A few years ago, we saw Toyota launch the Crown – the replacement for the Avalon. Coming in slightly larger than the typical sedan with a sporty SUV-like profile and an interior that could easily be mistaken for that of a Lexus, the Crown is Toyota’s flagship vehicle for the North American market. For 2025, looking to replace the Venza SUV, Toyota looked no further than the Crown, and transformed it into its own version of an SUV, calling it the Crown Signia.  Let’s check it out. 

Based on the Crown sedan, the Crown Signia doubles down on the four-door’s premium appeal with a nearly identical interior, but its exterior design goes its own way, with a unique front fascia and wagon-esque silhouette. It’s about as long as a Highlander but only offers two rows of seats rather than the Highlander’s three rows. The Signia focuses on a premium interior and uses an efficient hybrid powertrain.

That powertrain is also borrowed from the Crown sedan, using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors to achieve a combined 240 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard. EPA rates the Crown Signia at 39 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Inside, the Signia makes way to a spacious cabin outfitted with premium and luxurious features. All models come standard with heated and ventilated, power front seats,  leather upholstery,  dual-zone automatic climate control, and ambient interior lighting. Two 12.3-inch displays are also included in the Signia – one being for the infotainment touchscreen which runs both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto software and connects to smartphones via a wireless connection, the other is a digital display for the driver. The Limited adds a panoramic sunroof and 21-inch wheels. The overall interior experience is so nice that it marries Lexus-level luxury with Toyota attributes.

Pricing for the Crown Signia starts at $45,585 for the base XLE, while the Limited starts at $49,995. The tester arrived as a Limited with an MSRP of $52,149.

The Toyota Crown Signia can scoot from 0 to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, which is OK for a hybrid-powered crossover SUV. In everyday driving, the Crown Signia never feels slow, but it’s far from being zippy or quick. The Signia steering is responsive, and the chassis stays mostly composed around turns, delivering a ride that is more focused on comfort. The all-wheel drive system helps the Signia maintain grip, providing confident driving when the road conditions go bad.

There are several standard driving aids with the Signia, and they show their presence. One is the automatic braking if it senses a vehicle ahead and when you ease off the gas pedal in traffic. Another is when going into curves, it brakes and adds a little steering input. All these are part of the Toyota Safety Package and can be disabled if the driver finds them a bit to obtrusive.

Featured as the flagship of the Toyota brand, the Crown and now the Crown Signia stand out among other vehicles in the Toyota lineup with their unique looks. With its luxurious interior, hybrid efficiency, balanced ride and an abundance of technology, the Crown Signia delivers a premium experience at a surprisingly reasonable price.

​– Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

​2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited

​Base Price: ​$47,990.00

​Price as Tested:​$52,149.00

​Layout:​front-engine / all-wheel drive

​Engine:​2.5 liter 4-cylinder and 3 electric motors

​Transmission:​CVT

​Horsepower:​240 hp combined