Sunday Drive: Taking the scenic route home in the 2025 Toyota Crown
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- Deanne with the 2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade edition as we crossed over the mountains into Cedar City, where we found some snow still on the ground in mid-April, as we journeyed home from Denver.
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- The 2025 Toyota Crown.
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- Inside the 2025 Toyota Crown.
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- The 2025 Toyota Crown.
There’s always something special about blending a scenic road trip with a brand-new vehicle, and we couldn’t have picked a more perfect pairing than the elegant 2025 Toyota Crown for our journey home from the Denver Auto Show.
The Crown, Toyota’s flagship sedan, is unlike anything else in their current lineup — a luxurious hybrid with coupe-like styling, an all-wheel drive powertrain and comfort to spare.
While we could’ve made the trip back to Springville in a quick day’s drive, we decided instead to stretch it into a long weekend of adventure, winding our way through the breathtaking byways of Colorado, New Mexico and southern Utah.
Introducing the Crown
Before getting into the awesome road trip home, we need to talk about the car itself. The 2025 Toyota Crown is a standout. It has replaced the Avalon in Toyota’s lineup but brings a bold, forward-thinking personality all its own. With its distinctive high stance, sweeping roofline and aggressive front grille, the Crown was turning heads in any parking lot or scenic overlook.
Our test vehicle was the Nightshade trim, which means it came equipped with Toyota’s hybrid powertrain — a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors for a combined output of 236 horsepower. That power is sent through an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission and distributed to all four wheels through an electronic on-demand AWD system.
What impressed us the most was how the Crown made highway cruising and mountain driving feel effortless. It proved to be refined, comfortable and quiet — just what we needed for nearly 1,000 miles of scenic detouring.
Day One: Denver to Alamosa
After spending the day at the Denver Auto Show, we left the bustling city in the late afternoon and pointed the Crown south toward Alamosa, a quiet town nestled in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The drive took us through rolling plains and into the open high desert.
The Crown made an immediate impression with its quiet cabin and supportive leather-trimmed seats. The adaptive suspension smoothed out every bump in the road, while the 12.3-inch infotainment display and JBL premium sound system kept us both entertained and informed as we made our way through the Colorado twilight.
By the time we arrived in Alamosa, we were already smitten with the Crown’s ability to blend performance and poise.
Day Two: Alamosa to Cortez (via Chama and Pagosa Springs)
The next morning, we set off early and took the scenic route southwest through the quaint mountain town of Chama, New Mexico, before cutting back north through Pagosa Springs. It was here, weaving through twisting forest roads and climbing mountain passes, that the Crown’s hybrid system really shined.
With instant torque from the electric motors and confident power from the engine, the Crown handled the curves with grace and composure. We toggled the driving mode to “Sport” and were pleasantly surprised at how eager this elegant sedan was to play on winding roads. The paddle shifters added an extra bit of engagement, though we rarely needed to use them — Toyota’s transmission seemed to read our minds.
Pagosa Springs made for a delightful lunch stop, where we stretched our legs along the riverwalk and admired the views of the San Juan Mountains.
That evening, we arrived in Cortez, Colorado, where we stayed near the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. After unloading our bags, we reclined in the Crown’s comfortable front seats and took a moment to scroll through the onboard trip computer — it showed our average fuel economy for the day was an impressive 38 mpg. Not bad for a spirited drive through the mountains!
Day Three: Cortez to Kanab
Day Three took us from the red rock mesas of southwestern Colorado into the wild heart of the Four Corners region. After passing through the open lands of the Navajo Nation and catching glimpses of Monument Valley in the distance, we crossed into Utah and made our way through the remote beauty of Glen Canyon and Lake Powell.
We were continually thankful for the Crown’s comfortable cabin. Long hours on the road were softened by heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and ample cabin space. Even after multiple days of driving, we both felt relaxed rather than fatigued. Toyota clearly designed this sedan for grand touring.
Another feature we came to rely on was the Crown’s comprehensive suite of safety tech, including lane tracing assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and a handy 360-degree camera system that made tight parking in small-town lots easy.
By the time we arrived in Kanab for the night, we had become fully accustomed to the Crown’s luxury-sedan personality. It gave us the confidence of an SUV, the elegance of a Lexus and the practicality of a Toyota hybrid — all wrapped up in one striking package.
Day Four: The final stretch to Springville
Sunday morning came too soon, but we weren’t done soaking in the scenery just yet. Leaving Kanab, we pointed the Crown north along U.S. 89 through Bryce Canyon country and then cut across to Interstate 15 for the final stretch home.
With the cruise control set, the Crown settled into its most natural role: a long-distance cruiser. As we climbed the final miles toward home in Springville, we reflected on what an enjoyable, comfortable journey we had experienced.
The trip totaled over 950 miles and took us through mountain passes, desert valleys, forested highways and remote towns. The Crown handled it all with grace. Our average fuel economy over the four-day trip ended up at 39.8 mpg — a solid result for such a capable and powerful hybrid.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Toyota Crown is a fascinating vehicle — one that redefines what a modern sedan can be. It’s not your typical family car. It offers a unique blend of style, comfort, performance and efficiency.
For our road trip, it was the perfect companion. It impressed us not just with its tech and design, but with how it made every mile feel just a little more special. Whether it was slicing through a canyon curve in New Mexico or gliding down the freeway toward home, the Crown felt composed and confident.
Base price: $48,765
Destination charge: $1,095
Price as driven: $49,860
