Is the new Toyota Crown gas or electric?
The new Toyota Crown is not a fully electric vehicle. It is primarily sold as an electrified sedan with hybrid powertrains, and in the United States it offers a high-performance Hybrid MAX variant alongside a gasoline turbocharged option. A pure electric Crown is not available in major markets as of 2025.
Powertrain lineup: hybrid options vs. gasoline
The Crown is offered with two main powertrain configurations in markets where it is sold. One uses a traditional internal-combustion turbocharged engine, and the other combines that turbo engine with electric motors to deliver enhanced performance and efficiency.
- Gasoline-turbo powertrain: traditional internal combustion with automatic transmission for customers who want a conventional feel and driving characteristics.
- Hybrid MAX powertrain: a high-performance hybrid pairing a turbocharged engine with electric motors and a battery to boost output and smooth acceleration.
In short, the Crown’s current lineup centers on electrified propulsion rather than a pure battery-electric system across all trims.
Hybrid MAX: how it works
For buyers choosing the top-tier Crown, the Hybrid MAX setup uses a turbocharged engine in combination with one or more electric motors and a battery pack. This arrangement provides additional power, improved launch feel, and enhanced onboard technology integration, while still relying on gasoline as its primary energy source.
- Turbocharged engine paired with electric motors to supply extra torque and responsiveness
- Battery assistance and energy management systems designed to optimize efficiency and performance
- Drive modes and tuning aimed at a sportier, more dynamic driving experience
Overall, Hybrid MAX represents Toyota’s approach to blending performance with electrified propulsion without delivering a pure electric Crown.
Markets and availability
Toyota positions the Crown differently depending on the region. In the United States, buyers can choose between a gasoline turbo option and the Hybrid MAX variant. In Japan and several other markets, the Crown is typically offered with hybrid configurations as the standard approach, with no fully electric Crown currently announced for these major markets.
- United States: Crown available with both a traditional gasoline-turbo powertrain and the Hybrid MAX hybrid option
- Japan and other regions: Crown generally offered as a hybrid-focused model; no confirmed pure electric Crown in these markets as of 2025
Toyota has signaled a continued emphasis on electrified propulsion across the lineup, but the Crown remains a hybrid-focused model rather than a BEV in the near term.
Summary
The current incarnation of the Toyota Crown is not a fully electric vehicle. It is built around electrified powertrains, with a standard gasoline-turbo option and a high-performance Hybrid MAX that blends a turbo engine with electric motors. There is no pure electric Crown in major markets as of 2025, though Toyota continues to advance its electrification strategy across its broader lineup.
Is the Toyota Crown electric or gas?
The Toyota Crown is a hybrid vehicle, meaning it combines a gasoline engine with electric motors, so it is both electric and gas-powered. It is not a fully electric vehicle, but a hybrid designed for improved efficiency and performance, with some models using a turbocharged gas engine and others using a different hybrid system.
- Hybrid system: All current Toyota Crown models are hybrids, featuring both a gas engine and electric motors.
- Powertrain options: There are different hybrid powertrains. The Platinum trim, for example, uses a powerful "Hybrid MAX" system with a 2.4L turbocharged gas engine and two electric motors for a combined 340 horsepower. Other trims use a 2.5L 4-cylinder gas engine paired with electric motors.
- Plug-in hybrid (PHEV): Toyota has released other Crown models, such as the Sport, Sedan, and Estate, that are available in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fuel cell powertrains depending on the region. However, the models available in the U.S. are only hybrids, not fully electric vehicles.
- Fuel: The Crown requires gasoline, and the specific octane needed depends on the trim level. The 2.4L turbocharged Hybrid MAX engine requires premium unleaded gasoline (91 octane or higher) for optimal performance. The 2.5L engine is compatible with regular unleaded gasoline.
Do Toyota Crowns take gas?
Fuel Requirements for the Toyota Crown
Toyota strongly recommends using Top Tier Detergent Gasoline, which contains enhanced detergents to keep your engine clean and running efficiently.
How many miles per gallon will the 2026 Toyota Crown get?
The 2026 Toyota Crown's MPG varies by trim level: the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims get an EPA-estimated 42 mpg city / 41 mpg highway / 41 mpg combined, while the high-performance Platinum trim gets an estimated 29 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 30 mpg combined. The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade trims use a 2.5L hybrid system, while the Platinum trim features a more powerful 2.4L turbocharged hybrid system.
- XLE, Limited, and Nightshade:
- City: 42 mpg
- Highway: 41 mpg
- Combined: 41 mpg
- Engine: 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid system
- Platinum:
- City: 29 mpg
- Highway: 32 mpg
- Combined: 30 mpg
- Engine: 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder hybrid system (Hybrid MAX powertrain)
Why is the Toyota Crown not selling?
The Toyota Crown is not selling well due to its awkward market position between a sedan and an SUV, a high price point for a mainstream-badged vehicle, and a lack of consumer familiarity with the model in the North American market. The vehicle replaced the larger, traditional Avalon, but its lifted, crossover-like sedan style doesn't fit neatly into buyer preferences, which have shifted heavily towards conventional SUVs.
Key reasons for low sales
- Confusing market segment: The Crown has a unique design that combines sedan proportions with a higher, crossover-like stance, which creates an identity crisis in a market that is largely divided between traditional sedans and SUVs.
- High price point: The 2024 model starts at over $40,000$ 40 comma 000$40,000, and some consumers are hesitant to spend this much on a car with a Toyota badge, especially when compared to more established luxury brands or more familiar Toyota models.
- Replaced a declining segment: The Crown took the place of the Avalon, a large sedan that was already experiencing declining sales due to the market's shift to SUVs and crossovers.
- Lack of consumer familiarity: The Crown was not sold in the US for decades, so the nameplate lacks the brand recognition and history that might have helped it succeed like some other revived models have.
- Competition: It faces strong competition from both traditional sedans and a vast number of SUVs and crossovers already available in the market.
- Inconsistent branding: Toyota's attempts to position the Crown as a more interesting and unique vehicle may not resonate with mainstream buyers who are more accustomed to the brand's conventional offerings.
