SAN DIEGO – Every week, I get email from readers asking when they can buy a new car. They’re dismayed by the ascendance of SUVs, which has forced sedan, coupe and convertible sales to less than 30% of the sales.
I usually disappoint the readers. The switch to SUVs is a trend, not an aberration. Many SUVs may be too tall and boxy for some buyers’ taste, but they’re what most buyers want, and will be for the foreseeable future.
Now though, I have some good news: The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is on its way. Toyota calls the Crown Signia a midsize SUV, but visually and functionally, it’s more akin to the sleek, sporty station wagons that were a mainstay of European automaker’s lineups for decades.
At just 64 inches, Crown Signia’s roofline is 3 inches lower than the RAV4 SUV that’s Toyota’s best-selling vehicle, and America’s No. 1 non-pickup. The Signia’s 6.7 inches of ground clearance provide an easy step-in height, 1.7 inches lower than the popular RAV.
The numbers don’t do the Crown Signia justice, though. While SUV-skeptics fixate on the boxy profiles that lend anonymity to much of the class, the Crown Signia looks sleek and low, despite seating five and having 25.8 or 24.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind its rear seat, depending on whether the car has Toyota’s large panoramic sun roof.
2025 Toyota Crown Signia trim levels and prices
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Crown Signia XLE hybrid AWD: $43,590
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Crown Signia Limited hybrid AWD: $47,990
Option packages:
Source: Lexus. Prices exclude $1,395 destination charge.
Toyota’s showpiece
It’s not cheap, though. Toyota considers the Crown Signia wagon and the Crown sedan prestige vehicles. The sedan went on sale in the U.S. as a 2023 model, but the
The Crown name has been associated with premium models since the 1955 Crown Toyopet. The Signia will go on sale in August with standard hybrid power, all-wheel drive and many comfort and assistance features.
Power leather front seats and 60/40-split folding rear seats are standard, along with:
Selected Crown Signia competitors
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Chevrolet Blazer
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Ford Edge
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Honda Accord and Passport
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Hyundai Santa Cruz, Sonata and Tucson
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Kia Sportage, and Optima
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Mazda CX-70
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Nissan Rogue
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Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Driving impressions
I drove a well-equipped Crown Signia Limited from Coronado Island in San Diego Bay on city street highways and backroads into the arid and hilly borderland near Tecate, Mexico. My test car had the advanced technology package and red paint. It stickered at $50,280, excluding the $1,395 destination charge.
The drivetrain included a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and electric rear axle for a total of 240 horsepower. Power delivery is immediate, though the noise and vibration common to many Toyota hybrids are present.
The Signia accelerated confidently to highway speeds, and handled nicely on twisting hill roads. The steering is direct and communicative.
The suspension absorbed bumps well. There was little wind or road noise.
The EPA rates the Crown Signia at 39 mpg in the city, 37 on the highway and 38 combined, with 87 octane regular gasoline.
The front seat is roomy and comfortable. Controls are easy to reach and use. The center console contains slot for wireless device charging and useful storage space. Toyota’s connected navigation — part of a Google-enabled suite of features — was quick and accurate. The 12.3-inch touch screen handles many controls, but buttons and dials are available for frequently used climate settings and volume.
The interior is trimmed in soft materials with contrasting stitching.
The rear seat is accommodating for two, acceptable for three. The cargo compartment is useful, with a conveniently low floor for loading.
Safety and driver assist features
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Adaptive cruise control
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Automatic front braking with pedestrian detection
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Blind spot and rear cross traffic alert
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Automatic high beams
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Lane departure alert and assist
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Lane centering
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Road sign recognition
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Front cross traffic alert
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Hill start assist
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Cloud-based navigation
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Google assistant
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Smartphone as key
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Pro Driver Assist
Why get one?
The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is a comfortable, attractive and well-equipped vehicle, whether you call it an SUV, a car or a station wagon. It’s a good addition to Toyota’s lineup, and it may be exactly what some shoppers have been waiting for.
2025 Toyota Crown Signia at a glance
Midsize 5-passenger SUV or wagon
Standard hybrid system and full-time all-wheel drive
Model tested: 2025 Crown Signia Limited
Powertrain: 2.5L engine and electric motor
Total system power: 240 hp
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
0-60 mph: 7.1 seconds
EPA estimated fuel economy: 39 mpg city/37 highway/38 combined. 87 octane regular fuel recommended.
Wheelbase: 112.2 inches
Length: 194.1 inches
Width: 74 inches
Height: 64.2 inches (with panoramic sun roof)
Ground clearance: 6.7 inches
Cargo room: 24.8 cubic feet behind rear seat; 68.8 behinds front seats (with panoramic sun roof).
Curb weight: 4,210 pounds
Towing capacity: 2,700 pounds
Assembled in Aichi, Toyota City, Japan
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Toyota’s 2025 Crown Signia: The car SUV-haters have been waiting for
Source Agencies
