Text by Tom Appel
2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited
Specs
Class: Midsize Car
Country of Manufacture: Japan
Color: Storm Cloud
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 175
Real-world fuel economy: 37.1 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | B |
| Fit and Finish | B |
| Fuel Economy | A |
| Value | A |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | B |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 238-horsepower 2.5-liter |
| Engine Type | Hybrid 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | CVT automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 39/37/38 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular Gas
Base price: $47,990 (not including $1450 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Advanced Technology Package ($1865)
Price as tested: $51,305
Pros and Cons
The great: Roomy and refined, easy on the gas
The good: Good power, quiet cabin, comfortable ride
The not so good:Signia not offered with more-powerful Hybrid Max engine
Review
Toyota has been retailing vehicles in the U.S. for nearly 70 years now. And, by most accounts, the Japanese carmaker has been selling mostly excellent, high-value cars and trucks to an ever-growing base of satisfied loyalists.
But while Toyota has been selling great cars to Americans, it has yet to build us a perfect car…until now.
Perfect Car
Now, auto journalists are famous for wanting vehicles that play somewhere in the margins of mass-market reality. We love diesels, hybrids, station wagons, AWD, and, above all, a reasonable price. We also love manual transmissions, but that ship has sailed. Style is also important. A clean and simple shape, with just a hint of aero tuning, has strong appeal.
But station wagons are mostly dead, and AWD is a commodity appreciated mostly by the wealthy and Snow Belt bound. And as for price, well, cars have gotten pretty expensive. What are the odds that a carmaker, any carmaker, would ever answer the call of the modestly paid and demandingly feature-specific auto writer?
Prayers answered
Known as the Crown Estate in Japan, the Crown Signia rolled across U.S. borders earlier this year. Essentially a station-wagon variant of the excellent Crown sedan, the Signia boasts all the goodness of the slightly odd-looking Crown, but features a sleek, understated wagon body and substantially more cargo space. And, and this is key, it costs little more than the conventional Crown.
The Crown Signia in a nutshell:
- Standard AWD
- Standard hybrid powertrain
- Plenty of cargo space (69 cubic feet, versus 15 for the Crowns sedan)
- Luxury level quietness and ride quality
- Plenty of available power
- Classy cabin
- Sleek, efficient look
- Can be had for less than $50,000
No, it’s not a diesel, but diesel love is fading, even among auto journalists.
Prices and Trim Levels
For 2025, the Crown Signia is offered in two trim levels, versus the four offered for the Crown Sedan. They are:
- XLE $45,385 ($2685 more than the sedan)
- Limited: $49,685 ($2540 more than the sedan)
While Crown sedans can be had in more premium Nightshade and Platinum models, the Signia makes do with just the XLE and Limited.
Engines
Power for the Signia—and most Crowns—comes from a hybrid powertrain which mates a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with three electric motors for a combined 238 horsepower. Offered only on the Crown Platinum is a 340-horsepower hybrid and turbocharged engine dubbed Hybrid Max. The conventional hybrid engines pairs with a CVT-style automatic, while the Max employs a conventional 6-speed. Every Crown, regardless of body style, comes with AWD.
You can read our complete review of the Toyota Crown sedan, in compelling Bronze Age, here.
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of the new Crown Signia in Storm Cloud and equipped with the Advanced Technology Package. All told, our test car came to $51,305 including destination fee.
Design
If the Crown and Crown Signia look a little different from each other, they should. The Insignia is shorter in overall length (2 inches), has a higher roof (4 inches) and is also wider (2 inches). Overall, the Signia comes off as the more stylish, better proportioned car.
Room and Comfort
Regardless of any small dimensional differences, the Crown Signia feels about as roomy as the Crown, which is a good thing. There’s plenty of 4-adult space, with large door openings front a rear, allowing for easy entry and exit. Additionally, the elevated seat height—relative to other sedans—makes it easier for folks with bad knees or otherwise compromised mobility to get in and out of the Crown(s).
Connectivity
Like most Toyotas, the Crown Signia boasts a relatively simple infotainment interface. Neither Crown features a trendy single-piece/contiguous-surface touchscreen/instrument panel, though the dashboard design layout closely mimics that construct. We found the touchscreen easy to use and operate, with large easy-to-identify icons and a logical menu set.
The JBL-brand audio system in our Limited test car sounded fine, though, for a branded unit, lacks brightness and clarity.
Ride and handling
On the road, the Crown Signia shines. While Toyota’s midsize wagon falls just short of sporty, it does serve up capable cornering reinforced by strong-feeling brakes. Folks old enough to have enjoyed Nineties vehicle such as the Saab 9-5 will appreciate the Crown Signia’s general feel.
Ride quality, too, is excellent. The Signia’s ability to soak up road-surface imperfections matches that of much more expensive European cars. The cabin is quiet, too, making for relaxed long-trip highway rides.
Power and Performance
Toyota’s ubiquitous 2.5-liter hybrid system has been tuned to serve the specific character of a number of models, including the Sienna Minivan, and the Camry midsize sedan. Here the setup delivers satisfying low-end power for quick moves from a stop, and easy around-town driving. Passing power is also impressive, and there’s ample punch for easy highway entrance ramp blasts.
Not only is the Crown Signia rewarding to drive, it’s also easy on the gas. Our test car returned better than 37 mpg over 175 miles of routine driving.
Cargo Space
As far as wagons go, the Signia isn’t especially roomy, at least not compared to midsize wagons of yesteryear. That said, there’s ample space aft of the 2nd-row seats to help a friend move, or stow the luggage of a family of four on a weeklong vacation. And all this utility comes from a vehicle no larger than the standard Crown.
Value
While the Crown Signia cabin doesn’t quite match the opulence of a Lexus product, it’s not too far off, and we have no problem with that given this classy, sophisticated Toyota’s price. The Crown Signia boasts real utility, refined on-road manners, excellent fuel economy, and—arguably—great looks. Thinking maybe you don’t want to purchase yet another crossover? Consider the Crown Signia, it’s one the Consumer Guide team’s favorite new vehicles of 2025. Is the Crown Signia perfect? You’ll have to decide for yourself, but it’s really close. Now if only it came with a manual transmission…
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2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited Pictures
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