Compare the2024 Toyota CrownVS 2024 Acura TLX

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crown are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The TLX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 TLX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Crown has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The TLX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crown Limited/Platinum has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Both the Crown and TLX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Crown Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Crown and the TLX 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crown its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The TLX has not been fully tested, yet.

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Crown’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the TLX’s camshafts. If the TLX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Acura.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fourth.

The Crown Platinum’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 354) than the TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Crown Platinum 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

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

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Crown higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura TLX (5 to 7). This means the Crown produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the TLX every 15,000 miles.

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 TLX doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Crown stops shorter than the TLX:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown offers optional 21-inch wheels. The TLX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Crown has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the TLX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better maneuverability, the Crown’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the TLX’s (38 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Crown Platinum is quieter than the TLX Type S:

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

The Crown has 4.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (98 vs. 93.4).

The Crown has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

The Crown has a much larger trunk than the TLX (15.2 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Crown and the TLX 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 TLX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

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

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

The Toyota Crown outsold the Acura TLX by 14% during 2023.