Toyota Is Refreshing The Crown, While The Signia Steals the Show

An Oddball Flagship

The 16th-generation Toyota Crown has always been a bit of an oddball. When it landed in North America over three years ago (or at least one of its many body types), it essentially replaced the Avalon, but with a twist. Instead of rolling out another big sedan, Toyota gave us a jacked-up fastback with crossover vibes. It’s called the Crown Crossover in Japan, but here it’s just the Crown, straddling the line between comfy sedan and high-riding SUV, and not really fitting into any box.

Since then, the Crown has mostly stayed the same while Toyota added the Crown Signia crossover wagon to the family – and that one’s already stealing the spotlight. After a few years of radio silence, Toyota is finally teasing a refreshed Crown, set to debut in Japan this September.

A Cleaner Look From Front to Back

The most noticeable revisions on the Toyota Crown are found at the rear. Toyota says the updated design creates a more stable and wider-looking stance, and several small styling changes work together to achieve that effect.

One of the biggest changes is the two-tone paint job. The old Crown stopped the black roof at the rear quarter pillar, leaving the tailgate looking like it borrowed a tuxedo jacket. Now, the black stretches over the whole top, while the tailgate matches the body color. It’s not so subtle, but something you won’t notice if you haven’t been paying attention. But ultimately, it tidies up the rear.

Toyota also altered the lower bumper, moving the reflectors around. The silver brake calipers have also been replaced with red ones to spice things up. Up front, it’s business as usual – Toyota clearly didn’t want to mess with the Crown’s recognizable mug.

All in all, this is your classic facelift. The Crown keeps its proportions, signature lights, and overall vibe – Toyota’s just giving it a bit of a polish instead of a full makeover.

North America Should Be Next

Toyota says the refreshed Crown will make its official entrance in Japan this September, with deliveries rolling out soon after. If Toyota sticks to its usual playbook, expect the updated model to hit North America next year as a 2027.

While the Crown continues to serve as Toyota's flagship sedan in the US, it has struggled to sell and, perhaps more importantly, has failed to match the popularity of the newer Crown Signia. In June 2026, Toyota sold 656 Crown sedans, down 31.7% from a year earlier, while the Crown Signia posted 1,728 sales, an increase of 54%. Year-to-date, the sedan has reached 5,152 units, compared with 11,231 for the Signia.

Will a mild facelift be enough to get buyers excited? That’s the big question. If you already liked the Crown’s weird blend of sedan moves and crossover practicality, these tweaks just sharpen what you already loved. For everyone else, Toyota might need more than a new paint job to win them over.

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