The Toyota Crown has always occupied a unique space in Toyota’s lineup, especially in North America where SUVs dominate. Initially introduced as a high-riding sedan, the Crown aimed to blend sedan comfort with a touch of SUV practicality. Now, Toyota is expanding the Crown family with the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid, a vehicle that fully embraces the crossover SUV identity and is poised to replace the Venza in Toyota’s lineup.
The original Crown sedan, while luxurious, presented a slightly unconventional profile. Standing taller than the Avalon it succeeded, it hinted at SUV capabilities but remained firmly in sedan territory. The Crown Signia, however, is a different beast altogether. It’s visually more substantial, boasting a longer and wider stance that confidently positions it as a true crossover SUV.
Is the Crown Signia a wagon? Is it an SUV? The answer is a resounding yes to both, and more. Toyota has crafted a vehicle that genuinely earns the “crossover” label, seamlessly blending elements of different vehicle types into a compelling package. Arriving at dealerships in the summer of 2024, the 2025 Crown Signia stands significantly taller than the Camry, a full seven inches, solidifying its SUV credentials.
white toyota crown signia hybrid
Alt text: Rear view of a white Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid SUV showcasing its modern design and spacious cargo area.
Crown Signia: Stepping in for the Toyota Venza
The Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid is strategically positioned to take over from the Venza by the end of 2024. It inherits the Venza’s efficient four-cylinder hybrid engine and standard all-wheel drive but elevates the formula with a larger body, enhanced interior refinement, and a more premium feel throughout.
This step up in quality comes with a corresponding increase in price. The base 2025 Crown Signia XLE starts at an MSRP of $43,590, a noticeable jump from the 2024 Venza LE’s starting MSRP of $35,070. The top-tier Crown Signia Limited, as tested, approached $48,000 before optional extras, placing it firmly in the premium crossover segment.
A Closer Look at the Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid Design
Despite sharing the Crown name, the Signia distinguishes itself with unique exterior styling cues beyond its altered rear profile. The Crown Signia features a distinctive body-colored grille and fog light design, and surprisingly, it adopts less prominent SUV-style body cladding compared to the Crown sedan, resulting in a sleeker, more sophisticated appearance.
The test vehicle was adorned with an AJAC EcoRun sticker, a testament to its participation in the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s fuel efficiency testing event. While the focus was on maximizing fuel economy, a few spirited drives were undertaken to assess the Signia’s performance across the spectrum. However, the vehicle’s inherent strengths lie in its refined and efficient nature, rather than outright performance thrills, aligning perfectly with its intended purpose as a comfortable and economical family SUV.
The headlight design of the Crown Signia shares a subtle resemblance to the Crown sedan but diverges enough to establish its own identity. The slim, almost hidden headlights contribute to a modern and streamlined front fascia, avoiding the dated look of pop-up headlights while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic.
crown signia hybrid interior dashboard
Alt text: Interior view of the Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid dashboard, highlighting the modern infotainment system and driver-centric controls.
crown signia hybrid back seat
Alt text: Spacious rear seats of the Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid, showcasing ample legroom and comfortable seating for passengers.
Inside the Crown Signia: A Blend of Luxury and Practicality
Stepping into the Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid is akin to entering a comfortable and upscale lounge. The ride height strikes a perfect balance, offering easy ingress and egress without the need to climb up or down. Interior space is generous in all dimensions, comfortably accommodating passengers of various sizes. While the Venza offered slightly more headroom, the Crown Signia compensates with enhanced legroom and overall spaciousness.
Even the base Crown Signia XLE trim is generously equipped, featuring synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, a hands-free power liftgate, universal garage remote, and seamless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Ventilated front seats, a welcome feature in warmer climates, further enhance passenger comfort.
The Limited trim elevates the experience with an upgraded JBL sound system boasting 11 speakers including a subwoofer, an optional panoramic fixed glass roof, and an Advanced Technology package. This package adds front video monitors, power-folding mirrors, advanced parking assist, Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) for low-speed automated driving in traffic, lane change assist, and front cross-traffic alert, showcasing Toyota’s commitment to both luxury and advanced safety technology.
Crown Signia: Navigating the Competitive Crossover Landscape
Rear passengers in the Crown Signia benefit from two USB-C ports and dedicated air vents. While rear climate controls and window shades are absent, the expansive passenger space more than compensates. The Crown Signia’s extended 112.2-inch wheelbase surpasses the Venza (105.9 inches), the Honda Passport (110.9 inches), and matches the Toyota Highlander, placing it among the leaders in its class for rear passenger room.
While the Hyundai Ioniq 5 boasts a longer wheelbase (118.1 inches), the Crown Signia distinguishes itself with a more traditionally luxurious interior. The Signia retains physical buttons and knobs for key controls, appealing to drivers who prefer tactile interfaces over purely digital controls, a design choice that also reflects its conventional hybrid powertrain in contrast to the Ioniq 5’s all-electric setup.
Driving Dynamics and Hybrid Performance of the Crown Signia
The Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine paired with Toyota’s proven hybrid system. Notably, it utilizes nickel-metal hydride batteries, a departure from the lithium-ion batteries found in the Prius lineup. While lithium-ion batteries offer advantages in weight and energy density, the nickel-metal hydride system in the Crown Signia delivers reliable and efficient performance. The combined output of the engine and electric motor is 240 horsepower, providing ample power for everyday driving.
Despite being labeled “electrified,” the Crown Signia operates as a traditional hybrid, requiring gasoline to function. It can operate in electric vehicle (EV) mode under certain conditions, such as low-speed maneuvers in parking lots or drive-throughs, but it is not a plug-in hybrid and does not offer extended all-electric range. The more powerful 340-hp Hybrid Max powertrain available in the Crown sedan is not currently offered in the Signia.
The Crown Signia delivers a balanced driving experience, neither underpowered nor overtly sporty. Its estimated 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds reflects its focus on comfortable and efficient transportation. The hybrid system shines in low-speed urban driving, providing smooth and quiet operation. While shift paddles and a Sport mode are included, they feel somewhat out of character with the vehicle’s overall demeanor, which prioritizes relaxed cruising and fuel efficiency.
Fuel economy is a key strength of the Crown Signia Hybrid. It achieves an EPA combined estimate of 38 miles per gallon, with slightly better city fuel economy (39 mpg) than highway (37 mpg). This makes it an ideal choice for both daily commutes and longer road trips, appealing to buyers who are not yet ready to fully embrace electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids due to charging infrastructure limitations or lifestyle preferences.
Verdict: The Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid – A Refined and Practical Crossover
The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid marks a significant step forward for Toyota in the crossover SUV segment. While carrying a higher price tag than the outgoing Venza, the Crown Signia justifies the premium with a more luxurious interior, increased towing capacity (2,700 lbs vs. 1,000 lbs for the Venza), and enhanced passenger and cargo space.
As the Venza departs the lineup, potential buyers can anticipate attractive deals on remaining inventory. Conversely, it’s likely that Toyota will introduce less lavishly equipped versions of the Crown Signia in the future, potentially bringing the starting price down and broadening its appeal.
In conclusion, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Hybrid presents a compelling option for buyers seeking a refined, fuel-efficient, and practical crossover SUV. It successfully blends luxury, versatility, and Toyota’s renowned hybrid technology into a vehicle that is well-positioned to thrive in the competitive crossover market.
