The 2027 Toyota Crown keeps the nameplate’s unusual lifted-sedan silhouette and sharpens both its powertrain and its styling. Toyota announced the 2027 Crown on July 23, 2026, and the headline change is the move to the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System (THS 5) on the volume grades, paired with new paddle shifters. For a car whose name has been in Toyota showrooms since 1955, the 2027 model year is an evolution rather than a reinvention.
What’s New for the 2027 Crown
The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade grades now use THS 5 and add standard paddle shifters for a more responsive feel. Styling updates include a newly sculpted rear bumper, a new black paint color called Inked, and satin-finish hybrid and all-wheel-drive badges. The top Platinum grade adds red brake calipers and a black belt-window surround, and its bi-tone paint scheme is refined with a body-colored trunk. Toyota also makes the Panoramic View Monitor, Traffic Jam Assist capability, and Digital Key capability standard on the Limited grade.
Toyota’s full announcement, including grade-by-grade equipment and pricing, is published in the 2027 Crown press release.
2027 Crown Powertrains and Fuel Economy
The Crown is available in four grades, all with standard all-wheel drive, and two distinct hybrid systems. The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade grades pair THS 5 with a 2.5-liter engine and front and rear electric motors, with an EPA-estimated 40 mpg combined rating. The Platinum grade uses the Hybrid MAX powertrain, which pairs a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with a direct-shift six-speed automatic and produces 340 net combined horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
Two all-wheel-drive systems are used. The 2.5-liter grades get Electronic On-Demand AWD with a separate rear electric motor, while the Platinum uses Full-Time Electronic AWD with an eAxle. The Platinum also includes Adaptive Variable Suspension as standard.
Under the skin, the Crown pairs a MacPherson strut front suspension with a multilink rear setup, and the XLE, Limited, and Nightshade grades ride on swing-valve shock absorbers. All grades offer selectable drive modes, and the Platinum adds a Rear Comfort mode that adjusts suspension settings for rear-seat passengers.
Grades and Key Features
- XLE: 2.5-liter THS 5 hybrid, 19-inch wheels, leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, 12.3-inch touchscreen
- Nightshade: 21-inch matte-black wheels, dark badging and trim, panoramic roof, JBL audio
- Limited: 21-inch wheels, Panoramic View Monitor, Traffic Jam Assist, Digital Key, Lane Change Assist
- Platinum: Hybrid MAX, red calipers, Adaptive Variable Suspension, head-up display, Dynamic Rear Steering
Interior and Technology
Every 2027 Crown includes a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A six-speaker system is standard; the Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum grades upgrade to an 11-speaker JBL system. Top grades add a fixed panoramic moonroof, heated rear seats, and a wireless charger. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard across the range.
2027 Crown Price and Release Date
Toyota announced the following base MSRPs, which exclude a $1,295 dealer processing and handling fee: XLE, $41,640; Nightshade, $48,965; Limited, $49,720; and Platinum, $55,190. The 2027 Crown is built at Toyota’s Tsutsumi plant in Japan. A full grade-by-grade equipment list is on the 2027 Toyota Crown page. For background on earlier generations covered here, see our 2020 Crown redesign, review and price article, or our 2019 Crown redesign and price piece.
The Wider Crown Family
The modern Crown is no longer a single sedan. Toyota has expanded it into a small family of body styles, including a traditional sedan, the crossover-style model sold in the U.S., and additional variants offered in other markets. The nameplate itself dates to 1955 and has been produced continuously since, which makes it one of the oldest surviving Toyota model lines.
The Crown nameplate dates to 1955, when Toyota launched it as its first full-size passenger car, and it has been in continuous production since. Over the decades it has been sold as a sedan, coupe, wagon, and even a two-door pickup in various markets. The current model, introduced for 2023, reimagined the Crown as a raised crossover sedan, and the 2027 updates continue in that direction.
In the United States, the Crown effectively replaced the Avalon when that full-size sedan was discontinued, sliding in above the Camry and competing with entry-luxury cars rather than mainstream family sedans. That positioning explains the long standard-equipment list and the near-$42,000 starting price.
Buyers should also note that the two all-wheel-drive systems behave differently. The Electronic On-Demand setup on the 2.5-liter models sends power rearward only through a dedicated electric motor, while the Platinum’s Full-Time Electronic AWD constantly varies torque between the axles.
Our Take
The Crown’s problem has never been the car; it has been explaining what it is. A lifted sedan priced against premium crossovers is a hard sell, and THS 5 plus paddle shifters makes the volume models quicker and more engaging without changing that positioning. The genuinely interesting model is the Platinum, whose 340-hp Hybrid MAX drivetrain is the only version that feels like it earns the price. For most buyers, the XLE and its 40 mpg combined rating is the sensible choice, and it undercuts the Platinum by more than $13,000. The Crown is a good sedan disguised as an SUV — whether that is a compliment depends on what you actually need.
FAQ
What is new on the 2027 Toyota Crown?
The XLE, Limited, and Nightshade grades add the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System and standard paddle shifters, and the lineup gains updated rear styling and a new Inked black paint color.
How much horsepower does the 2027 Crown Platinum make?
The Platinum grade’s Hybrid MAX powertrain produces 340 net combined horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
How much does the 2027 Toyota Crown cost?
Base MSRPs run from $41,640 for the XLE to $55,190 for the Platinum, excluding a $1,295 dealer processing and handling fee.
Does the 2027 Crown come with all-wheel drive?
Yes. Every 2027 Crown grade has standard all-wheel drive, either Electronic On-Demand AWD on the 2.5-liter models or Full-Time Electronic AWD on the Platinum.
