The 2022 Toyota Crown Is Supposed to Be a Sporty Highlander
Have you seen the 2022 Toyota Crown? It’s a little puzzling, and it looks pretty familiar. The Toyota Crown looks like a Toyota Highlander. Only it seems to have a softer personality. Let’s get down to the business about what the Crown is trying to achieve.
What is the 2022 Toyota Crown?
According to Motor 1, there could be a new SUV in town, and it’s known as the Crown Kluger, and it might be the Toyota Highlander’s foreign twin. The 2022 Toyota Crown is actually based on the Toyota Highlander, and we might not see it in America.
If the Toyota Crown sounds familiar, that’s because it’s been around for a while. According to Drive Tribe, the Toyota Crown is the longest-running sedan in the world, and it’s been in production since 1955.
The Crown was available in North America from 1958 to 1973. Then it was replaced in a majority of markets around the world by the Lexus GS. The two vehicles share the same platform, powertrain options, design cues, and more.
Now, the Toyota Crown is transforming into an SUV. This shouldn’t be that shocking, though. We’ve seen the iconic Ford Mustang and Mitshubishi Eclipse transform into SUVs, too. The Crown is simply following the rising SUV trend.
This isn’t the first time that the Crown has undergone a significant change. It’s been available as a pickup truck, coupe, and wagon. It has the second longest-running Toyota nameplate. The Toyota Land Cruiser has been around for a little longer.
How are the Toyota Crown and Toyota Highlander different?
The 2022 Toyota Crown has a lot in common with the 2021 Toyota Highlander, but it’s not exactly the same. While the two SUVs share the same platform, the Crown is a little taller and longer. But they have the same width and wheelbase.
Both of these SUVs have 18-inch alloy wheels and the same curb weight of 4,409 lbs. They also share a hybrid 2.5-liter engine that pumps out 189 hp. More engine options may become available after the Crown makes its initial debut on April 19 in Shanghai.
We know where the Crown nameplate comes from, but what about the Kluger name? Well, that’s easy. The Toyota Highlander is known as the Kluger in other markets such as Australia. But we didn’t realize how much the Highlander gets around in other countries!
The Crown will be exclusively available in the Chinese market, and other body styles are expected to follow suit. Different Crown variants will also be rebadged Toyota models. This move is being made in an attempt to prevent declining sales.
What do critics like about the Toyota Highlander?
If the 2022 Toyota Crown wants to be popular, then it will need to take a few notes from the widely popular Toyota Highlander. Edmunds noted that the Highlander has an excellent ride quality.
They could get it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and mentioned that it is faster than the Kia Telluride. It has sporty handling with a controlled body roll but can feel like a bigger SUV at times.
The suspension smooths out bumps, and the cabin is very quiet with minimal noise at highway speeds. The seats are well-padded and comfortable, but the third row is cramped. Plus, the interior features high-quality materials and upgraded tech.
