Toyota Crown Reviews

Toyota’s recently-appointed CEO has detailed cost-cutting measures Toyota will resort to in order to reduce the break-even point of its model range in a new interview.Speaking to industry source Automotive News, CEO Kenta Kon explained the company would be targeting items as small as doorhandles and seat designs so new models can pay for themselves sooner.“Breakeven volume is a very important key performance indicator for us but what we’re seeing now is an upward trend of the breakeven volume. We have to bring it into a downward trend,” he told Automotive News.Toyota’s profit margins have been slashed since 2024, and Kon is expected to draw on his experience trimming Toyota’s overheads during the global financial crisis to help the brand recover.He said the brand would be targeting the “wide variety and number of parts” across the millions of vehicles the company builds each year.According to the publication, these changes will affect such things as doorhandles, headrests, wing mirrors, and material choices throughout the cabin of the brand’s range.This cumulative improvement is part of Kenta Kon’s wider strategy to lean back on Toyota’s Japanese philosophical manufacturing principles to keep the company sustainable.Not only will this mean cost reduction through the Kaizen mindset of continuous improvement, but Kon also spends a significant amount of time visiting front-line factory locations (genba) specifically to hear about efficiency roadblocks from staff, according to Toyota’s own in-house publication Toyota Times.  He is also known to send senior office staff like accountants on similar trips so that they can truly understand the inner workings of Toyota.“People in certain areas already have this awareness of what needs improvement but there might be mechanisms that hinder it. I support them to clear those obstacles,” he told Automotive News.It is part of a sweeping array of behind-the-scenes changes for the brand which are designed to be less noticeable for the end consumer compared to the more drastic strategies being implemented by other automakers around the world.Nissan and Volkswagen, for example, have been forced to consolidate their manufacturing footprints with widely-publicised factory closures, axing significant numbers of employees, and completely overhauling model ranges. They must do so as they face an existential threat from unprecedented levels of new competition from China, increasing trade barriers around the world, and a higher-inflation environment.Other strategies recently implemented by Toyota include plans to increase revenue through new in-car software subscriptions (which the brand expects to be worth up to A$26.7 billion) and a plan to increase the amount of recycled materials used in its cars to up to 30 per cent.It is also working on implementing next-generation manufacturing techniques with its joint-venture partners in China.Expected to underpin a new Lexus model in the near future, the brand has invested in gigacasting techniques which reduces weight, cost, and complexity in electric vehicles.It also represents a shift for the brand in developing new manufacturing techniques outside of Japan.The first vehicle using this technology is expected to debut in 2028.

There will soon be a Toyota HiLux for everyone.The Japanese brand has revealed details of its new hydrogen-powered HiLux, which will join the diesel and battery electric versions already on sale.The new Toyota HiLux hydrogen fuel-cell ute will go on sale in Europe in 2028. Toyota Australia has previously confirmed to CarsGuide the hydrogen HiLux will go on sale in Australia the same year.Toyota Europe claims the new hydrogen HiLux, dubbed HiLux FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle), will have a targeted driving range of 400km and be able to tow 2500kg. Toyota will fine tune the hydrogen HiLux at next year's Dakar Rally, where the company will race a vehicle based on the gas-powered ute.Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are another form of electric vehicle. Instead of using a battery with stored energy to power electric motors, they convert hydrogen into electricity to power the motors.Hydrogen is stored in a pressurised tank and is mixed with air, and then is pumped into the fuel cell, where a chemical reaction occurs that creates electricity and water. The electricity is stored in a small battery, which powers the electric motors that drive the wheels.The water is expelled out the tailpipe.Toyota is working on a new fuel cell to fit to trucks that would deliver the same grunt as a diesel motor.Hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth and fuel-cell vehicles don’t require an enormous battery that are made up of critical minerals. In theory this makes them cheaper.Hydrogen is extremely energy intensive to isolate, which means unless you use green energy it is not very clean, despite the lack of tailpipe emissions.There is barely any infrastructure for hydrogen cars to fill up in Australia, which means an entire network needs to be created. But they can be refilled in about five minutes, which is much quicker than a battery electric vehicle can recharge.Hydrogen is often seen as the answer to heavy vehicles rather than passenger cars. An electric semi-trailer would require an enormous battery to allow it to haul its load, but FCEV tech is seen as the answer because it is lighter and can be refilled faster.It would be easier to install hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along major highways, ports and industrial areas than roll out an urban network.

