Compare the2026 Toyota CrownVS 2026 Lexus IS

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Crown has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crown. But it costs extra on the IS.

The Toyota Crown offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Lexus IS doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

The Crown’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The IS doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crown and the IS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Crown is safer than the Lexus IS:

	Crown	IS
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	136	220
Neck Stress	248 lbs.	429 lbs.
Neck Compression	16 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	425/507 lbs.	599/675 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	179	282
Neck Injury Risk	26.1%	41%
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	81 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Crown is safer than the Lexus IS:

	Crown	IS
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	32	142
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	203 lbs.
Hip Force	344 lbs.	406 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	157	162
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	293	293

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Crown for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the IS (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crown’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Crown is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Crown’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The IS’ battery is in the hot engine compartment.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked third.

Engine

The Crown Platinum’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 29 more horsepower (340 vs. 311) and 120 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 280) than the IS’ 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Crown Platinum 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lexus IS:

	Crown	IS
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	5.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.5 sec	14.2 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	101 MPH	100 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crown gets better mileage than the IS:

			MPG
Crown
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/41 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	29 city/32 hwy
IS
	RWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Crown’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The IS doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crown’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The IS doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Crown higher (6 out of 10) than the Lexus IS (4). This means the Crown produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the IS every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Crown has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The IS doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown offers optional 21-inch wheels. The IS’ largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Crown offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The IS’ suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crown’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the IS (112.2 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Crown a Mid-size car, while the IS is rated a Compact.

The Crown has 7.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS (98 vs. 90.2).

The Crown has .9 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 6.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS.

Cargo Capacity

The Crown has a much larger trunk than the IS (15.2 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Crown Platinum’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The IS doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Ergonomics

The Crown Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The IS doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Crown and the IS have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crown is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The IS prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Crown’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Access standard on the IS doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Crown’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The IS’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Crown has standard extendable sun visors. The IS doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Crown and the IS have standard heated front seats. The Crown also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the IS.

The Crown has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the IS.

The Toyota Crown has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Lexus charges extra for Homelink® on the IS.

The Crown Platinum’s Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The IS doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Crown and the Lexus IS, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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