Compare the2026 Lexus ISVS 2026 Toyota Crown

The IS’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Crown doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the IS and the Crown 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, available all wheel drive and 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 Lexus IS is safer than the Toyota Crown:

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 Lexus IS is safer than the Toyota Crown:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the IS, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.8% less likely to roll over than the Crown, which received a four-star rating.

The IS comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Crown’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Crown. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Crown ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Crown’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Crown isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Toyota is ranked third.

The IS 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 75 more horsepower (311 vs. 236) than the Crown’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lexus IS is faster than the Toyota Crown 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

The IS has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Crown (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus IS RWD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Crown.

For better stopping power the IS’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Crown:

The IS’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Crown are solid, not vented.

The IS stops much shorter than the Crown:

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the Crown (235/40R19 vs. 225/55R19). The IS F Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crown (F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 225/55R19).

The IS’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crown XLE/Limited’s standard 55 series tires. The IS F Sport’s 235/40R19 front and 265/35R19 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Crown’s optional 45 series tires.

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the Crown Platinum pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 350 F Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Crown Platinum (25.4 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Crown Platinum’s (34.2 feet vs. 35.4 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Crown’s (35.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

The IS is 10.3 inches shorter than the Crown, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The IS has 2.7 inches more front legroom and .9 inches more rear hip room than the Crown.

The IS uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crown uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Crown. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 42% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Crown does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The IS’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Crown’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The IS has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Crown doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the IS offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Crown doesn’t offer cornering lights.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS (except F Sport Design) to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Crown doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The IS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Crown doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Lexus IS retains 60.76% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 56.36% resale value of the 2026 Toyota Crown after five years, which can save the Lexus’ owner up to $1010 in depreciation.

The Lexus IS outsold the Toyota Crown by 60% during 2025.