A former prime minister is backing Australia’s carmaking industry to make a triumphant return. Kevin Rudd told the National Press Club on September 10, 2026 new technologies available could return the industry to its former glory. Australia used to have a thriving car industry, with it being one of the biggest manufacturing hubs globally. Ford, Holden and Toyota all had major operations in Australia, spanning across decades. The Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore dominated the sales charts during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Even the Tesla Model Y’s more than 8000 sales in a single month in June 2026 couldn’t eclipse the Commodore's single-month record set more than two decades ago.The federal government’s withdrawal of subsidies in 2013 in combination with increasing costs and decreasing profits saw carmakers pull out of Australian manufacturing. There are now no cars built on a commercial scale in Australia, leaving the country reliant on imports.Rudd said the then federal government’s decision to remove subsidies was the final blow to the industry. Australia’s 26th prime minister also praised the previous strength of the car industry, describing it as a “sovereign capability we are sorely missing”. “Of all the short-sighted acts of economic vandalism in recent decades, the closure of our car industry by the Abbott-Hockey government stands apart,” Rudd said. “Australia under my government had one of the most modest industry subsidies in the auto world. “But politics triumphed over reason, sacrificing tens of thousands of jobs, tearing the beating heart out of Australia’s engineering and manufacturing base, and rendering us 100% dependent on auto imports.”Rudd said that developing new technologies in the car industry could reignite interest in it. “Now the 3D printing and EV revolutions mean we can rebuild an Australian auto sector and repair this fatal vulnerability in our national security,” Rudd said. 3D printing is now an essential part of virtually every carmaker’s manufacturing processes. It can develop model prototypes quickly and improve assembly processes, among other things.It is also used for creating complex moulds in gigacasting - a process where die-casting machines shape large single-piece car body parts instead of individual steel welds. Some popular EVs rely on gigacasting in production, including the best-selling Tesla Model Y. Australia could become an EV hub of the future by investing in this technology.

Aussie buyers have a new 4WD to think about.The Mitsubishi Pajero will launch in Australia with great anticipation in December 2026 when the revived 4WD hits showrooms. Mitsubishi has revealed pricing and specifications for its new model, but how does it stack up to key rivals in the segment?It will face the most fierce competition with the popular Toyota Prado and Ford Everest, so here is how it shapes up against those popular options. The Pajero squeezes under the $70,000 mark, starting from $68,490, which is cheaper than the Toyota Prado, but more expensive than both Ford Everest variants.It continues to undercut the Prado up the grades, with its Exceed starting from $79,990, while the GSR starts from $84,990.The Prado's $73,200 starting price is $4710 more than the base five-seater Pajero ($68,490), with Prado pricing extending to $100,620 on the top grade.The Pajero’s cheapest seven-seater variant is $69,990, more than $10,000 cheaper than the Prado's base seven-seater ($80,665). Both 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre Everest base variants are cheaper than the Pajero and the Prado. The Everest 2.0 starts from $58,990, with prices increasing up to $71,990, while the Everest 3.0 kicks off from $66,990, with the top-spec grade starting from $83,417.The Pajero’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine matches the Prado for power at 150kW, but its 480Nm, is just shy of the 500Nm total in its Toyota rival. The Pajero also has more performance than the 2.0-litre Everest, but the 3.0-litre Everest is the pick of the bunch for outright power with 184kW and 600Nm. All four competitors boast the industry standard 3500kg braked towing capacity. Mitsubishi hasn’t revealed the Pajero’s fuel