2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade Edition Review: Style for a Price

The 2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade adds new black accents and, combined with a Stormcloud Blue exterior color, creates a more dramatic look. With a hybrid powertrain, unique styling, a raised sedan design, and a host of features for the $48,000 price tag, is it the sedan you have been waiting for?

Exterior Design

The first impression of the Crown is its distinctive and somewhat polarizing design. With the new Nightshade package, Toyota designers wanted a more aggressive look by adding dark badging, dark window trim, and black exterior accents, including black door handles, mirror caps, and a black shark fin. Those changes with the Stormcloud color make the sedan much more eye-catching. The changes are topped off with 21-inch Bridgestone tires and matte black 10-spoke wheels. Toyota has successfully crafted a sedan that stands out, even under the soft glow of pre-dawn light.

Interior Comfort and Features

Stepping inside, the Crown offers a mix of functionality and style. The dark chrome accents and piano black finishes lend a touch of luxury, while the JBL speakers are a nice upgrade for music lovers. Despite the sloping roofline, headroom in the back is surprisingly adequate, thanks to a dome-shaped cutout. However, entry and exit require a bit of maneuvering – something to keep in mind for taller passengers. The front cabin continues the theme of practicality and comfort. The driver’s seat features power adjustments, heating, and cooling functions, making it ideal for long drives.

The infotainment system, a carryover from other Toyota and Lexus vehicles, includes wireless Apple CarPlay, navigation, and an intuitive interface. Controls for climate, driving modes, and seat adjustments are conveniently located, ensuring an ergonomic experience. There’s even a wireless charging pad tucked into a small drawer for added convenience and it stands upwards making it easy to grab.

Performance and Powertrain

Under the hood, the Crown Nightshade features a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder hybrid engine, delivering 238 net horsepower. This setup ensures excellent fuel efficiency, achieving 41 MPG combined. The hybrid system’s linear power delivery provides a smooth driving experience, ideal for city commuting and highway cruising alike. I always want more power, and off-the-line performance was good, not great. From a standstill to highway speeds, the Crown demonstrates reliable power, though it’s clear the vehicle prioritizes efficiency over outright speed.

Driving Dynamics

The Crown’s raised stance offers a commanding view of the road while maintaining the handling characteristics of a sedan. It handles well in urban environments and on winding roads, providing a sense of stability and control. However, the ride quality could be improved; bumps and road imperfections are more noticeable than expected, likely due to its firmer suspension setup. While not a luxury vehicle, the Crown’s cabin does let in some road and wind noise, which may detract from the otherwise comfortable experience.

Practicality and Utility

One of the standout features of the Crown is its generous trunk space. The rear cargo area can easily accommodate golf clubs, luggage, or grocery bags, making it a practical choice for families and travelers. Additionally, the raised seating position makes getting in and out more convenient for older drivers or those who prefer not to stoop into traditional sedans. Despite its higher ground clearance, the Crown doesn’t sacrifice the sleek profile that sedan enthusiasts appreciate.

Technology and Safety

Toyota has equipped the Crown Nightshade with an impressive array of technology and safety features. Blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a host of driver-assistance systems come standard. The multimedia system’s wireless connectivity and user-friendly interface make it easy to stay connected on the go. Heated and ventilated seats, along with a heated steering wheel, add to the overall comfort level.

Room for Improvement

While the Crown excels in many areas, it’s not without flaws. Entry and exit to the rear seats require some effort due to the sloped roofline and narrow door opening. Additionally, the placement of the front door handles may be challenging for shorter drivers since the door opens very wide. Finally, while the hybrid powertrain is efficient, its performance may leave enthusiasts wanting more, especially during high-speed acceleration.

Final Verdict

The 2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade is a compelling choice for those seeking a unique alternative to conventional sedans and SUVs. While it is pricey at $48,000, it does offer a well-rounded package that caters to drivers prioritizing comfort, practicality, and style over outright performance.

For those looking to break away from the crowd while enjoying the benefits of Toyota’s renowned reliability and hybrid expertise, the Crown Nightshade is a solid option. It’s not perfect, but its quirks are easily overshadowed by its many strengths, making it a worthy contender in the evolving automotive landscape.