On a slightly different note, when I was a child, my parents replaced their car with a Crown. My mother often said, “It’s bigger than our last car, so I have to be careful when I drive it.” Looking back, though, the Crown’s body was less than 1,800 mm wide at the time.
Even now, when my mother sees me driving the Panamera, she says, “I really worry about you driving such a big car!” I can understand why. (lol)
My father has never been interested in cars, but for some reason he’s always loved Toyota and stuck with the brand. Before the Crown, he drove a Vista. As he moved up the ranks at work, the cars he drove moved upmarket too, until he finally got a Crown. For my parents’ generation, the Crown must have had a special significance.
Not long after the Crown was delivered, my mother drove it to a get-together with friends. When she got home, she told us, beaming:
“Everyone said, ‘Wow, it’s a Crown! That’s amazing!’”
I still remember how pleased she was, even though I was just a kid.
Back to the Crown: here’s my husband’s overall verdict on the Toyota Crown Athlete.
If I had to sum it up in one phrase, I’d call it “fantastic up to 100 km/h.” It’s an exceptional car at low speeds, with a wonderfully calm, composed feel. Press the accelerator a little too enthusiastically and, naturally, it picks up speed, but the G-forces still feel gentle. It’s quiet, and the cabin feels peaceful. The steering is light, and you can get around without any stress—whether you’re stopping at traffic lights or stuck in a jam.
Glance over at the dashboard and you’ll see the air-conditioning vents gently swing from side to side, sending out a breeze at just the right temperature and humidity. The armrest is at a comfortable height, the seats are soft, and even the window sills sit at just the right level—as if to say, “Go ahead, rest your arm here while you drive.”
You can tell the car was designed with one priority in mind: making sure you never get tired of driving around town. I can easily imagine that a car like this is the least stressful choice for a daily commute.
On Japanese roads, where speeds are generally modest, it’s in a class of its own for comfort. It’s easy to see why it sells so well, and there’s a lot to admire.
On the other hand, if you love driving, it can feel a little underwhelming. Maybe I wouldn’t feel that way if I’d only driven Crowns and other Japanese sedans, but the confidence, stability, and agility at higher speeds are on a completely different level compared with European cars. Every time a new model comes out, reviews say it’s getting closer to European cars. But honestly, when it comes to driving dynamics, I’m still surprised by how much of a gap remains.
I understand that comparing them may not be entirely fair. So rather than trying to imitate European cars, I hope the Crown continues to be the ideal car for getting around Japan.
By the way, the current Toyota Century, which you often see at official Imperial Household events, has a clean, elegant look that feels unmistakably its own. I really like it. Perhaps the Crown could become an even more distinctive and appealing car by following a similar direction. If Toyota made a Crown that was something like a “mini Century,” I’d be very tempted.
That was his verdict. Interesting! I’d love to try one myself sometime. And a big thank-you to Mr. H at the dealership for always looking after us and offering such a great range of loaner cars.
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