The Crown was originally Toyota’s large sedan briefly sold stateside before the Cressida replaced it. Now the Crown is back as an Avalon replacement. But instead of a traditional full-size sedan, the Crown is more of a crossover between a large sedan and, well, a crossover. It’s also the latest hybrid in Toyota’s lineup. 

But while it shares its drivetrain architecture with the Prius, the Crown lacks some of its smaller sibling’s frugal nature. However, two hybrid vehicles in the automaker’s lineup have worse mpg ratings than the 2023 Toyota Crown: the Highlander Hybrid and Sienna Hybrid. 

Overview of the 2023 Toyota Crown: Price, specs, and features 

All 2023 Toyota Crown trims have hybrid powertrains. The XLE and Limited use a combination of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors to generate 236 hp. It provides reasonable oomph, with a 0-to-60-mph time of 7.6 seconds. Moving up to the Platinum level brings a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder with dual electric motors for 340 hp. That setup lowers the Crown’s 0-to-60 time to 5.7 seconds.  

The Crown’s interior is appropriately upscale for a vehicle that starts at nearly $40,000. All models have a standard eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Limited and Platinum trims add leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof.  

Toyota shows the EPA-estimated fuel economy for the Crown’s base hybrid powertrain is a solid 41 mpg city/highway combined. Move up to the Platinum, and the fuel economy drops to 31 mpg combined. For comparison, the non-hybrid Avalon got 27 mpg, while the Avalon Hybrid got 43 mpg.

The Highlander Hybrid and Sienna Hybrid have worse MPG ratings than the 2023 Toyota Crown

The Toyota Highlander is a midsize SUV with room for up to eight people and has been a solid utility player in the company’s lineup. Since the second generation debuted in 2007, it has included a hybrid drivetrain as an option. For 2023, the Highlander Hybrid gets 35 mpg combined from a 243-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder powertrain.  

Though the Sienna nameplate has been around since 1997, Toyota didn’t launch a hybrid version of the minivan until the fourth generation debuted in 2020. It uses a powertrain similar to the Highlander’s, a 245-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder getting an estimated 36 mpg combined. 

The Camry Hybrid, Corolla Hybrid, and Prius are Toyota’s fuel economy champs

The Prius remains Toyota’s most fuel-efficient model. Its 194-hp 2.0-liter engine setup gets an estimated 52 mpg combined — 10 mpg more than the larger Crown. Unlike past Prius iterations, the 2023 model trades quirky styling for sleek good looks that stack up well against the latest offerings from Hyundai and Kia. 

Surprisingly, the Toyota Camry is the runner-up to the miserly Prius. It also gets a combined 52 mpg, with a slightly lower 51 mpg in the city, compared to the Prius’ 52 mpg in the city. But where the Camry trumps the Prius is range. With a 13.2-gallon tank, the Camry can travel up to 700 miles before refueling. By comparison, the Prius is limited to a 588-mile range thanks to its smaller 11.4-gallon tank.   

Rounding out the top three, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid gets a combined estimated 50 mpg. It gets 53 mph in the city, but its 46 mpg highway estimate hurts its combined rating.