2025 Toyota Crown Signia

Toyota is heading uptown with this new SUV. Not quite encroaching on Lexus territory, but definitely going a cut above the company’s bread-and-butter vehicles. The Crown Signia midsize SUV isn’t just bigger, roomier and more powerful than the RAV4 compact SUV, for instance, it’s significantly more luxurious. Its starting price is on the high side among two-row midsize SUVs, but that premium is partly offset by the fact that even the entry-level Crown Signia is fitted with an efficient hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive. The Crown Signia offers the presence and practicality of a midsize SUV, but in a package that’s more urbane and more sophisticated than most.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Toyota Crown Signia.

The Crown Signia is an all-new two-row midsize SUV based on the same platform as the Crown sedan, which debuted for 2023. The Crown Signia effectively replaces the smaller Venza hybrid SUV in Toyota’s lineup.

Other two-row midsize SUVs include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Passport, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, and Mazda CX-70, with starting prices ranging from about $38,000 to $43,000. None of them is offered with a traditional hybrid powertrain, however.

Before buying a Crown Signia, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. As a Toyota, Crown Signia resale values should be solid. Remember, recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

A gasoline engine and three electric motors generate 243 horsepower and propel the new Crown Signia from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, which is on par with other midsize SUVs and more than quick enough for confident merging and passing. We expect the Crown Signia will eventually be offered with the higher-output Hybrid Max powertrain — already available in the Crown sedan — which would likely make it one of the quickest midsize SUVs.

Unsurprisingly, the Crown Signia goes and stops with more smoothness and predictability than some conventionally powered competitors. Hybrid powertrains are complicated, but when done right — as Toyota does them — they can actually improve drivability as well as efficiency. The Crown Signia transitions smoothly from a stop, accelerates with steadiness, and brakes in the same fashion.

Smoothness is also the dominant suspension attribute, although responsive steering and a lower profile than other midsize SUVs help give the Crown Signia a more car-like composure.

Fuel Economy

The 2025 Crown Signia is rated to return 38 mpg in combined city and highway driving. That’s excellent for a vehicle of this size, with most midsize SUVs rated for closer to 25 mpg at best. Using EPA estimates and averages at the time of writing, that’s a difference of about $60 per month.

Before Toyota created Lexus, the Crown name was applied to the company’s more luxurious offerings. It has revived that practice with the Crown raised sedan and now the Crown Signia SUV. It definitely looks plush inside. The XLE trim comes with cloth and simulated-leather seating surfaces, while the top Limited version has real leather. Black or Saddle Tan interior color schemes are available in both trims.

As soon as we climbed on board, we noticed the soft touch points for both elbows, plus a soft spot for the driver’s leg at the side of the center console. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and we found that outward vision is good, despite the high belt line and sharply raked windshield. The dashboard has a simple yet elegant layout.

The combination of midsize dimensions and just two rows of seating means plenty of room front and rear. A 6-footer sitting in the back will fit fine behind a front occupant of the same size. There’s plenty of cargo space behind the rear seats, too, and those seats will fold flat to produce a space that can hold an item 6.5 feet long.

Sporting sleek lines that harmonize with other new Toyota vehicles, like the Prius and new-for-2025 Camry, we think the Crown Signia definitely has an upmarket look with slim LED lighting at both ends and low-profile roof rails. It seems like we’re witnessing a new chapter in the company’s design approach — which is no bad thing, in our opinion.

Powered tailgate
We like the convenience, pure and simple. And it’s a standard feature in the new Crown Signia.

Infotainment system
The Crown Signia has Toyota’s latest user-friendly infotainment system that responds to voice commands and comes with over-the-air update capability.

Dual screens
Both the instrument cluster and the infotainment touchscreen are 12.3-inch displays with sharp graphics, bringing a high-tech element to an overall modern yet welcoming cabin.

Wireless phone charging
There’s just one wireless charging pad, but it is standard. We appreciate the neatness in tandem with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration.

JBL audio
The higher Limited trim has this setup as standard. JBL has a great reputation in the field of sound reproduction, and its parent company is also responsible for the excellent Mark Levinson systems in Lexus vehicles.

Proactive Driving Assist
A standard feature in the Crown Signia, this system uses the vehicle’s camera and radar systems to perceive its surroundings, and adds subtle steering and braking inputs to optimize safety. We found it took some getting used to at first, but respect its effectiveness.

For now there’s just one drivetrain motivating the new Crown Signia. It consists of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and three electric motors, one of which turns the rear axle. Total output is 243 horsepower, going to a standard all-wheel-drive system.

Maximum towing capacity is 2,700 pounds. A combustion-powered midsize SUV can usually pull 5,000 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is typical for Toyota, but Hyundai and Kia have longer warranties. Hybrid components have a warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, and the hybrid battery is protected for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota also includes two years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, plus two years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage.

Safety

A comprehensive array of standard driver assistance includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. An optional bundle for Limited trim brings a few extras such as Traffic Jam Assist and Lane Change Assist.