Toyota Crown Becomes the Crown Signia SUV
The high-riding Toyota Crown sedan has always been a bit of a bit of an odd duck in Toyota’s SUV-heavy North American lineup, despite the model’s long history in Japan. The Crown features a taller body than the full-size Avalon sedan it replaced at the top of the Japanese brand’s sedan ladder, with more luxurious appointments inside – nibbling closer to, but not quite reaching, Lexus levels of lavishness and technology.
The Crown sedan’s taller stance with its slightly egg-shaped body is about 3.7 inches taller than a new Camry. But the all-new Crown Signia looks much more visually balanced, with a longer and wider body than its four-door namesake.
Is it a Crown wagon? An SUV? Or just a bigger overall Crown with a larger cargo area? Yes, arguably, the Crown Signia is all of the above. This new version of the Crown truly warrants the over-used “crossover” tag.
The 2025 Crown Signia landed in dealers this summer soon after its public debut earlier this year, and grows a similar amount upwards as the Crown did, now up to a full seven inches taller than that same ’25 Camry.
Toyota Venza Replaced by Crown Signia
The Crown Signia will essentially replace the Venza in the Toyota lineup by the end of 2024, and it offers a similar four-cylinder hybrid engine and all-wheel drive as standard equipment – but with a longer yet shorter body than the Venza, and a more upmarket feel inside.
It's not just a more upmarket feel, it’s an upmarket price as well. There’s a roughly $8,500 step up from the base 2024 Venza LE price (starting MSRP: $35,070) to a base ’25 Crown Signia XLE (starting MSRP: $43,590). Our top-line Crown Signia Limited tester had an MSRP just under $48,000 before options.
Toyota Crown Signia Review
Despite the similar names, Toyota has given the Crown Signia distinctive exterior styling beyond its different rear end. This is highlighted by the crossover’s unique body-colored grille and fog light treatments, and ironically, the Signia carries less SUV-ish body cladding along its sides than the sedan.
(Our Crown Signia’s driver’s side did, however, have an AJAC EcoRun sticker on it, as it was tested as part of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s annual multi-day test of the latest new green and fuel-saving vehicles, this year based in a suburb of Montreal. The event happened to fall right around the time of this year’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix race in the city, which is ironic, because this event measured real-world fuel efficiency and range that encouraged very different driving techniques. We floored it a few times to truly check out all aspects of the Signia’s performance, but that feels a little silly in this car, as with most Toyota hybrids.)
Up front, there’s some similarity in the headlight design between Crown and its Signia counterpart, but not as much as many brands feature to offer a “family” resemblance. The Crown Signia’s thin strips of barely-there headlights had me wondering if they are hidden at all, or if there are any old-school flip-up headlight elements happening here. There aren’t, sadly, but perhaps thankfully, given many winter and mechanical issues with those designs.
Inside the Toyota Crown Signia
Stepping inside the Crown Signia feels like entering a luxurious yet familiar den. You don’t have to step down like you would into a car, or step up, like you would into something with a more off-road feel, such as a 4Runner or Jeep Wrangler. Room is plentiful all around, unless you or your passengers could make an NBA roster; that said, the outgoing Venza does offer a couple extra inches of headroom.
The standard feature list of the base Crown Signia XLE model is impressively extensive, including synthetic leather, heated seats and steering wheel, a hands-free power liftgate, universal garage remote, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus cooled seats for both front occupants. These are a godsend in hot and sticky summer conditions – despite my wife and some other drivers’ objections.
Our loaded Limited model added a subwoofer and five extra JBL speakers (for 11 total), the optional panoramic fixed roof, plus an Advanced Technology package that added front video monitors, power-folding outside mirrors, and auto-parking functions. This package also adds traffic jam assist (TJA) which works up to 25 mph and can brake, accelerate and steer the car in congested traffic, plus lane change assist and front cross traffic alerts.
Crown Signia Versus the Competition
The rear seat has two USB-C ports and air vents, but no separate climate controls or window shades. But there is lots of room: the Crown Signia has a 112.2-inch wheelbase that’s longer than the Venza (105.9 inches), the competing mid-size ’24 Honda Passport (110.9 inches) and is tied with the ’24 Toyota Highlander.
Still, there isn’t not as much passenger space between the axles as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (118.1-inch wheelbase), but that all-electric crossover is notably less luxurious inside, with the Crown Signia offering many more traditional buttons and knobs throughout the interior, reflecting its more old-school drivetrain as well.
Crown Signia Hybrid Driving Experience
The Crown Signia is powered by a 2.5-litre gas-electric four-cylinder that still uses nickel-metal hydride batteries, unlike the lithium-ion ones used on all modern Prius models – including the non-plug-in ones – since li-ion batteries can hold more power in a lighter overall package. The engine and electric motor combine for a total output of 240 hp, while torque from the engine is 178 lb.-ft, plus whatever has been regenerated to power the electric motor.
So, while Toyota calls it electrified, and it’s true that the hybrid system can power the Crown Signia through a drive-through in silent EV mode (depending on accessory/climate control use), this isn’t a car that can move you if you don’t put regular 87 octane fuel in it. There’s no plug-in option for the Crown Signia, and no sign yet of the Crown sedan’s 340-hp Hybrid Max powertrain option.
Still, the Crown Signia never felt underpowered, nor overly energetic, as suggested by its estimated 7.1-second 0-60 mph time. Its low-speed operation is when it feels truly luxurious and modern, with a much more refined demeanor when the engine comes on – especially compared to the Venza or Prius. There are shift paddles and a Sport mode that will turn up the driver involvement if you wish, but that’s really not what this vehicle’s strong suit is.
The Crown Signia is most adept at fuel-efficient urban family life, its combined 38 miles per gallon EPA estimate being a touch better in the city (39 mpg) than on the highway (37). But the no-plug nature of its powertrain also makes it an easy long-distance road-tripper for folks who are not ready, or don’t want, to go all-electric or even plug-in hybrid yet – such as those who don’t have the ability to install a charger in a house with no garage or driveway, or who live in an apartment or condominium where a charger can’t be installed in their parking spot.
Toyota Crown Signia: The Verdict
The fact that the all-new Crown Signia is notably pricier than the Venza it ostensibly replaces makes it seem like the low-$50k as tested price for our fully loaded test vehicle is another victim of automotive inflation, especially versus the fully loaded Venza’s starting MSRP of $43,215. Of course these are all manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs), which don’t include any discounts that Toyota may offer.
Two things, however, seem very possible then for the second half of this year, or perhaps early next: one, the outgoing Venza will have some good deals available to clear any remaining models; and two, the longer Crown Signia will likely offer less-luxurious versions than the XLE and Limited trims it launched with. This will likely help it come down in price slightly after the Venza exits.
Until then, the 2025 Crown Signia will continue to offer its more luxurious interior, greater towing capability (2,700 lbs versus only 1,000 for the less-powerful Venza), and more passenger and cargo room for what is a very reasonable premium over its Venza predecessor.
