The 2023 Toyota Crown basically replaces the former Avalon, and utilizes a model name from Toyota's history.
With a base price of just over $41,000, the new Crown features a nice ride, just enough luxury and technology, and even standard hybrid power. It's an American-sized big sedan for a new era.
But it kind of stands alone, or soon will.
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For example, this year will mark the last for the Chrysler 300, which had a good run. Chrysler is sending it out with some flair in the form of a special V8-powered 300C model. Collectors may have already scooped up all 2,000 of these distinctive farewell examples, for a base price of $56,595.
So after 2023, the Chrysler 300 will be no more. The same goes for its corporate sibling, the Dodge Charger. Back in 2019, Ford sent the once-popular Taurus packing. And a year after that, Chevrolet said goodbye to the Impala. Four big sedans, all given pink slips, as it were.
Mid-size sedans still seem to have more of a place, however. Honda's betting big on the continued popularity of the Accord, a car owned by so many over the decades. All-new for 2023, it boasts stylish looks, comfort and safety technology, and even available hybrid power for very good fuel efficiency. A great sedan, if you don't need a really large one, for prices that start just under $30,000.
If you do need something larger, the big Toyota is here. And because the Crown is a sedan, it has a conventional trunk and it's a pretty good size one, fairly easy to load because the opening sits rather high off the ground. In fact, the entire car sits rather high off the ground.
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One of the first things you'll notice: the high seating position. Yes, kind of like an SUV. And, all-wheel drive, kind of like an SUV. It's Toyota's way of blending the best of sedan and crossover SUV attributes.
VW somewhat tried that with its sleek Arteon, a very handy liftback design with a base price of under $45,000. It features a huge cargo area, here again, rather like one you'd find in an SUV. Alas, the Arteon will bow out after 2024, as Volkswagen concentrates on a future of electric power and more crossovers.
So, if you want a large four-door sedan in the under-$50,000 price range, you'll soon only have Toyota's Crown, somewhat standing alone in the years going forward.