- Paddle shifters arrive on three Crown trims for 2027.
- Three of four trims see a modest $200 price increase.
- One Crown trim climbs far more than the rest.
The Crown remains the strangest thing in Toyota’s American lineup, a sedan that sits too high and a crossover that isn’t quite one, built on the theory that buyers want both at once. For 2027 it picks up a handful of changes and a price hike, though that increase is smaller than the headline number on one trim suggests.
For 2027, the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade models are powered by Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system, combining a 2.5-liter engine with electric motors at the front and rear axles. Output figures for that setup haven’t been published. The Platinum keeps its Hybrid MAX arrangement, built around a 2.4-liter turbo, and its 340 hp and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) carry over unchanged from last year, so nobody at the top of the range is losing anything.
Read: Toyota Reworks The 2027 Crown Crossover’s Most Criticized Design Choice
All-wheel drive is found across the range, although once again, the most advanced system has been reserved for the Platinum. Whereas the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade use the rear-mounted motor for extra traction as needed, the Platinum uses full-time AWD, intelligently shuffling power between the front and rear axles. New to the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade for 2027 are paddle shifters, so they should be slightly more enjoyable to drive.
What Else Is New?
Visually, there’s very little to differentiate the 2027 Crown model from the outgoing model. The most obvious change is a tweaked rear bumper, while the Platinum also receives red brake calipers and black window surrounds. Like the Japan-market model revealed earlier this week, two-tone cars now get a body-colored trunk lid instead of the black panel that made the rear end look odd, which was one of the few things about this car nobody defended.
The cabin is much the same, continuing to use a 12.3-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Key features exclusive to the Platinum include a 10-inch head-up display, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, dynamic rear steering, and a hands-free power trunk.
Prices for the 2027 Crown XLE Hybrid AWD start at $41,640, or $200 more than last year. The price of the Crown Limited Hybrid AWD has increased considerably by $3,770 to $49,720, while the Nightshade is up $200 to $48,965, and the Platinum’s price has also increased $200 to $55,190. All of these prices exclude a $1,295 processing and handling fee.
