Have you ever looked at the car market and wished you could buy one of the luxury models but didn’t have the funds to make it happen? It would be a lie to say you were the only one, because almost everyone wishes they could pick up a new BMW or Mercedes. Various car brands like Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and many others are changing the norms for affordable base models. If you were to look at the most affordable vehicles in 2025, you’d be surprised to see the elevated features and sophisticated interiors.
The hybrid industry has been looking amazing in the last five years and carries some of the most sought-after models. There are some big-name players, and many of their models cater to people wanting a premium model with affordable pricing. One of the more unique luxury car brands is Lexus, which does things differently than its competition. Similar to Volvo, Lexus takes the approach of simplistic interior designs and practical features. Other luxury car brands seem to design models that scream, “This costs money!”, which isn’t bad, but Lexus goes down a more modest route. One hybrid sedan is on par with a luxury Lexus hybrid sedan, and the good news is that it comes heavily discounted compared to a Lexus.
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Are you looking for a luxury hybrid vehicle that’s efficient, opulent, and offers the best bang for your buck? Well, you may have found the best bet.
The Toyota Crown Is The More Affordable Option If You’re Interested In The Lexus LS Hybrid
The 2025 Toyota Crown is arguably the most premium hybrid sedan on the market, and, as always with a Toyota, there is a lot to unpack. For starters, it’s worth mentioning the differences between a luxury and a premium sedan. In order to be classified as a luxury model, nine times out of ten, the model will have to be designed and engineered by a luxury car brand.
There aren’t really any luxury vehicles that come from non-luxury brands, with the one gray area being Tesla, who offer the Model 3 and Model Y, which are considered “near-luxury”, but then produce the Model S and Model X, which are classified as luxury. Nonetheless, with Tesla being the one outlier, in order to be a luxury vehicle, it will have to come from a luxury car brand. When it comes to premium vehicles, it’s fair game. The 2025 Toyota Crown, a premium hybrid sedan, comes closest to the Lexus LS Hybrid, a luxury hybrid sedan.
A Starting Price Of $41,440
Okay, the 2025 Toyota Crown Hybrid isn’t going to be the most affordable hybrid, but it’s well worth the money. Toyota offers the Crown in four trims: the XLE, Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum MAX. The base trim starts the pricing at $41,440, which could be argued as a bit expensive. Don’t forget it’s being compared to the 2025 Lexus LS Hybrid, which carries a starting MSRP of $116,560. So, while the Crown might seem expensive, it’s less than half the price of the Lexus LS Hybrid. The middle trims stay in the middle $45,000s, where the highest trim, the Platinum MAX, raises the final MSRP to $54,990.
2025 Toyota Crown MSRPs
|
XLE Hybrid AWD |
$41,440 |
|
Limited Hybrid AWD |
$45,950 |
|
Nightshade Hybrid AWD |
$48,765 |
|
Platinum Hybrid MAX AWD |
$54,990 |
If you’re still trying to lower the price tag even further but still get some underrated premium features, your next best bet is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which also puts up a good fight against a Lexus hybrid. Also, some may think that the Crown should be compared to Lexus’ more affordable hybrid sedan, the ES Hybrid, but that isn’t a good comparison because the Crown and LS Hybrid are the lineup’s most elevated sedans, whereas the ES Hybrid is Lexus’ entry-level sedan.
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Toyota Offers Two Hybrid Powertrains On The Crown
One thing that’s unique about the Toyota Crown is that it is available with two hybrid setups to choose from. The standard hybrid powertrain focuses more on efficiency, which is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. This setup produces 236 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. It comes standard with Toyota’s electronically continuously variable transmission (ECVT) and all-wheel drive.
2025 Toyota Crown Performance Specifications
|
2025 Toyota Crown Hybrid |
2025 Toyota Crown MAX Hybrid |
|
|
Powertrain |
2.5-Liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid Engine |
2.4-Liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Hybrid Engine |
|
Horsepower |
236 HP |
340 HP |
|
Torque |
163 LB-FT |
332 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
ECVT |
Direct-Shift 6-Speed Automatic |
|
Driveline |
All-Wheel Drive |
All-Wheel Drive |
The other hybrid powertrain adds some more get-up, thanks to the impressive 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder “MAX” hybrid engine. This turbocharged hybrid engine delivers 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. It keeps an all-wheel drive system but changes the transmission to a Direct-Shift six-speed automatic.
The Crown Showcases Toyota’s Iconic Efficiency
Looking at the 2025 Crown’s efficiency, as stated above, the standard hybrid powertrain will offer the best fuel economy and a higher driving range. The non-turbo hybrid setup offers 42 MPG in the city, 41 MPG on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 41 MPG.
