Attractive design of the new generation Crown

I had the opportunity to test drive a Toyota Crown Sport that was purchased by a car enthusiast friend of mine.
This car is a new model that has been attracting attention for its innovative design, which sets it apart from conventional Crowns.

From a distance, I was struck by its alluring appearance.

Very cool."That was my first impression, frankly speaking. This was not a social commentary, but rather the sensation that a genuinely wonderful car had appeared in front of me.

As for the design, some say it resembles Ferrari's Prosangue, but I personally feel that Crown has a more cohesive design. The Prosangue looks a bit stretched out, whereas the Crown Sport has a more massive and condensed feel to it. If the emblems were switched, it would still be a great Ferrari! I think it would be a great Ferrari.

One in particular caught my eye,Large 21-inch wheelsIt is.

This tightens the overall impression of the car and creates a sense of luxury.
Furthermore, the use of Michelin e-primacy tires deserves praise. The fact that Michelin tires are chosen instead of cheap domestic tires for cost reduction, which is rare for a domestic car, is favorable.

The e-Primacy is also used on the Model 3, and while it does not have much grip, it is a very low rolling resistance, quiet, and comfortable tire.

Sophisticated interior and comfort

Turning to the interior, we were first surprised by the quality of the seats.
Not just a soft, flat-like seat, as is common in domestic cars,Firm, three-dimensional shapeThe seat has a The seat also has adequate firmness and hold, and looks comfortable even after long hours of driving.

The design of the instrument panel and steering wheel area combines luxury and novelty without sacrificing operability.
It is a legacy creation and not particularly eccentric. The interface is designed in such a way that anyone can drive it without getting lost, and the design is conservative in the good sense of the word, typical of Toyota.
The shift lever and other controls follow a general pattern and are intuitive to operate.

This area is the exact opposite of Tesla.
The approach is completely different between Crown, whose interface was created by listening to users, and Tesla, which lets users use the interface they think is best. This will be a matter of taste.

Amazing suspension and ride comfort

The most impressive aspect of the Crown Sport's driving performance was its suspension.

Compared to previous crowns,a world of differenceIt is no exaggeration to say.
Conventional Crowns lacked a sense of rigidity, and when steering a little sporty on the highway, the rear end seemed to lag behind completely. At the time, I remember being astonished that domestic cars were still at this level. At the time, I remember being astonished that a domestic car was still at this level.
The new Crown Sport, however, is quite different. It has a very solid suspension, if not as solid as the German cars. In terms of stiffness, it is similar to the Tesla Model 3 Highland.

While the suspension is appropriately soft,Solid core........ It could be described as a so-called "Sanuki Udon type foot.
It has just the right amount of rigidity without being squishy or yawty like the old Crowns of the past. This will feel just the right level for those accustomed to European cars.

However, to scratch the corner of a heavy box, the 21-inch wheels may have had an effect, and the "kotokotoko" sound when going over bumps was a bit annoying.
For this car.If it didn't have the name "Crown" attached to it, it would be perfectly fine.However, since we are talking about "Crown", I would like to see a little better sound control. On this matter, I think a quieter and smoother ride could have been achieved if the car had been equipped with slightly smaller wheels, 20 inches or smaller.
However, doing so could compromise the present admirable design features. It is a difficult choice.

It is supremely comfortable at town speeds in the city, with no particular complaints about ride quality.
It is less slippery, rolling and smooth than the Tesla Model 3, but it isI think it's more to do with the large tires than the car.. When speeding up a little and going around a medium-speed curve, the driver feels a little high-waisted and the amount of movement of the upper cabin from side to side is a little large.
I would like to see a more flat attitude like European cars, but I feel that making the car any stiffer would cause a backlash from the car's user base, so perhaps this is just about right.

Feeling issues rather than dynamic performance

The Crown Sport is equipped with a 2.5-liter hybrid system. Since the car starts with an electric motor, it moves quietly and smoothly. However, the torque of the motor felt a bit lacking. Even though we cannot expect it to be as powerful as a pure electric car, we would like to see a more direct and energetic start, similar to Mercedes' mild hybrids.

During the drive, the most interesting thing was the feeling of the power unit. The engine starts as soon as you step on the gas pedal. The problem is that the engine noise does not match the increase in speed. Even when the engine speed increased, the speed did not increase in proportion,Accelerate after a delay of about 2 tempo.I have a feeling. I, for example, accelerated more than necessary because the car did not accelerate as I expected, which conversely led to driving that seemed to be bad for fuel economy.

To be honest, the feeling was similar to that of the previous Prius power unit, and in any case, there was no direct connection between the engine or motor and the tires. Unfortunately, there was nothing like the exhilarating feeling of being able to control the car freely and comfortably with just a slight movement of the right foot, as in the Tesla.

This may be due to the characteristics of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), though,There is room for improvement for a car that claims to be a "sport" car.
We would like to see more direct acceleration that responds faithfully to the driver's intentions, not speed or power.

As for the engine sound, considering the name value of Crown as a luxury car, it might be better to make the engine a little quieter at engine startup and when the rpm rises. Perhaps they dare to make it sound sporty, but it feels counterproductive because it is out of proportion to the speed. It would be more luxurious if the engine were so quiet that one could not tell whether it is running or not, as in the old Windhams.

Driver Assistance Systems and General Comments

The Crown Sport is equipped with a driver assistance system called Proactive Driving Assist [PDA].

This function assists the driver by automatically applying the brakes according to the speed of the car in front. This control is similar to that of the Porsche Taikan with regenerative braking set to AUTO.
Very useful feature for those who are not confident in their driving skills or for those who value comfort.Id. Other safety features include lane departure warning and forward collision warning.

In general, the Crown Sport is a very suitable car for city driving and commuting use. According to the owner, it is also very economical, with excellent fuel economy of over 20 km/L.
However, it is the only model bearing the "Sport" name that we felt had room for improvement, especially in its feel, not in the performance of the power unit.

For a car in the 6 million yen class, it is an attractive enough vehicle, but for those seeking a sporty driving feel, other models are worth considering.
The only part of this car that bothered me was the feel of this power unit, and the rest,An excellent car that can be given a passing grade, especially in terms of suspension, ride comfort, and design.I felt it was a good idea.