Toyota Camry vs Toyota Crown

The 2022 Toyota Camry made heads turn with its striking Cavalry Blue paint, which was new and exclusive to the performance-tuned TRD (Toyota Racing Development) model. This bold hue and a few other design tweaks brought a fresh look to the car. In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Crown was a full-size sedan sporting a more refined and somewhat aggressive style, with an elevated ride height reminiscent of crossovers like the Honda Accord Crosstour and AMC Eagle. The Crown also showcased a bold front end with a massive grille and a narrow slit with angular headlights. Overall, it had an appealing design that balanced sportiness and sophistication.

Both cars featured distinctive exteriors, with the Camry TRD boasting an aerodynamic body kit that included a front splitter, side skirts, a rear spoiler, and an aggressive rear diffuser panel. It also had matte-black 19-inch wheels, red brake calipers, and red accent stripes. The Crown, in its top Platinum trim, offered a two-tone paint option with glossy black running from nose to tail, which added a touch of audacity to its otherwise elegant appearance.

Inside, the Camry TRD had a polarizing dashboard layout, with red gauge illumination, floor mat embroidery, and seatbelts that didn't match the rest of the blue and white interior lighting theme. In contrast, the Crown's interior was modern and mostly harmonized, featuring a digital instrument panel and horizontal touchscreen. However, the 1980s-style LED temperature displays were a minor drawback in the otherwise futuristic cabin.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD was equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The car's dynamic tuning included thicker underbody braces, stiffer sway bars, tauter springs, TRD shocks, and a sport dual exhaust system. This setup promised and delivered track-tuned driving dynamics with a good blend of performance and comfort. While acceleration was brisk, averaging 24.8 mpg during testing, the Camry could benefit from the option of all-wheel drive for better traction.

The 2023 Toyota Crown, on the other hand, offered two hybrid powertrains. The base setup combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor, delivering 236 horsepower and on-demand all-wheel drive. The more powerful option, available on the Platinum trim, combined a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a stronger electric motor for a total of 340 horsepower. This setup featured a six-speed automatic transmission and full-time all-wheel drive. The Crown aimed for comfort over sportiness with a smooth ride and adaptive suspension in the top trim, which didn't radically change the driving experience.

The 2022 Camry TRD offered a sporty driving position with comfortable front seats featuring red accents, though they lacked extra bolstering. It wasn't the roomiest midsize sedan, but the back seat comfortably accommodated two adults. Interior storage was ample, with a notably large center armrest bin. However, trunk capacity was limited to 15.1 cubic feet, which was small compared to some competitors.

The 2023 Crown's interior varied with trim levels, from fabric seats in the base XLE to full leather in the Limited and Platinum trims. Front seats were comfortable for long trips but firm, potentially causing discomfort over extended periods. The Crown provided plenty of rear legroom but somewhat limited headroom due to its tapering roofline. Trunk capacity was slightly better than the Camry at 15.2 cubic feet, but still small compared to some competitors like the Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon.

In the tech department, the Camry TRD came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which could be upgraded to a 9-inch version with a JBL premium audio system. The system was user-friendly with knobs and buttons, and it included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, more advanced features like a 360-degree camera system and a head-up display were not available in the TRD trim.

The 2023 Crown featured a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen as standard in all trims, with sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a wireless charging pad. Higher trims offered an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system. New tech features included a voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota," and a digital key feature that allowed smartphone-based access. Over-the-air software updates ensured the system stayed current.

The 2022 Toyota Camry was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. It earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings across all NHTSA evaluations, making it one of the safest cars in its segment.

The 2023 Toyota Crown had not yet been rated by NHTSA and IIHS at the time of review. Standard safety features included collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a blind-spot monitor. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parking system. Some new features like Proactive Driving Assist were found to be intrusive, though they might benefit less confident drivers.