The new Crown model "Crown Estate" has finally arrived

A new model has been added to the Crown line: the Crown Estate.

As you know, the current Crown has a different feel from previous models. The first model announced was the Crown Crossover, which overturned existing concepts. It was released as a tall fastback, different from the conventional model that had been a standard sedan. It was completely revamped with a single word from the then-president, Akio Toyoda.

Moreover, four body types were unveiled at the same time as the announcement, which became a hot topic. In the past, the standard body Crown and the Crown Majesta, which had a strong company car feel, were lined up side by side, but both were sedans, so it was a different story. This time, following the Crown Crossover, the Crown Sport and Crown Sedan were released, and finally the Crown Estate. It can be said that this completes the tetralogy.

There is a reason why it took so long from the 2022 Crown Crossover to this year's Estate. The supply chain did not function due to global conflicts and the effects of the COVID-XNUMX pandemic. Another factor is that this is a global strategic vehicle. It became necessary to work on destination specifications that had never been done before, such as adapting to European and American regulations.

However, there is also a positive side to this in that the time it took allowed them to refine the details. In interviews at the test drive venue, the development team mentioned that they had spent plenty of time on the car, and we in the media were amazed at how well it was perfected when we actually got behind the wheel. As we drove along the winding ridges of Hakone, there were several times when we found ourselves asking ourselves, "Is this really a Crown?" at the car's nimble handling.

Furthermore, the Crown Crossover, which has already been introduced to the market, has been improved annually to improve its driving performance. It is great to see Toyota polishing its cars after they are released. Toyota has been doing this without fail in recent years.

Understanding the needs of the times through the ever-evolving "Crown"

Now, regarding the details of the Crown Estate, "Estate" generally means a station wagon. It is synonymous with Audi's "Avant" and BMW's "Touring". However, this car is not based on a sedan. Usually, an estate uses a sedan and removes the rear bulkhead to turn the trunk into a cargo area, but this car is not like that. It shares the platform with two other models, and its overall height of 2 mm is actually higher than the Crown Crossover.

There is a reason for making the overall height higher. From a marketing perspective, low-profile station wagons are not selling well, and the market needs a higher vehicle height. Another major factor is that it was physically impossible to use a sedan platform. In FCVs (fuel cell vehicles), the hydrogen tank and in HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), the battery are installed behind the rear seats, making it impossible to expand the cargo area.

Therefore, the Crown Estate has a different shape from previous station wagons. Well, it was born from a completely different concept, so that's fine. It's fun if it betrays us in a good way. I actually felt that when I test drove the Crown Estate plug-in hybrid. The packaging is excellent, the cabin is spacious, and the cargo is large. Also, when driving on the highway, the engine never started and the car continued to run in EV mode. In other words, it functions well as a plug-in hybrid. If the motor can be used this efficiently, we can expect great fuel efficiency.

The Crown has four models, but it might be good to remember that the current model is the 4th generation. The first generation was released in 16, and this year marks its 1955th anniversary. Considering that, I think the Crown is truly in the mainstream of Japanese automotive history. So what will the 70th generation be like? Future developments will also be interesting to watch.

Tatsuya Kushima

Motor journalist and columnist. Currently, he is the media site editor-in-chief and media business producer for the surfing magazine "NALU." She has previously served as editor-in-chief of many men's magazines, golf magazines, car magazines, airline in-flight magazines, etc. In addition to media activities, he is a member of the Japan Car of the Year selection committee, a member of the Japan Cigar Association, a Japan Boat of the Year selection committee, and the creative director of men's golf wear ``The Duke's Golf.''