First Look Review: The Toyota Crown Signia sits between mainstream & luxury

Update: ‘Interior’ section updated with new images.

The sixteenth-generation Toyota Crown family in Japan includes four models: the Crown Crossover, Crown Sport, Crown Sedan, and Crown Estate. Following the introduction of the Crown Crossover in the U.S. in 2022, simply branded as the Crown, Toyota is now bringing the Crown Estate to the States as the Crown Signia. Slated to hit U.S. dealerships in the Summer of 2024, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is being showcased across North America, where I got a firsthand experience of it. Here are all the details:

Design

The Toyota Crown Signia has a lower roof compared to the other mainstream crossovers, and makes a unique impression with its sleek and contemporary design. Its hammerhead shark-inspired front fascia reminds me of the new Prius. However, I think distinctive details like the geometric grille, split headlamps, comparatively upright windshield, and bigger dimensions make it instantly recognizable from a distance.

On the sides, I’m drawn to the 2025 Crown Signia’s stylish 21-inch wheels, its strong shoulder line, and the slender glasshouse that narrows towards the rear. At the back, the full-width tail lamp showcases the car’s wide and muscular form. Despite these features, in my view, the Venza’s dynamic side and rear profiles are still more attractive. Among the five colors available for the Crown Signia – Storm Cloud, Finish Line Red, Oxygen White, Black, and Bronze Age – I personally think it looks best in this Storm Cloud color.

New Hybrid badge

Starting this year, Toyota will discontinue the blue-tinted emblem in its electrified cars. The 2025 Camry and the Crown Signia will not sport the blue Toyota logo or the “Hybrid” badge seen on other current electrified models. Instead, these will bear Toyota’s new ‘Beyond Zero’ logo alongside an “HEV” badge on the trunk’s left side, signifying its status as a hybrid model.

Interior

Moving to the interior of the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia, the available Saddle Tan interior exudes the feeling of being in a rich and classy vehicle that’s quite different in quality from mainstream Toyotas. Soft-touch materials are abundant, including on the dashboard, center console, and door panels. I think the Bronze-colored trim goes well with the Tan upholstery. Physical buttons for various functions are in abundance in the cabin, which is a relief!

I like the sleek dashboard that projects a floating effect and seamlessly connects with the door panels to in a wraparound style to cocoon the occupants. The center console is similarly attached to the dashboard and appears to have a decent amount of storage space. The steering wheel features manual adjustments.

The 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster is tucked in a traditional binnacle, while the touchscreen 12.3-inch infotainment system sits atop the dashboard. This would be the same quality display that I’m used to from recent Toyota launches, with sharp graphics and easy-to-glance readouts.

The touchscreen infotainment system, which features cloud navigation and supports wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and OTA updates, gets a bronze volume knob, which improves its practicality. It’s the same system (developed by Toyota’s outfit in Texas) that has been available on Toyota models since late 2021.

The 2025 Crown Signia’s high floor makes ingress and egress easy, and the fixed glass roof contributes to amplify the sense of space during daytime. The 8-way power driver seat features auto slide-away with a memory function. Going by other first-look reviews, the rear seat offers an abundance of headroom as it is positioned slightly lower than the front seats. The leather seats are soft and comfortable, and the space is made practical by the rear air vents and a pair of USB-C outlets.

Moving to the cargo area, loading and unloading appear to be easier in this car thanks to a lower loading lip and a wide, flat floor. Folding down the seats individually (60:40 split type) is made easy by the release flaps on the insides of the D-Pillar.

Specifications

Based on the familiar TNGA-K platform, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia has a 2.5-liter gas engine-based hybrid powertrain that produces 243 horsepower. A front-mounted electric motor assists the gas engine at low speeds, plus there’s a rear-mounted electric motor to give more traction to the SUV. Up to 80% of driving force can be directed to the rear wheels. The driver can view the proportion of torque distributed between the axles in the displays.

Toyota expects the 2025 Crown Signia to deliver a combined fuel economy of 36 MPG and claims that it can tow up to 2,700 pounds. The company hasn’t revealed all the dimensions of this model, but it has disclosed that the folding down the rear seats gives it a 6.5-foot-long cargo area, and that the car comes with a power liftgate and kick sensor.

Price

Manufactured in Tsutsumi (Aichi Prefecture), Japan, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia will be available in the U.S. in XLE and Limited trims. I expect the base price to be close to USD 45,000. Following the 2024 model year, Toyota will discontinue the smaller and cheaper Venza (USD 34,920 onwards) to focus on the Crown Signia.

Showcased in Oxygen White

The 2025 Crown Signia is months away from going on sale. Meanwhile, Toyota is conducting various marketing exercises to build hype and put the car in front of prospective buyers. The company showcased it in the range-topping Limited grade at the Washington Auto Show, which took place from January 19-28, 2024. The unit it brought to the event in the national capital featured the Oxygen White color, which looked clean and minimalist.

Also See: First Look Review: The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid ticks all the boxes

TopElectricSUV says

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is an upscale two-row SUV that promises exclusivity, quality and a practical boot. Although Toyota has not yet held a media drive to fully assess its performance and driving dynamics, based on the information available, I believe the Crown Signia could be an excellent choice for those seeking a softer, low-roof crossover, and a touch of luxury without the price tag of a Lexus, and the need for a third row of seats.

2025 Toyota Crown Signia FAQs