efficiency, so we don’t know how it compares to its rivals. It will need to offer below 8.0L/100km to be competitive. The closely-related Triton offers as little as 7.5L/100km, so it could beat that figure. The Pajero comes with a rear differential lock and low-range transfer case on all grades as part of its permanent 4WD system.The Prado has a permanent 4WD system, but a locking rear differential is only found on a higher grade of the car.All 4x4 grades of the Ford Everest feature a rear differential lock and a permanent 4WD system.The Pajero's approach and departure angles are similar to the Everest's, along with a competitive ground clearance figure.The Prado's 17.0-degree departure angles is significantly less than the Pajero and Everest, as is its 210mm ground clearance.The Pajero has a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, while higher grades are equipped with dual 14.3-inch display.This beats the Everest’s standard 8.0-inch digital driver display and 12.0-inch touchscreen.All Prado grades match the Pajero’s 12.3-inch central unit, but it only has a 7.0-inch driver display as standard. The Pajero has waterproof black fabric seat trim to start, mirroring other standard fabrics in its rivals. Leather seat trim is available for all further up the range. The Pajero boasts a 10-year/200,000-kilometre conditional warranty, when services are completed on time at Mitsubishi dealers.If buyers opt not to service at Mitsubishi, warranty reverts to a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee. It is also available with a 10-year capped price servicing deal, but we don’t know how much it will cost yet.All new Ford Everests bought from 1 September 2026 are now covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.Ford offers a capped price servicing deal on the Everest of $1596 for the first five years, working out at $319 per annual service. Toyota also offers capped price servicing, for either three or five years, with servicing every six months. The Prado is available with Toyota’s five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, which can be extended to seven years for engine and driveline when the car is serviced at dealers. 

Toyota Australia has introduced a factory-backed solution to help prevent theft of its vehicles.A secondary immobiliser genuine accessory is now available to purchase for current-generation LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado 250 Series vehicles at Toyota dealers for $1735 fitted.Toyota is currently studying whether it will widen the number of models it’s offering this factory-approved secondary immobiliser to.The Japanese carmaker has been rolling out improvements and enhancements to its vehicle security systems. These not only include the LandCruiser 300 Series and Prado, but also the HiLux and RAV4.The secondary immobiliser system is claimed to enhance the security offered in the standard, factory-fitted immobiliser.It provides an additional layer of vehicle start authentication and is designed so the vehicle cannot be started without the immobiliser key fob in range.There’s also an independently powered siren with a battery backup. It’s designed to activate in response to unauthorised actions and provides an audible deterrent even if the vehicle’s primary electrical power is disconnected.Although this secondary immobiliser does provide another layer of vehicle security, Toyota claims it still doesn’t guarantee complete theft protection.The introduction of this secondary immobiliser genuine accessory comes off the back of rising vehicle thefts.According to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), motor theft claims rose 2.5 per cent nationally in 2025. Victoria in particular recorded a 25 per cent increase in 2025.Many vehicles, including Toyota vehicles, with keyless entry systems have been targeted recently as there are devices that allow thieves to get around the vehicle’s security system.Toyota Australia says it is still collaborating with law enforcement agencies, industry and government agencies to promote the banning of devices used to facilitate vehicle theft.Toyota Australia still promotes the regulation of legitimate devices used by locksmiths, mechanics and other automotive professionals.

