Until last year, the Toyota Crown nameplate was a distant memory for most Canadians, as it had taken a 51-year break here in the North American market. We came away rather impressed with the Crown sedan, especially with its interior appointments. Now, Toyota is doubling down on its promise to deliver quality and sophistication with the second model to wear a crown in North America: the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia hybrid crossover.
If we were to judge a book by its cover, then we already know how the Crown Signia’s story goes. We love the look; those ultra-slim LED daytime running lights add mystique to the overall appearance, and the painted front grille gives it a dash of sportiness. The rest of the body contours look chiselled and the floating roof design, along with the oversized 21-inch wheels, are trendy. Overall, the Crown Signia is one of the better-looking crossovers in recent years, and just like the sedan, it will surely turn heads.
Inside, the Crown Signia is just as beautifully crafted as the sedan. Everything feels premium, the subtle bronze accents throughout add a sense of sophistication, and the overall layout is quite easy to use. Toyota still gives us physical switchgear for basic functions like climate control, saving us from having to dig through infotainment sub-menus to make simple adjustments. But as much as we love the clean and clutter-free layout, we would like to have an easier way to store our smartphones other than dropping it into the slot above the shifter that houses the wireless charger. Nitpicking aside, passenger space is quite decent. From the outside, the Crown Signia is slightly smaller than the Highlander, but it has just as much legroom due to its two-row layout. There is also good headroom and legroom, and cargo volume is rated at 702 litres. That is about 100 less than the Venza, but fold the rear seats and that opens up to 1,872 L.
Unlike the Crown sedan, Toyota only offers the Signia with one hybrid powertrain — its normally aspirated 2.5L inline-four paired to two electric motors. It is good for 240 horsepower, which is enough for the daily grind, but the turbocharged Hybrid Max powertrain would put a well-deserved spring in the Signia’s step on the highway. The good news is that the electric motors are quite apt in getting the Crown Signia off the line with gusto and seem to recharge rather quickly, allowing us to stay in electric power for extended periods of time.
Using the electric motor instead of the gasoline engine is important for two reasons. First, it avoids the buzzy engine noise and allows for smoother hard acceleration. Second, it helps the Crown Signia achieve its remarkable fuel economy figures. It is officially rated at 6.0 L/100 kilometres, 6.4 on the highway, and 6.2 L/100km figure; we did not spend enough time with the Signia to get a thoroughly fleshed-out, real-world figure, but in our short drive, our numbers weren’t far off. It accepts regular-grade gasoline, which could be an important reason why shoppers would opt for a Crown Signia over another entry-level luxury crossover.
Those expecting a dynamic drive with the Crown Signia will come away disappointed. There is simply not much to it behind the wheel. It is rather easy to drive with a light and easy steering rack, and the Crown Signia offers excellent visibility thanks to its oversized side windows. Thanks to the panoramic glass roof bringing in the vast amount of sunlight, the cabin feels airy and welcoming, but it is worth noting that the glass roof is a fixed design and does not open.
In Canada, the Crown Signia will only come in the $57,450 Limited trim — about $3,000 more than the sedan. Buyers can opt for the Advanced Technology Package that adds the Panoramic View Monitor, power-folding side mirrors, Traffic Jam Assist, Front Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist, and Parking Assist with Automatic Braking to the standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 driver assistance system for a total of $59,525.
On the surface, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia seems redundant in an SUV-heavy lineup with the likes of the Venza, not one but two Highlanders, and the Land Cruiser. However, with the Venza being discontinued after the 2024 model year, there may be room in Toyota’s lineup after all, and we think its gorgeous styling is enough to get many people through those dealership doors.
