Is the Toyota Crown a smooth ride?
The Crown is generally known for a refined, quiet, and comfortable highway experience in most trims, though sport-focused versions can feel firmer due to their tuning and larger wheels. Overall, it aims to balance comfort with modern tech and hybrid efficiency.
Design and engineering that shape comfort
The Crown’s ride quality rests on a combination of suspension tuning, chassis stiffness, and cabin insulation. Toyota engineers typically aim to filter out minor road irregularities while maintaining stable handling at speed. Inside, sound-damping materials and careful engine isolation contribute to a tranquil cabin at highway speeds.
Note: The driving experience can vary by trim and wheel/tire choice. Softer, noise-conscious configurations tend to ride smoother, while sport-oriented setups emphasize responsiveness at the expense of some cushion.
Suspension and damping
Key elements influencing ride smoothness include the Crown’s multi-link rear suspension, refined front suspension geometry, and, in higher trims, electronically controlled damping. These systems help absorb bumps and keep the car planted without excessive float.
Overall, these components work in concert to deliver a serene ride for most daily driving and highway cruising, though exact feel depends on trim and wheel/tire setup.
Trim, wheels, and powertrain: how they affect comfort
Different configurations influence comfort through suspension tuning, wheel size, and the powertrain’s NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness). Below is a snapshot of how various setups can change the ride experience.
- Standard and Executive trims with smaller wheels and taller sidewalls tend to deliver a softer, more forgiving ride over rough pavement.
- Sport-oriented trims (such as RS or Athlete) often use larger wheels and firmer damping, resulting in a noticeably sportier feel with reduced compliance on rough roads.
- Hybrid powertrains provide smooth, near-silent cruising and reduced engine noise at steady speeds, enhancing perceived comfort on long drives.
- Advanced insulation and acoustic glazing in many trims help minimize wind and road noise at highway speeds, contributing to a calmer cabin.
Bottom line: If your priority is maximum comfort, opt for a trim with smaller wheels and a softer setup; if you prefer sharper handling and a more engaged drive, be prepared for a firmer ride on sport-oriented configurations.
What testers and owners say
Automotive reviewers commonly highlight the Crown’s quiet, composed highway ride, noting that it competes well with other luxury sedans in its class. They often point out that the hybrid variants add to the refinement with smooth acceleration and low NVH. Some reviewers also caution that sport-focused versions can feel firmer, especially with larger wheels and low-profile tires, which can make road imperfections more noticeable.
Context and availability
The latest Crown is marketed primarily in Japan and select international markets as a flagship sedan with hybrid technology and a balanced ride. Availability and trim options vary by region, so prospective buyers should test drive the exact configuration on their typical roads to gauge ride quality.
Summary
Across its lineup, the Toyota Crown generally delivers a smooth, refined ride, especially on standard and executive configurations with comfortable tuning and strong noise insulation. Sport-oriented variants provide sharper handling but can sacrifice some ride softness. For most buyers, the Crown offers a pleasant blend of comfort, quietness, and advanced technology that suits long commutes and highway cruising, with the final feel depending on trim, wheel size, and powertrain choice.
What Toyota has the most comfortable ride?
The most comfortable Toyota is subjective, but the Grand Highlander is often cited as the most comfortable SUV due to its spaciousness and road-oriented design, while the Avalon (though discontinued) was the flagship for a near-luxury sedan experience. For a comfortable sedan, the Camry is a top choice known for its smooth ride and available hybrid model. The Sienna minivan also offers exceptional comfort with vast interior space and a smooth ride.
For SUVs and crossovers
- Grand Highlander: Often considered the most comfortable SUV in Toyota's lineup because its unibody construction and independent suspension provide a smooth, road-focused ride. It also has more legroom than other Toyota SUVs.
- Highlander: A strong contender for families, it offers a comfortable and quiet ride with a smooth, turbocharged engine option and quieter cabin features like acoustic glass.
- Sequoia: This large SUV provides an impressive and modern cabin focused on comfort and functionality, with a powerful hybrid powertrain available.
For sedans
- Avalon: While discontinued, this sedan was long considered Toyota's most comfortable, offering a near-luxury experience with an available adaptive suspension, spacious interior, and high-end amenities.
- Camry: A consistently comfortable choice, known for its spaciousness and smooth ride. It is also available as a highly efficient and dependable hybrid model.
- Sienna: As a minivan, it provides the most overall legroom of any Toyota model, with a third-row that has the same legroom as the Highlander's second row. It is also praised for driving like a sedan.
For trucks
- Tundra: For those who need a truck, the Tundra has a comfortable and user-friendly cabin, especially in higher trim levels which can include features like massaging seats and premium upholstery.
Is the Toyota Crown easy to get in and out of?
If the Crown nameplate seems familiar, that's because Toyota sold a Crown in the U.S. from 1958 through 1972. Since then, the Crown moniker has continued in overseas markets. The Crown's slightly elevated seat and roof heights makes it easier to get in and out of it than most sedans.
Does the Toyota Crown sit higher than the Camry?
Some fundamental differences
The Crown and the Camry are comparable in size and both offer Henderson, TX buyers comfortable seating for five passengers. The Crown is slightly longer and taller than the Camry but the Camry is slightly wider and gives you more headroom.
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.
