Toyota Tweaks the Crown's Controversial Two-Tone Look for 2027

, it was a head-scratcher. Part sedan, part crossover, with a two-tone paint job that some loved and others openly mocked. The price didn't help, it flirted with Lexus territory. For 2027. Toyota has listened to the critics. The dual-tone look has been reworked, and the result is a bit more conventional.

The blacked-out section no longer swallows the rear bumper and tailgate. Instead, it now wraps over the roof and the sides, leaving the trunk and bumper body-colored. It’s a cleaner look, even if some of us will miss the old weirdness.

The rest of the updates are subtle. The Limited trim picks up features once reserved for the Platinum, digital key capability and Toyota’s Traffic Jam Assist (a subscription-based hands-free system for low-speed driving). All trims get a slightly reshaped rear bumper. Non-Platinum models also adopt Toyota’s fourth-gen hybrid system, though fuel economy actually dips by one mile per gallon combined compared to the 2026 version.

Paddle shifters are now standard, if you feel like pretending your fastback is a track weapon.

Pricing has crept up across the board, with most trims rising $200. The base XLE starts at $42,935, while the Limited jumps to $51,015, now pricier than the Nightshade at $50,260. The Platinum tops out at $56,485. All figures include a $1,295 destination fee. The Crown is still the same oddball underneath, but Toyota has sanded down some of its edges.

For those who loved the old blacked-out rear end, it’s a small loss. But maybe that’s the price of growing up.