Toyotas are ubiquitous in Australia, with everything from Camrys and Corollas through to the legendary 4WD LandCruisers near-omnipresent on our roads and bush tracks.But there are some Toyotas that are sold – and popular – overseas but aren’t offered in the Australian market, and if they are offered here they haven’t achieved the sales success Toyota has hoped for. Case in point: the Tundra, while it’s much loved in the good ol’ US of A, it has achieved only middling success here.The Tundra’s sales struggle here have somewhat discouraged Toyota from bringing any other overseas models here and that’s a real shame because there are some appealing vehicles in that mix.Read on.Much respected in off-roading circles, the 4Runner – think a Surf/Fortuner mash-up on HGH (Hard-core Growth Hormone) – has been around in various iterations since 1984. Now in its sixth generation, the 4Runner comes with a 2.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine (204kW and 430Nm), or a 2.4L turbocharged inline four-cylinder hybrid powertrain (240kW and 630Nm), both matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s a Toyota off-roader – with part-time or full-time 4WD, drive modes and diff locks – so it’s handy in the dirty stuff, of course.Australia doesn’t need another 4WD, but the 4Runner wouldn’t go astray here.Prices in the US start from MSRP $42,270 (approx. AUD $58,700).Not as well known here, the Sequoia is a well established large SUV in the US market.This large SUV – top-spec versions tip the scales at 2790kg – is more open-road cruiser than hard-core 4WD but, having said that, it still has the mechanicals and tech onboard to traverse difficult terrain. The 2026 Sequoia is equipped with a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 hybrid (321kW and 790Nm), matched to a 10-speed auto, and is rated to legally tow up to 4309kg.Mid-range variants and upwards have part-time 4WD (with high- and low-range 4WD) and an automatic limited-slip differential.The Sequoia may struggle to find a niche here as stablemate Cruiser has that part of the market sewn up.Feeling posh? Go for the Trailhunter package, replete with an Old Man Emu upgraded suspension, Michelin LTX Trail 265/70R18 tyres, bronze-finished wheels, front recovery hooks and extra underbody protection.Prices in the US start from MSRP $68,725 for an SR5 4WD (approx. AUD $95,456).Like a baby 300 Series, only better – or at least that’s what Toyota wants you to believe.Launched in May this year, this diminutive five-seater FJ – with a 270mm shorter wheelbase than the 250 Series – has a 2.7-litre inline four-cylinder petrol engine (producing 120kW and 246Nm), a six-speed auto, part-time 4WD and an electric rear differential lock.It’s boxy and compact – it has a turning circle of 5.5m – and looks set to take on the likes of Suzuki’s Jimny in the cute-but-capable off-road stakes.A Cruiser-based but shrunken ladder-frame structure is the platform for this tough-seeming little nugget of an off-roader.Off-road angles are up there with the 250 Series and, on paper, this FJ has plenty of off-road potential.Sure, this mini Cruiser exists in a niche within a niche but we reckon it’d sell here.Prices in Japan start from 4,500,100 yen (about $40,100).Massive in America and well suited to outdoorsy life in Australia, the Tacoma is a big ute made for rough-and-tumble work and play, so why it hasn’t landed here yet its beyond us.Now available with a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four engine (producing up to 204kW and 430Nm) or a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four hybrid powertrain (producing up to 239kW and 630Nm) that’s matched to either a six-speed manual gearbox or eight-speed automatic transmission.It’s built on the same chassis as the full-size Tundra and Sequoia, and gains bolstering from a Toyota New Global Architecture-F (TNGA-F) platform of high-strength steel, lightweight aluminium and laser welds. So, robust.And, of course, it’s all packed into a ute with Toyota’s reliable baked-in off-road effectiveness.TRD variants and upwards get Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Downhill Assist Control, and an electronically controlled locking rear differential as standard.Go for a Trailhunter and you get Old Man Emu 2.5-inch forged monotube position-sensitive shocks with rear piggyback reservoirs, high-clearance front bumper, rock rails and ARB steel rear bumper with recovery hooks, and 33-inch rugged-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels.We know lots of people in Australia who jump at the chance to own one of these big utes.Prices in the US start from MSRP $32,545 (approx. AUD $45,203).A ute actually designed and engineered to do ute stuff? No way.The HiLux Champ – a Thailand-only vehicle – is an intriguing oddity that’s sure to fire the imagination of many a quirky car fan there and abroad.It’s a 2WD two-seater ute with a choice of three engine types – 2.0L petrol, 2.7L petrol, or a 2.4L four-cylinder diesel – and it has either a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic transmission. Depending on your Champ’s spec level it may have a one-tonne payload and a minimum 5.4m turning circle.Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) offers eight grades of the Champ, including short- and long-wheelbase versions, and an unequipped variant with a flat deck is available. With customisation in mind, TMT has made sure the deck has bolt holes at various locations so that custom accessories can be attached.It’s built for purpose and, on paper, certainly has a lot of appeal as a work ute and a mod-friendly vehicle.The Champ would fit right in here.Prices range from 459,000 to 577,000 baht (approx. $19,354 to $24,329).

