This is the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia, a car that seems to have made up its mind to blur the lines between SUV, wagon, and something a little more premium than your average Toyota.
This is a vehicle that dares to ask: what if Toyota built something that felt a little more ‘wow’ without going fully Lexus? And the answer is: they did, so let’s unpack it. The mid-size Crown Signia replaces the unloved Venza, and straight away, it’s a more compelling offering. It is, however, based loosely on the Crown sedan.
Exterior
At first glance, the Crown Signia wears its intentions on its sleeve. The “hammerhead” front end, bold LED daytime running lights, and sculpted sides give it a silhouette that’s more refined than your typical crossover. It’s not trying to scream “off-roader” or “rugged,” and that’s a good thing. It’s going more for Urban Sophisticate than mud-splattered weekend warrior. Some may look at it and scratch their head: is it a tall wagon or a short SUV? Either way, it’s quirky and different.
Under the hood
The electrified powertrain is borrowed from the Crown sedan and comes one way, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors combining for 240 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard, but instead of shifting power rearward on a driveshaft, one of the electric motors is mounted at the rear axle and kicks in when all-wheel traction is required. Toyota estimates 39 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined for the Crown Signia. It’s not fast but gets to sixty in a respectable 7.0 seconds, which is faster than a 1973 Ferrari Dino.
Wheels and Tires
It rides on 21-inch wheels, wearing Bridgestone Turanza 235/45 all-season tires, and they are adequate for the job.
Driving
Driving the Crown Signia is rather like being chauffeured by a butler who’s just been promoted to regional manager. It’s calm, unflappable, and so well-mannered it probably thanks you for the privilege of being driven. This isn’t a car that shouts; it politely clears its throat and offers you a mint.
The Crown Signia delivers a ride quite unlike anything else on the road today. It doesn’t so much glide as float, like a very polite yacht navigating a sea of asphalt. It’s soft, gloriously, unapologetically soft as if Toyota’s engineers decided that firmness was something best left to mattresses and politicians.
Chuck it into a corner, though, and the body leans over like it’s trying to see what’s for tea. Stamp on the brakes, and the nose dips in a genteel bow of apology. It’s not sporty, not even pretending to be, but there’s a certain charm in that. It’s comfort first, athleticism somewhere near last, and frankly, it’s all rather relaxing.
Toyota, bless them, included a “Sport” mode, which is adorable. Because whatever “sport” is referring to clearly involves wicker hats and cucumber sandwiches. Press it, and the car doesn’t exactly leap it sort of agrees to move a bit faster, as if it’s doing you a favor.
Then there’s the EV mode, perfect for sneaking out of your driveway under the cover of darkness, like a silent suburban ninja. Just don’t expect to get far before it politely switches back to petrol power.
And finally, Eco mode. A noble idea, yes, but sadly it doesn’t project a glowing green halo or display your carbon virtue to nearby Teslas. It merely makes the car slightly less interested in arriving anywhere on time.
Interior
Inside, Toyota has clearly raided Lexus’s parts bin and then added a few “modern” touches to remind you it’s 2025. You get two 12.3-inch screens, one for the gauges and one for infotainment plus a healthy dose of physical buttons, which is cause for celebration. Yes, in an age where car companies think every control should live on a touchscreen menu, Toyota has said, “No, you can still turn the temperature up with an actual knob.” And for that, we applaud them.
The inside is surprisingly upscale for a Toyota, giving off a Lexus-level vibe of luxury. Every seat is wrapped in leather and comes with heating, plus there’s ventilation for those in the front and a heated steering wheel for the driver—all included as standard. The cabin is completed with brushed rose gold details and a simple yet neat center console, featuring a 12.3-inch display that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are also plenty of physical buttons for climate control and stereo functions.
The materials are genuinely nice—soft-touch plastics, tasteful trim, and a design that feels properly upscale. The caramel leather option in particular looks like something you’d find in a Scandinavian furniture showroom. Everything feels solid, purposeful, and sensibly arranged.
Back seat space is generous, though taller passengers might brush their heads on the panoramic roof. And of course, you get Toyota’s full suite of driver aids—lane keep, adaptive cruise, automatic braking, and something called “Proactive Driving Assist,” which sounds like your mum telling you to slow down.
Cargo Space
It retains all of its crossover/wagon-like usefulness, too. The cargo area is a useful 25 cubic feet, expanding to more than 66 cubic feet with the rear seats down, enough to swallow a family’s worth of luggage or a modest IKEA addiction.
Price
For this Limited model, prices start at $47,990. This one has the Advanced Tech package for $1,865, which includes a panoramic view monitor, traffic jam assist, lane change assist, Front cross traffic alert, and parking assist.
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Verdict
There’s real substance here; the hybrid system is proven. The build quality is impeccable. The comfort is top-tier. The Crown Signia won’t make your heart race, but it will make your life easier. And in a world full of loud, overdesigned, overly complicated SUVs, that’s a refreshing sort of luxury.
2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited numbers
ESTIMATED BASE PRICE: $47,990
ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $52,160
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5 passenger, 4-door Wagon
ENGINE: 2.5-liter turbocharged four plus three A/C electric motors
COMBINED POWER: 240 hp
TRANSMISSION: Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT)
0-60 MPH: 7.0 seconds
CURB WEIGHT: 4,200 lb
CARGO VOLUME: 62 cubic feet with rear seat flat, 25 cubic feet
FUEL ECONOMY Combined/city/highway: 38/39/37 mpg
OUR OBSERVED: 30.8 mpg
PROS: Super smooth, luxurious inside, remarkable value, sips fuel
CONS: Could use a bit more power
