2025 Toyota Crown Signia: A Less Crownfusing SUV
Competes with: Buick Envision, Honda Passport, Nissan Murano, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Looks like: A proper upright SUV with the latest Toyota cues
Powertrain: 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a battery pack; system total of 243 horsepower; continuously variable automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Summer 2024
When Toyota announced it was bringing the vaunted Crown nameplate back to the U.S., we were actually excited for it, as Crowns in the company’s home Japanese market are prestigious, premium vehicles with lush interiors and state-of-the-art technology. What arrived on our shores was the rebooted 2023 Crown “sedan,” a four-door, tall-riding, SUV-like crossover-coupe thing that defied definition and ostensibly replaced the Avalon sedan at the top of the brand’s lineup; even Toyota admitted it wasn’t entirely sure who the target buyer was going to be. Now, Toyota has confirmed that another Crown is coming to the U.S. market next year: the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia.
Related: 2023 Toyota Crown Review: Slick New Flagship Sedan Leaves Us a Bit Crownfused
More Traditional SUV Styling
Unlike the Crown crossover-coupe-sedan, the Crown Signia has a much more traditional roofline with an upright greenhouse that makes it look like a proper two-box SUV. The front end features the latest Toyota styling element, a “hammerhead” grille and light treatment that’s also seen on the new Camry and Prius. Two premium trim levels will be offered, XLE and Limited, with 19-inch wheels coming on the XLE and 21-inchers on the Limited.
As befits this premium offering at the top of the Toyota showroom lineup, only five colors will be offered for the Crown Signia: Storm Cloud, Finish Line Red, Oxygen White, Black and Bronze Age. No word has been given if the Crown Signia will be available in a two-tone combination like the other Crown offering.
Hybrids Only
The trend seems to be Toyota offering new models only with hybrid powertrains, and the new Crown Signia is the latest. Under the hood is a 243-horsepower, gas-electric hybrid system featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to two electric motors; all-wheel drive is standard. Toyota says that it expects the Crown Signia to get 36 mpg combined when the final EPA ratings are released. Normal, Eco and Sport modes will be selectable, as is an EV Mode that allows for very limited all-electric, low-speed driving. The powertrain seems to be a slightly more powerful version of the base 236-hp hybrid powertrain found in the other Crown; the turbocharged 340-hp Hybrid Max system that’s optional in the Crown sedan is not offered in the Crown Signia, making the sedan the more performance-oriented model.
Not that you’re ever likely to, but the Crown Signia has a maximum towing capacity of 2,700 pounds, according to Toyota. The automaker also says that the ride and handling of the Crown Signia are much more carlike than a typical SUV given that it shares the same platform with several other Toyota sedans; we’ll have to test that one when the time comes.
A Posh Interior
Inside, the five-occupant Crown Signia’s two trims are both optioned toward the luxury end of the spectrum, likely helping to provide some daylight between it and its Venza sibling in Toyota showrooms. The XLE trim provides a combination of fabric and imitation leather surfaces on the seats, dash and doors, while the Limited model redoes those in actual leather with double stitching, fillet piping and quilted patterns. Heated eight-way power driver and passenger seats are standard, while the Limited has an easy entry feature with memory function. Heated and ventilated seats are optional.
Bronze accent trim is meant to lend an upscale look to the cabin and appears on the dash, console and steering wheel, outlining important buttons for easier locating, according to Toyota. Above the passengers’ heads in the Limited trim is an available fixed panoramic glass roof with retractable shade. Rear-seat passengers get dedicated air vents, cup and bottle holders, and two USB-C ports; the rear seats can be folded from the cargo area in a 60/40 pattern to extend the cargo space to 6.5 feet long when necessary.
Plenty of Tech
All Crown Signias will come with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster display and a 12.3-inch center touchscreen running the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system. Toyota says the gauge cluster is easily reconfigurable, features colorful “dials” that are easy to read, and it can be changed to driver’s preferences for information. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The standard audio system is a six-speaker setup on the XLE, but it’s upgradable to an 11-speaker JBL system with a subwoofer on the Limited. Finally, the Limited trim gets a standard digital rearview mirror that is connected to a camera out back for an unobstructed rear view on demand.
Safety, Standard and Optional
The 2025 Crown Signia will come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system that includes forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane departure steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering steering, road sign assist, automatic high beams and proactive driving assist. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard, and an Advanced Technology package on the Limited trim also brings panoramic view monitor, traffic jam assist, front cross-traffic alert and lane change assist. Traffic Jam Assist helps with stop-and-go traffic on certain mapped roads, but a Drive Connect subscription is required for full functionality, which includes hands-free steering, braking and acceleration under 25 mph.
Pricing and Release Date
Pricing for the new 2025 Toyota Crown Signia SUV is not yet available, but the company says that it will be announced closer to the vehicle’s arrival in summer of 2024.
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- Is the 2023 Toyota Crown a Worthy Flagship Sedan? 5 Things We Like, 4 We Don’t
- 2024 Toyota Crown Largely Left Alone, Priced From $41,145
- Research the Toyota Crown
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