2025 Toyota Crown Fuel Economy
|
2025 Crown Hybrid |
2025 Crown MAX Hybrid |
|
|
Fuel Economy (City) |
42 MPG |
29 MPG |
|
Fuel Economy (Highway) |
41 MPG |
32 MPG |
|
Fuel Economy (Combined) |
41 MPG |
32 MPG |
|
Range |
594 Miles |
435 Miles |
|
Annual Fuel Cost |
$1,200 |
$1,600 |
For its maximum driving range, it tops out at 594 miles. The 2025 Crown “MAX” dips down in efficiency and range, providing 29 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 32 MPG combined. You’ll also get a maximum driving range of 435 miles. If you’re curious about fuel costs, the standard Crown Hybrid has a $1,200 annual fuel cost, and the Crown “MAX” Hybrid raises its yearly fuel cost to $1,600.
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A Look At The Toyota Crown’s Premium Features
Closing the hood and taking a step back, the Toyota Crown comes close to being classified as a luxury sedan based on its looks. Just from the outside, the Crown boasts sharp contours and bold accents. Toyota brought even more premium styling to the 2025 model, along with the new Nightshade trim. Many Toyota models have received the Nightshade trim, which primarily focuses on the exterior, with black accents and unique wheels.
The Crown comes standard with 19-inch wheels but can be upgraded to the premium 21-inch wheels. Toyota describes the aggressive front fascia as their signature hammerhead design, which pairs nicely with the daylight running lights. The exterior will definitely turn heads, but it’s the interior that takes this hybrid sedan even further.
The Platinum And Limited Trims Offer The Best Standard Features
Toyota describes the interior as a “luxury-feel cabin”. While they can’t really classify the Crown Hybrid as a luxury model, it’s not against the rules to describe its aesthetic and features as luxury. The steering wheel comes standard with heating and leather-wrapped. Both the driver and passenger seating are eight-way power adjustable. The front driver’s seating includes a slide, recline, tilt, height adjustment, and lumbar support.
The front seats come from the factory with features such as heating and ventilation. All trims on the Crown are standard with leather-trimmed upholstery. Toyota makes it nearly impossible to explore every feature on its models, and while some may have gone unnoticed, it’s the technology that ties the whole cabin together.
Equipped With Modern-Day Technology
Toyota carries many interior themes, and one seen on almost all models is convenience. For the 2025 Crown, it keeps everyone online, with five USB-C ports spread throughout the cabin, as well as a wireless phone charger located in the front. The driver will utilize a 12.3-inch color digital cluster, which offers customization at the push of a button. The display located in the middle of the dashboard is a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen, offering a wide array of features such as Apple Carplay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0
- Pre-Collision System w/ Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD)
- Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
- Lane Departure Alert w/ Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)
- Automatic High Beams (AHB)
- Road Sign Assist (RSA)
- Proactive Drive Assist (PDA)
The XLE comes standard with Toyota’s six-speaker sound system. The higher trims receive an upgraded system, utilizing an eleven-speaker JBL Premium Audio System, which is paired with a rear subwoofer and eight-channel amplifier. The last tech feature worth mentioning is Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0. This is Toyota’s safety system, which houses a variety of driving aids that cater to convenience and safety.
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You’ll Save Around $75,000 With The 2025 Toyota Crown
As always, you won’t ever explore the entirety of a car through words, and even if you manage to, it’s still best to see it in person. The Crown is Toyota’s most elevated and premium sedan, and with a predecessor such as the Avalon, the Crown does a fantastic job of being Toyota’s sole premium sedan. So, just how much will you save by opting for the Toyota Crown? Well, if you were to buy the base trim, you’d save $75,150.
Lexus only offers one trim on the LS Hybrid, and if you were to hop in it, you’d see that it doesn’t need any more iterations. Say you went for the cream of the crop and bought the Crown Platinum MAX Hybrid… you’d still save big money, with a total of $61,570 in savings. This isn’t to say that the 2025 Lexus LS Hybrid isn’t worth picking up; rather, if you’re interested in luxury vehicles but want to stay within an affordable budget, the Crown does it pretty well with its $40,000 range price tags.
The Lexus LS Hybrid Takes Luxury To Another Level
Everyone’s budget is different, and $40,000 may be too expensive for some. That’s why earlier, the 2025 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was noted to be another option with a lower price tag. With the breakdown of the Toyota Crown out of the way, just how nice is the 2025 Lexus LS Hybrid? Well, with a $100,000 plus price tag, you’d expect some top-notch features.
It would be a disgrace to try and describe the LS Hybrid in a couple of sentences, but what you’re getting is world-class craftsmanship, aggressive and sporty exterior styling, an interior that encapsulates luxury, and much more. Lexus isn’t new to designing high-end luxury vehicles, and while they’ve taken a step back, offering affordable models such as the Lexus UX, they haven’t lost their skills when it comes to high-dollar vehicles.
The Toyota Crown Is The Most Premium Hybrid Sedan On The Market
All in all, the 2025 Toyota Crown is a great hybrid sedan to buy if you’ve been saving up and want to treat yourself. It’s really the only true premium hybrid sedan in the car market, and the next step up would be a luxury model. It’s also worth mentioning that Toyota is a trusted brand to stand behind, offering the best bang-for-your-buck vehicles. Another great thing about the Crown is that it isn’t too expensive and won’t leave you thinking, “Why didn’t I just save up and buy this luxury hybrid?”. It’s priced accordingly and comes jam-packed with all the goodies.