Toyota Crown Landscape: Jacked-up sedan not for Australia

The latest member of the expanded Toyota Crown family is a raised crossover sedan, aimed at Japanese buyers with off-road ambitions.

Based on the 16th-generation (yes, one-six) Toyota Crown’s Crossover bodystyle, this new Landscape variant lifts the four-door model another 2.5cm (or one inch) away from the ground.

Most of this extra lift was achieved through fitting the 18-inch wheels with 245/60 all-terrain tyres, teamed with a tuned suspension to make it more than just an appearance package.

There are also matte black wheel arch extensions and red mud flaps to give the Crown Crossover more of an off-road-ready look, while its cost-option roof racks add to its go-anywhere appearance.

All examples are finished in a two-tone black and Urban Khaki paint job, not available across the wider Crown range.

Inside, there’s a laser-engraved Landscape Crown inscription on the dash, alongside gloss black trim highlights.

Toyota hasn’t made any changes to the Crown Crossover’s drivetrain, continuing with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and hybrid system – as in the Lexus RX500h – developing 257kW of power and 542Nm of torque.

Unfortunately the Crown Crossover Landscape is for Japan only, where it’s priced from ¥6,850,000 (A$68,535).

Toyota Australia has previously said it has no intentions of bringing the Crown family to local showrooms, believing it would encroach on the luxury market occupied by Lexus.

Though in the past it has been offered in wagon, coupe and even ute body styles, the Crown for many years was available exclusively as a sedan.

With its latest generation, however, it has become a sub-brand. In addition to a traditional, rear-wheel drive luxury sedan, there’s also the featured Crown Crossover, the Crown Signia crossover wagon, and the hatchback-like Crown Sport.

Rather than being limited to the Japanese market, some of these Crown models are once again being sold in markets like China and North America.

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