Toyota Crown (2012-2018) Expert Review

A Japanese executive sedan with attitude

The S210 Crown is one of those cars that refuses to look ordinary. It is unmistakably Japanese, but unlike many conservative executive sedans, it has enough visual drama to make people look twice. The front end is tall, wide and deliberately imposing, with a large grille and sharply drawn headlights giving it the sort of face that suggests the driver has somewhere important to be. Royal and Athlete versions give the same basic body a very different personality. Royal models lean toward traditional executive elegance, with more restrained detailing and a formal appearance. Athlete versions turn the volume up with sportier bumpers, darker trim, larger wheels and a more aggressive stance. In Bangladesh, this distinction matters because the Athlete is often the Crown people notice first. At nearly 4.9 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, it is a substantial car. That gives it excellent road presence but makes Dhaka's narrow parking spaces rather less amusing. The 2,850mm wheelbase also contributes to its planted appearance. Lighting equipment improved considerably through the generation, with LED daytime running lights, LED rear lamps, Bi-Beam LED headlights and adaptive high-beam systems available depending on year and grade. The only real criticism is ground clearance. Bangladesh roads occasionally resemble an archaeological dig, and the Crown was never designed as a rally car.

Where the Crown earns its badge

Step inside an S210 and the reason for buying a Crown becomes immediately obvious. This is not simply a Toyota with expensive seats. The cabin was designed around the idea that occupants should arrive somewhere feeling less tired than when they left.

The dashboard has a distinctly Japanese luxury-car character, with layered surfaces, soft-touch materials, wood-style trim on higher grades and a driver-focused instrument area. Leather upholstery, power seats, automatic climate control, rear-seat armrests and electric rear sunshades can transform higher-spec cars into very convincing executive lounges.

Rear-seat comfort is particularly important in Bangladesh. The long wheelbase creates generous legroom, while the suspension isolates occupants from much of the roughness found on ordinary city roads. Rear air-conditioning ventilation and dedicated comfort equipment on higher grades make the car particularly pleasant for family and chauffeur-driven use.

The S210 also feels wonderfully solid. Doors close with the reassuring thud expected from a premium Japanese sedan, switches feel substantial and the cabin generally ages better than many similarly priced European alternatives.

There are drawbacks. The original infotainment technology now looks ancient beside modern Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems. Some Japanese-market screens also require familiarity with Japanese menus.

Still, as a used luxury car in Bangladesh, the interior remains one of the Crown's strongest arguments.

Luxury technology before the smartphone revolution

The S210 Crown arrived at an interesting point in automotive history. It had plenty of technology, but it came from a world before every car expected to mirror your phone.

Depending on grade, buyers could get navigation, touchscreen controls, Bluetooth, premium audio systems, reverse cameras, parking sensors, power seats, seat heating, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, smart entry, push-button start, cruise control, sunroof and rear electric sunshades. Higher grades could also offer panoramic-view monitoring and intelligent parking assistance.

The hybrid versions add another layer of technology. Instead of simply displaying a fuel gauge and engine temperature, the instrumentation provides information about energy flow, regeneration and hybrid operation. It makes economical driving feel almost like a game, except the prize is fewer visits to the petrol station.

The later S210 models are particularly interesting because Toyota Safety Sense P brought pre-crash safety, lane-departure warning and radar cruise-control technology into the package. BSM and other parking technologies were available depending on specification.

But modern buyers will notice the missing pieces. Factory Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging and modern smartphone integration are essentially absent.

That means the Crown has impressive technology for its age, but buyers should judge a used car by its actual grade rather than assuming every S210 has every feature.

Serious engineering, with grade-dependent technology

The S210 Crown was built during Toyota's transition toward increasingly sophisticated active safety. Even basic mechanical safety is reassuring: ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, stability control, traction control and multiple airbags form a strong foundation. The body structure and substantial size also provide a reassuring feeling on Bangladeshi highways. This is a large, stable sedan rather than a lightweight city car, and the suspension keeps it composed when travelling quickly over good roads. Where things become interesting is the later safety equipment. Toyota introduced Toyota Safety Sense P to the S210, bringing technologies such as pre-crash safety, lane-departure warning and radar cruise control. Adaptive high-beam technology and blind-spot monitoring were also available on appropriately equipped cars. Toyota's own 2016 Crown documentation lists PCS, LDA, radar cruise control, BSM and adaptive-high-beam functions. Some higher specifications also offered clearance sonar, intelligent parking assistance and panoramic-view monitoring. The important word is grade. A used 2013 Royal and a highly equipped 2017 Athlete G are not necessarily equipped alike. For Bangladesh buyers, safety inspection should therefore include the actual operation of cameras, sensors and warning systems. Accident-repaired cars can have calibration problems, particularly with radar and camera-based systems.

Smooth, silent and much faster than it looks

The 2.5-litre Crown Hybrid is not a sports car, but it has enough performance to make that distinction slightly embarrassing. The 2AR-FSE engine works with Toyota's hybrid system to produce strong low-speed response and smooth acceleration. The official engine output is 178 PS, while the complete hybrid system is commonly quoted at around 220 PS. The clever bit is not simply the power. It is how effortlessly that power arrives. The e-CVT keeps the drivetrain smooth, and electric assistance fills in the gaps where a conventional petrol engine would normally be waiting for revs. Around town, the result is remarkably quiet and refined. On Dhaka roads, the hybrid system can be particularly useful. Stop-start traffic is exactly where hybrid technology earns its keep. You will not achieve the laboratory fuel figures advertised in Japan, but a healthy Crown Hybrid can still deliver respectable real-world economy for a large luxury sedan. Then there is the highway. The long wheelbase, rear-wheel drive and sophisticated suspension give the Crown excellent stability. It feels planted at speed, and the cabin remains quiet enough for long conversations without shouting. The downside is weight and size. Throw it into a corner like an Athlete badge has personally insulted you and the Crown will remind you that it is still an executive sedan. Drive it smoothly, however, and it becomes wonderfully relaxing.