This Toyota has more luxury than Acura—and it's not a Lexus.

Toyota has created a truly luxurious mid-size sedan that costs thousands of dollars less than its competitors. However, the Crown falls short in some areas and doesn't quite stand out in the market. It feels more like a gimmick than something truly special.

Polarizing Design

In the mid-size luxury sedan market, most of the Crown's rivals look better. While the Crown is certainly unique, it seems to rely too heavily on Toyota's design language, resembling a dressed-up Prius. This feeling is further accentuated by the large black plastic trim pieces around the wheel arches and covering the doors.

Besides the overall design issues, the car isn't just a sedan either. Toyota decided to make the Crown taller than its competitors, using a raised suspension. This was presumably done to appeal to people who want the height and upright posture of an SUV but prefer the styling of a traditional sedan. We have to say, this sounds like a niche choice.

The Toyota Badge

Almost every mainstream car manufacturer has a completely separate brand to sell luxury vehicles for a reason. Whether we like it or not, badge envy is a real phenomenon. Ordinary luxury buyers are unlikely to choose Ford over Lincoln, Hyundai over Genesis, or Honda over Acura. We also believe that few people would choose Toyota over Lexus, no matter how good the Crown is.