When Toyota brought the Crown to the United States, the consensus among reviews was clear: It was a weird little crossover-sedan-thing with some neat dual-tone paint and a price tag that felt more like a Lexus than a Toyota. Buyers weren’t always sold on the precise implementation of the dual-tone paint, so for 2027 Toyota has fixed it, and it looks a little more normal. The features on the upper models have been tweaked again, and get paddle shifters, if you want to pretend that your big fastback is a GT3 car.
Most of the changes the Crown is getting for 2027 are minor. The Limited trim gets some connected-car features previously reserved for the Platinum trim, namely digital key compatibility and Toyota’s Traffic Jam Assist hands-free low-speed driver-assist system (yes, it’s part of the subscription), and all trims get a very slightly reworked rear bumper. Non-Platinum trims also get Toyota’s fourth-generation hybrid system, though it’s actually loses out Up one mile per gallon combined in EPA estimates relative to the 2026 model.
I may not be completely sold
The most notable change is the dual-tone color available on the Platinum trim. On the pre-facelift Crown, the black section extended to the hood and roof without touching the metal above the doors before coming down to cover most of the rear of the car and the tailgate. For 2027, the roof edges are now covered in accent blackout, but the trunk and rear bumper are body-colored. I, personally, would prefer a mix of the two – give me back the blacked-out rear section of the 2026 model, but make the entire roof a uniform black like the 2027 car.
The second change the Crown will get for 2027 is pricing, with every trim increasing the Limited by $200 over the 2026 car. The base The Platinum is priced at $56,485, including a $1,295 destination charge. Overall, the Crown remains largely the same, even if I will miss seeing that weird black rear end on my local roads. Automakers, stop trying to be normal. Give us our weird back.
