper James ToyotaYouTube · Nov 16, 2024

Is Crown Vic FWD or RWD?

The Ford Crown Victoria is a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle. It was not offered in a front-wheel drive (FWD) version. All Crown Victorias were built with a RWD layout and a V8 engine.

Standard Drivetrain: The standard drivetrain for all Crown Victoria models was rear-wheel drive.
Design: The car was built on a body-on-frame chassis with a live rear axle, a design considered advantageous for police use due to its durability and ease of repair.
Engine: The drivetrain was also characterized by its standard V8 engine.

Is the Toyota Crown FWD or RWD?

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Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.