The Toyota Crown is the longest-running nameplate in Toyota’s history, and it has been in continuous production since 1955. That makes the 2019 Crown a genuine model year: it is the fifteenth-generation Crown, internally coded S220, which went on sale in Japan on 26 June 2018 and stayed in production into 2022. The Crown has always been a Japan-first sedan, sold mainly in Japan and parts of Asia, so American shoppers in 2019 could not order one from a US dealership. The nameplate returned to North America only later, in 2022, with the sixteenth-generation Crown.
A Nameplate in Continuous Production Since 1955
The first Toyopet Crown appeared in 1955, and the model has been built without interruption ever since, making it Toyota’s second-longest-running nameplate after the Land Cruiser. Measured against the global industry, the Crown is one of the seven longest-running car nameplates in the world, alongside the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Chevrolet Corvette, Nissan Patrol, Volkswagen Transporter, Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Suburban. The Crown established Toyota in the Japanese luxury market and, for a period, served as the company’s export flagship. The first through fourth generations were offered in North America between 1958 and 1972, after which the Crown was effectively replaced there by the Toyota Corona Mark II, later sold as the Cressida.
The Crown’s size and durability made it a fixture of Japanese taxi, police and government fleets. For many years the lower grades were aimed squarely at the taxi market, and a separate model, the Crown Comfort, served as a dedicated taxi for decades. Toyota also built a longer, more luxurious Crown Majesta from 1991 to 2018 for buyers who wanted more equipment and presence than the standard Crown.
The Fifteenth Generation (S220; 2018–2022)
The fifteenth-generation Crown was previewed by a concept at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and reached production in June 2018. It was the first Crown to ride on the Toyota New Global Architecture, using a narrow version of the same TNGA-L platform that underpins larger rear-wheel-drive Toyota and Lexus sedans. It retained a rear-wheel-drive layout, with all-wheel drive available on selected hybrid versions. Japanese trims were badged B, S, G, G Executive, and the sportier RS and RS Advance, with 21 variants, three powertrains and seven exterior colors on offer at launch. All trim levels except the rear-wheel-drive G Executive could be ordered with the 2.5-liter hybrid, and the only engine for all-wheel-drive models was that 2.5-liter hybrid.
Interior and Equipment
The S220 Crown is a four-door sedan that seats five. It was the first generation positioned by Toyota as a "connected car," fitted as standard with a Data Communication Module (DCM) that provided around-the-clock connectivity and enabled services such as maintenance notifications based on live driving data. Upper trims added a large central display and a broad suite of driver-assistance features. The cabin was trimmed to a level above Toyota’s mainstream sedans, and the interior was offered in several color schemes.
Dimensions and Exterior
As a full-size sedan, the S220 Crown is roughly 4.9 meters long and rides on a 2.92-meter wheelbase, which is why it has traditionally been used for chauffeur and fleet duty. The exterior styling moved away from the conservative look of earlier Crowns, adopting a wider grille and a more coupe-like roofline while still keeping the four-door sedan body. The S220 was the last Crown offered in the traditional sedan-only form; from 2022 the nameplate expanded into several body styles.
Engines and Powertrains
2.0-Liter Turbo (8AR-FTS)
The entry engine was a 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder producing 245 PS, about 241 horsepower, at 5,200 to 5,800 rpm, with 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque from 1,650 to 4,400 rpm. It was matched to an eight-speed automatic and offered only in rear-wheel-drive RS and RS Advance trims.
2.5-Liter Hybrid (A25A-FXS)
The mainstream powertrain used Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive built around the 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder. The engine alone produced 184 PS (181 hp) and 221 Nm (163 lb-ft); combined with a 143 PS electric motor and a nickel-metal-hydride battery, total system output was 226 PS. Toyota quoted 24.0 km/L on the Japanese JC08 test cycle. It was available with rear- or all-wheel drive and was the only engine offered on AWD models.
3.5-Liter V6 Multi-Stage Hybrid (8GR-FXS)
The flagship powertrain was a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 299 PS and 356 Nm, paired with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery for a combined 359 PS. It used the Multi-Stage Hybrid system shared with the Lexus LS 500h and LC 500h, and the Crown was the first Toyota-badged model to offer it. Toyota said the system combined a hybrid drive with stepped gears to give strong low-speed response and efficient high-speed cruising.
| Engine | Displacement | Output | Torque | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L turbo (8AR-FTS) | 1,998 cc | 245 PS | 350 Nm | Rear-wheel drive |
| 2.5 L hybrid (A25A-FXS) | 2,487 cc | 226 PS (system) | — | RWD / AWD |
| 3.5 L V6 hybrid (8GR-FXS) | 3,456 cc | 359 PS (system) | — | Rear-wheel drive |
Price and Market Availability
In Japan at launch, prices started at about ¥4,606,200 for the base 2.0-liter car, rose to roughly ¥4,978,800 for the 2.5-liter hybrid, and reached about ¥6,237,000 for the 3.5-liter multi-stage hybrid, according to Toyota’s own launch release. Outside Japan the Crown has been a low-volume proposition, offered chiefly in China and selected Asian markets. The 2.5-liter hybrid G Executive was the only version exported to Indonesia. Where the Crown is sold in Asia it is also popular as a fleet and taxi vehicle.
What Buyers Can Get Today
The S220 Crown was replaced in 2022 by the sixteenth-generation Crown family, which split the nameplate into four body styles: the Crown Crossover (2022), Crown Sport (2023), Crown Sedan (2023) and Crown Estate (2025). The Crossover marked the Crown’s return to North America. For readers comparing other Toyota models covered here, see the 2019 Toyota Corolla iM Specs, Change and Design, the 2019 Toyota Sienna AWD Review, and the full Car Review index.
