Toyota’s Crown Sport crossover is getting a left-hand-drive version for the first time, opening a potential path to markets beyond Japan. The model is set to go on sale in Taiwan, where preorders began in mid-September 2026. Although no U.S. launch has been announced, the change removes one obstacle to bringing the sporty crossover to American buyers.
Toyota Crown Sport Gets a Left-Hand-Drive Version
Toyota introduced the Crown family to the U.S. for the 2023 model year with the Crown, known as the Crown Crossover in Japan. The automaker later added the wagon-style Crown Signia, but two models in the premium lineup — the Crown Sedan and Crown Sport — have yet to reach the American market.
According to Japan’s Kuruma News, the Crown Sport is now available in a left-hand-drive configuration for the first time. The report said the crossover will be offered in Taiwan, with preorders beginning in mid-September 2026.
The report did not indicate whether Toyota plans to bring the Crown Sport to the United States. However, the availability of a left-hand-drive version removes one potential barrier to a U.S. launch.
Toyota would still need to determine whether the model fits its American lineup. The Crown Sport could overlap with existing vehicles, including the Crown Signia and Lexus NX.
What Makes the Crown Sport Different?
The Crown Sport is the sportiest of the four models in Toyota’s Crown family. The five-seat crossover focuses on driving dynamics, performance and design while retaining the comfort and practicality expected of a premium vehicle.
Its features include a specially tuned suspension designed to give drivers better feedback. Despite its performance-oriented character, the Crown Sport is positioned differently from Toyota’s more performance-focused GR models, such as the GR Corolla.
The crossover also retains the premium appeal associated with the Crown lineup, combining its sporty focus with everyday usability.
Toyota Crown Sport Powertrain Options and Performance
The Crown Sport is available with two powertrain options. The first is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system producing around 230 horsepower, comparable to the hybrid powertrains offered in the U.S.-spec Crown and Crown Signia.
The second option is a 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid powertrain that delivers 302 horsepower. It also offers an electric-only range of 56 miles based on Japan’s WLTC testing cycle.
The two options give the Crown Sport different performance and efficiency characteristics while maintaining its position as the sport-oriented member of the Crown family.
Toyota Crown Sport Price and Position in the Lineup
According to Kuruma News, the Crown Sport will arrive in Taiwan with a preorder price starting at NT$1.75 million, equivalent to about $54,000 at current exchange rates.
In Japan, where all four Crown models are sold, the Crown Sport occupies the middle of the lineup. It sits above the entry-level Crown Crossover, marketed simply as the Crown in the United States, but below the Crown Estate and Crown Sedan.
The Crown Estate is sold in the U.S. as the Crown Signia. The positioning of the Crown Sport places it between the more entry-level crossover and the larger models in Toyota’s premium Crown family.
Could the Toyota Crown Sport Come to the U.S.?
Toyota’s current U.S. Crown lineup provides some context for where the Crown Sport might fit. The Crown starts at $41,640, excluding destination charges, while the Crown Signia starts at $44,690.
The two models effectively succeeded the Avalon and Venza, respectively. They target buyers looking for something more premium than mainstream Toyota vehicles such as the Camry and RAV4 without moving up to the Lexus brand.
The Crown Sport could potentially appeal to a similar audience, but Toyota has not commented on whether it plans to introduce the model in the United States. Its potential overlap with the Crown Signia and Lexus NX remains a consideration for the automaker.
The Crown Sedan’s U.S. Prospects Look Less Certain
While the Crown Sport’s new left-hand-drive configuration removes one obstacle to a possible U.S. launch, the outlook for the Crown Sedan appears more uncertain. The sedan is available in a left-hand-drive configuration in China, but that alone does not indicate plans for an American release.
American buyers have increasingly moved away from traditional luxury sedans. That shift is reflected in the discontinuation of the Lexus LS after the 2026 model year.
For now, Toyota has not announced a U.S. arrival for either the Crown Sport or Crown Sedan. The Crown Sport’s expansion into Taiwan marks a new development for the lineup, but its future in the American market remains undecided.