Toyota's LandCruiser has gone electric! Not quite. But it has joined the ranks of the new wave of hybrid vehicles with a powertrain that combines a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine and an electric motor. The 'i-Force Max' set-up, from the Tundra, produces substantial increases in power (up 114kW) and torque (up 90Nm), but is this Cruiser better off-road than its turbo-diesel stablemate?

Latest sales data shows buyers now prefer cheap EVs to budget petrol hatchbacks in Australia.More affordable EV models have hit the Aussie market in the last year, with Chinese brands putting forward competitive propositions.Cheap petrol-powered hatchbacks the Mazda2 and Toyota Yaris used to be staples for first-car buyers, but it looks like that's starting to change.The electric-only BYD Atto 1 and Geely EX2 are affordable routes into the electric car market for buyers, and its showing on the sales charts in 2026.The petrol- and hybrid-powered MG3 is the best-selling light car in Australia this year, but it's attracting competition from electric Chinese rivals. The Geely EX2 has had a bumper start to life in Australia since it went on sale in late July 2026.It's approaching nearly 2000 examples sold in a little over a month, compared to the MG3’s roughly 5500 across the year so far.In August alone, the EX2 held nearly 38 per cent of the market share in the light car segment. It was close to doubling the MG3’s August total, while it was confidently ahead of the petrol-only Mazda2. Its success is in part due to the fulfilment of extensive pre-orders.Geely's Director of Product Planning and Marketing Andrew Tuitahi recently told CarsGuide small EVs like the EX2 were showing promising signs of reigniting interest in the light car segment.“So a lot of the compromises that you typically make if you were going to buy a b-segment or a light hatchback - things like drivetrain, power, performance, safety, style, you know, space - a lot of those things are solved with a battery electric platform," Tuitahi said.“So I think consumers are able to prioritise maybe some features by sacrificing a segment, but still getting that same space.”It’s not just EX2 that is shaking up the established affordable car segment. The BYD Atto 1 is still the cheapest electric car on sale in Australia, and owns nearly 20 per cent of the light car segment in 2026 so far. The Atto 1 and EX2’s rise has been at the expense of its petrol competition.The MG3’s August represented a more than 80 per cent increase on July, but it was still a way off the EX2. Its sales so far in 2026 are down nearly 11 per cent compared to August 2025. The Toyota Yaris hybrid has experienced a near 30 per cent decline year-to-date in AustraliaThe new wave of affordable EVs are also beating its petrol competitors on price. Buyers may have previously felt priced out by the extra money an EV cost, but the tides are turning.The Atto 1’s $23,990 price tag undercuts the Mazda2 ($27,290) and Toyota Yaris ($29,190), all before on-roads.In addition to fast and cheap EV production cycles from China, brands must contend with fines for petrol-powered models under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).Mazda increased the price of its entire range, including the Mazda2 earlier this year, while the Toyota Yaris became a hybrid-only model in 2024, ditching cheaper petrol variants. MG is currently offering the MG3 with a $19,990 drive-away deal, with it previously available from $21,990. If buyers want a hybrid variant of the MG3, it costs an extra roughly $8000, making it more expensive than the fully-electric Atto 1 and EX2.  

