
The Crown is a rear-wheel drive vehicle, which offers better handling and acceleration performance. Taking the 2018 Crown as an example, its body dimensions are: length 5020mm, width 1805mm, height 1480mm, with a wheelbase of 2925mm, a fuel tank capacity of 70 liters, and a trunk capacity of 510 liters. The 2018 Crown features a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a multi-link independent rear suspension. It is equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 235 PS, a maximum power of 173 kW, and a maximum torque of 350 Nm, paired with an 8-speed manual-automatic transmission.

I've been driving a Crown for many years. As a classic sedan, the Crown is indeed a rear-wheel-drive car. Toyota insisted on a rear-wheel-drive layout when designing it. From the first generation, this car has been transmitting engine power through the rear wheels, unlike front-wheel-drive cars where the engine directly drives the front wheels. The advantage is a more balanced weight distribution, making it particularly stable when cornering, with smooth acceleration on highways and none of that dragging sensation typical of front-wheel-drive cars. Many people prefer rear-wheel drive for its strong driving pleasure, especially showing its advantages on mountain roads or sharp turns. The downside? It's prone to skidding in rain or snow, requiring careful handling, but the Crown generally comes with a stability control system to compensate. Toyota has been continuously upgrading it, for example, modern versions have added a rear differential lock to improve traction. In short, if you're learning to drive and getting your license, the Crown is a great example to understand the principles of rear-wheel drive.

From a technical perspective, the Crown is a standard rear-wheel-drive vehicle with the engine mounted at the front, delivering power directly to the rear wheels. This drive system is simple and efficient. Unlike the complexity of all-wheel drive, the rear-wheel-drive design reduces mechanical losses and improves fuel efficiency. The Crown's six-cylinder or four-cylinder engines pair particularly well with the rear-wheel-drive layout. During driving, the power response is quick, and the braking balance is excellent. Toyota has also introduced some all-wheel-drive versions of the Crown for extremely cold regions, but the core rear-wheel-drive characteristics remain unchanged. If you drive in the north, rear-wheel drive can be a bit troublesome in snowy winters, requiring snow tires, but it is absolutely reliable for daily driving. As a long-standing flagship of Toyota, the Crown's rear-wheel-drive system has a long lifespan, affordable maintenance, and readily available spare parts.

I recall the experience of driving the old Crown, its pure rear-wheel-drive feel was fantastic, with a noticeable push-back sensation during acceleration, and the steering was incredibly precise. The power delivery was smooth for city commuting, and it was rock-solid on the highway. Compared to my friend's front-wheel-drive car, its handling was much stronger. The safety was also high, with the electronic assist systems intervening timely. The fuel consumption wasn't high, making it economical for daily driving, a smart design by the Crown.


