2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade Review: This Sophisticated Sedan Gets the Balance Right

The 2025 Toyota Crown represents Toyota's ambitious attempt to redefine the premium sedan segment, positioning itself as the sophisticated successor to the discontinued Avalon. The Nightshade Edition, built off the Limited grade, takes this concept further with dark exterior accents and premium appointments that create a more cohesive luxury experience.

In a market where sedans struggle against SUV dominance, the Crown's elevated seating position and hybrid efficiency offer a compelling alternative for drivers seeking luxury without the bulk. The Nightshade variant specifically targets buyers who want understated elegance rather than flashy styling - an approach that may finally give Toyota the Avalon replacement it's been seeking.

This is my second time driving the Toyota Crown, and I like it better this time. My previous experience was with a striking two-tone red and black design that was, to put it mildly, quite divisive. Initially, I liked it for being bold and unique, but over the week, it started to look weird, and I got tired of defending it to people making comments. Now though, with the Nightshade Edition, I had a chance to give it a fresh look with a more open mind.

For this road trip, we set out to explore a town an hour south of Toledo where there are three rail lines that all come together - called the Iron Triangle - as well as visiting the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library in Fremont and ultimately stopping at a local favorite, Jolly's Root Beer Stand in Tiffin, where we tried something we heard about on TikTok - an Ohio Shredded chicken sandwich along with their Ballreich chips Chili Cheese Dog flavor.

The Fostoria Iron Triangle Rail Park is a railfan paradise where Norfolk Southern and two CSX lines converge in a triangular formation. It's a cool observation park with benches that's perfect for geeks like myself who love to look at freight trains, since they go by about every 10 minutes or so. The traditional Ohio shredded chicken sandwich combines shredded chicken with cream of chicken soup and either crushed Ritz crackers or stuffing mix, served on a hamburger bun. While this was a perfect example of why I love road trips - exploring new places and trying new things - I gotta admit this sandwich was white on white on white. Adding the chips for a bit of crunch, it wasn't so bad, but it's not something I'm going to rush back and try again.

However, after a full day of driving around Northwest Ohio, the Crown served us well and was fun to drive.

Real-World Performance and the Engine Question

What struck me most was how shockingly quiet this vehicle is - something very welcome when I just want to turn on the driver assistance tech and let the car take me to my destination while relaxing. That quiet nature also makes casual conversations on the phone that much easier because you're not competing with road noise. When we were discussing our TikTok-inspired food adventure or debating whether adding Ballreich chips actually improved that "white on white on white" chicken sandwich, the cabin's serenity made every conversation effortless.

The Crown Nightshade uses Toyota's proven 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder hybrid system producing 236 combined horsepower. More importantly, it delivers an EPA-estimated 41 MPG combined - fuel economy that actually holds up during full days of Northwest Ohio exploration. For casual weekend road trips like ours, the powertrain handles everything you need with composed competence.

Here's where I'll be honest though - it's disappointing that Toyota reserves the more powerful Hybrid Max engine exclusively for the Platinum trim. While the Nightshade looks every bit as sporty as its $56,000 sibling with those aggressive 21-inch wheels and dark styling, you're getting 236 horsepower instead of the Platinum's 340 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. I'm willing to accept this compromise for the exceptional fuel economy and the fact that cruising around Northwest Ohio never felt lacking, but this car's potential could be so much greater. When you want to really whip it around corners or need serious oomph for confident highway merging with a full load of weekend gear, you'll find yourself wishing Toyota had offered the bigger engine as an option.

The Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive system utilizes a separate, rear-mounted electric motor, allowing for seamless power distribution between 100:0 and 20:80 front-to-rear without requiring driver intervention. It's a sophisticated setup that deserves more grunt to really shine.

Elevated Visibility and Premium Comfort Features

The Crown's elevated seating position - with a hip point measuring about 25 inches - provides excellent outward visibility that proves invaluable when exploring unfamiliar areas. This SUV-like height advantage makes spotting landmarks, reading street signs, and navigating small-town traffic significantly easier compared to traditional low-slung sedans. Whether cruising between rail line viewing spots or parking outside local favorites like Jolly's, the Nightshade handled every scenario with composure.

The heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front seats are standard, with 8-way power adjustment for both driver and passenger. The standard JBL Premium Audio system features 11 speakers, delivering audiophile-quality sound. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 includes Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which operates smoothly during highway stretches between destinations.

Nightshade Gets the Styling Balance Right

While I still prefer its cousin the Crown Signia, this Nightshade Edition does deliver a more luxurious look and feel that the Avalon always managed to deliver. The Nightshade Edition features dark badging, black door handles, mirror caps, and shark fin antenna that create a cohesive, sophisticated appearance. The 21-inch matte-black wheels complete the look without crossing into flashy territory.

Where the two-tone variants can feel try-hard, the Nightshade achieves something more valuable - understated confidence. This is a sedan that looks expensive without screaming for attention, which matters whether you're exploring small Northwest Ohio towns or pulling up to business meetings.

Why the Crown Nightshade Earns Its Place in Your Driveway

The 2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade successfully bridges the gap between practical efficiency and genuine luxury. At $48,765, it costs more than mainstream sedans but delivers premium features, exceptional fuel economy, and build quality that justifies the investment. It's the perfect companion for the kind of authentic travel experiences I love about road trips - exploring new places and trying new things.

Visit Toyota's Crown page to explore more and find a local Toyota dealer and schedule your own test drive.