Already the world’s biggest carmaker by sales, Toyota is looking to massively increase profit through post-purchase options including software updates, a focus on genuine spare parts and used car sales.That’s according to a report from NikkeiAsia, which said Toyota is aiming to lift profit generated outside new car sales by 40 per cent by 2030.That would represent a figure of ¥3 trillion (~A$26.7 billion) in that financial year with the Japanese giant identifying growth opportunities from the roughly 150 million Toyotas already on the road globally.To put that targeted increase (from the ¥2.1 trillion recorded for the Japanese financial year ending March 2026) into perspective, it would be equivalent to about 80 per cent of Toyota's current annual consolidated operating profit.The report notes an increasing number of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) on the road globally, which are able to be enhanced via over-the-air (OTA) software updates, upgrading or adding features including safety tech, multimedia functionality and powertrain calibration.Toyota's SDV strategy is underpinned by Arene, a software platform developed by the brand’s in-house tech subsidiary, Woven by Toyota, which its CEO Hajime Kumabe describes as “Toyota’s tugboat into the future”.Toyota has launched a paid service that allows GR Yaris and GR Corolla owners to add a cooling function for the electronic control system of their car via a smartphone app.And it’s worth noting the latest-generation RAV4 features the company’s proprietary Arene software platform.But Toyota must surely be aware of BMW’s chequered history with software-based subscription sales. The German maker’s focus on ‘in-car commerce’ emerged in 2022 in parallel with the proliferation of automotive subscription services and the increasing efficiency of over-the-air updates.Pitching monthly fees in a variety of markets for everything from heated seats and remote engine start to adaptive cruise control and Apple CarPlay was not well received by existing and prospective BMW owners.In fact, a consumer backlash based on peoples’ perception they were paying to unlock a function or capability already present in the car they’d bought led to low take-up rates and the company has subsequently eliminated ‘paywalling’ physical, built-in hardware features. As well as OTA update-driven sales, the report said Toyota will broaden its spare parts business globally.A recently opened warehouse in Belgium has created a structure that enables parts supply from 16 regional hub warehouses to 50 countries.And in markets like Italy and eastern Europe, where average car ownership is a lengthy 15 years, Toyota plans to ramp up and promote its spare parts supply capabilities.Additional emphasis on lower-priced used cars is also set to lift Toyota Japanese domestic used-car sales from the current 350,000 to 550,000 units by 2030.

Toyota has updated its smash-hit Crown hybrid in Japan. The Crown is one of the best-selling cars in Japan outside of the dominant Kei car segment. The Crown name cover a versatile line-up, available as a crossover, SUV, sedan and estate. It has launched as a crossover, with sport and sedan variants joining later in September followed by the estate towards the end of 2026. The Crown Crossover is generally bigger than the Camry and is positioned as a premium choice in the market.Crossover variants start from around 5.2 million yen, which is about $46,000, while the sedan starts from 6.2 million yen, the equivalent of less than $60,000. Crossover variants now receive red-coloured brake callipers, a dimpled leather gear shifter and a dimpled leather steering wheel.The steering wheel is heated and has touch-sensing functionality, and now features new paddle shifters.  The sedan’s interior now has the option of a 13.2-inch OLED rear-seat display and 10-speaker premium sound system. Sport SUV variants have an updated interior trim that features new grey ditching and black switch surrounds for a slick feel inside. The Crown's interior also features a 12.3-inch digital driver display and 12.3-inch central touchscreen. The Toyota Crown is available with two conventional hybrid set-ups and a plug-in hybrid one in Japan.Hybrid set-ups for the Crossover include a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and dual electric motor set-up, producing 254kW and 460Nm in all-wheel drive, as well as a 2.5-litre petrol electric motor unit, making 172kW and 221Nm in front-wheel drive. Toyota also offers a plug-in hybrid set-up in the Crown SUV spin-off that pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with two electric motors to offer a total system output of 225kW.  Plenty of Toyota Crown examples are brought into Australia via grey importers, but its popularity has not been enough for the Japanese brand to consider offering it officially. Its luxury-pitched position would see it fall into direct competition with Lexus in Australia - Toyota’s own premium brand.The company's executives have previously poured cold water on the idea of the Crown range launching locally. "It's a beautiful car but it gets back to what's suitable for our market,” former Toyota Australia Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sean Hanley told CarsGuide in late 2023.  “We'd love to have everything, but it rationalises down to what services our customers better, and the commercial realities, too.”Sedans and to a degree station wagons are making a small comeback in Australia, with many Chinese automakers looking to exploit an increasingly ignored part of the market.New options coming soon for the mid-size wagon and sedan space include the Mazda 6e and Geely Emgrand, while Zeekr is set to offer its sporty electric 7GT wagon before the end of the year.BYD has already made an impact in the segment with its Seal 6 plug-in hybrid, while the Tesla Model 3 is largely credited with keeping interest in the bodystyle alive for many years, albeit in fully electric form.Whether these shifts in the market could make Toyota think twice about the Crown’s future Down Under remains to be seen.