Why Was the Crown Abandoned?
3 Answers
Here are the reasons why the Crown was abandoned: 1. Overestimation of its own positioning: Victory can make people lose their heads, and this phrase perfectly describes the Toyota Crown. The success of the 12th-generation Crown made Toyota overly arrogant, believing that as long as it bore the Crown emblem, no matter the price, Chinese consumers would still buy it. 2. Abandonment of the six-cylinder engine: Toyota chose to replace the previous V6 engine with a 2.0T engine. Although the new engine provided significantly improved burst power compared to the old model, it lost the Crown's signature smooth driving experience, resulting in a completely different driving style that disappointed consumers. It can be said that from the moment the Crown adopted a turbocharged engine, its decline was inevitable.
As a long-time car enthusiast, I've followed many classic models, and the Crown is one that I particularly miss. The main reason it was discontinued was actually the continuous decline in sales—nowadays, SUVs and electric vehicles are so popular, who still loves such a traditional sedan? As a major manufacturer, Toyota needs to optimize its product line to make profits. The Crown had high costs but poor returns, so it naturally became a casualty. I also noticed the intense competition—Mercedes and BMW's counterparts in the same segment are more appealing to younger buyers, while the Crown's design felt a bit outdated and couldn't keep up with trends. On top of that, the rapid shift toward electrification is unstoppable, forcing Toyota to invest in new ventures like the bZ series, and the Crown gradually faded away. This isn't just the end of a car—it's the end of an era, which is quite sentimental. But the market is ruthless like that, and consumer tastes change too fast.
I've been repairing cars for over twenty years, and the Crown is quite a hassle to maintain—expensive and hard-to-find parts often give customers headaches. This is a major reason it was discontinued—high maintenance costs are unbearable for average owners, leading to declining sales. Before Toyota halted production, I heard colleagues mention that the factory calculated the profit margins were too slim, and it made more sense to allocate resources to bestsellers like the Corolla or RAV4. Plus, the Crown's mechanical components are relatively outdated, with higher fuel consumption, while newer models like the Highlander and Camry are more reliable and in high demand. The market is changing, and manufacturers must adapt. Discontinuing the Crown was a strategic move to avoid persistent losses and free up production lines.
