Compare the2025 Toyota CrownVS 2024 BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Crown have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Crown are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crown Limited/Platinum/Nightshade 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 4 Series Gran Coupe 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 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Both the Crown and 4 Series Gran Coupe have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Crown Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Crown and the 4 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Toyota Crown achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The 4 Series Gran Coupe has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Crown 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 4 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crown’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 9th.

The Crown Platinum’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 369) than the M440i Gran Coupe’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Crown gets better mileage than the 4 Series Gran Coupe:

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 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crown has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the 4 Series Gran Coupe. The Crown’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

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 4 Series Gran Coupe; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the 4 Series Gran Coupe don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the Crown Platinum’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The Crown’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s (38 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Crown a Mid-size car, while the 4 Series Gran Coupe is rated a Compact.

The Crown has 7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 4 Series Gran Coupe (98 vs. 91).

The Crown has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

With its sedan body style, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Crown offers cargo security. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The Crown’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 4 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 4 Series Gran Coupe.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Crown has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Insurance will cost less for the Crown owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Crown will cost $3005 less than the 4 Series Gran Coupe over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Crown will be $8777 to $12709 less than for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

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