Meet the Toyota Crown Signia (A Lexus-Quality Toyota Wagon???)
The Crown Signia is a lifted wagon (SUV) featuring a standard AWD hybrid drivetrain with 243 HP and 36 MPG, but where’s the Platinum MAX?
And then there were two. Last year, Toyota unveiled four all-new Crown family members for the Japanese market. But in the U.S., we only got one. The Crown. A “lifted sedan” with a standard 242 horsepower Hybrid system with electronic on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) and up to 41 mpg combined EPA-estimated fuel economy. Today, Toyota USA added a second model to the lineup, the Crown Signia. (They also unveiled the 2025 Camry, which you can read about HERE.)
Toyota has labeled the Crown Signia an SUV for the American market because, well, Americans love SUVs. But to our eyes, and given its Japan-market name of Crown Estate and “lifted sedan” nomenclature of the original Crown, we’d argue it’s more accurate to call the Signia a wagon.
Watch your back, Subaru.
Regardless, the Crown Signia might be the most attractive crossover-SUV in the entire Toyota lineup. (Yes, that includes Lexus, but no that doesn’t include the body-on-frame SUVs.) Elegant lines. A Lexus-quality interior with available leather seating. The stylish “Hammerhead” front end with the C-shaped daytime running lights that are slowly evolving into all Toyota front ends.
(Honestly, after seeing the Signia, the current Lexus RX, RZ, and TX just look mediocre in comparison.)
Assembled at the Tsutsumi Plant in Aichi Japan on the Toyota New Global Architecture K (TNGA-K) platform, the 2025 Crown Signia will be available in two grades: XLE and Limited. It features seating for five, the latest Toyota infotainment systems with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and noise-minimizing design features including acoustic glass, a dash silencer, and a special engine cover.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: full breakdowns of XLE and Limited features are at the bottom of this post.]
Standard 2.5L Hybrid AWD (No MAX???)
As with the lifted-sedan Crown, the Signia is a Super Low Emissions Vehicle and comes standard with a 2.5L 4-cylinder motor paired with a Toyota Hybrid system with electronic on-demand AWD. It’s a little heavier and less aerodynamic than its (lifted) sedan sibling, which hurts overall economy. But the Signia still manages up to 36 mpg combined (EPA estimated). The electronic AWD system is able to vary the vehicle’s power distribution depending on driving conditions and needs. For example, when cruising down the highway, 100 percent of the power comes from the front wheels. In slippery conditions, however, a separate electric motor mounted in the rear can deliver up to 80 percent of available power.
Unlike the Crown, Toyota did not announce a Platinum MAX powertrain option for the Signia. On the Crown, the MAX system combines a turbocharged 2.4L 4-cylinder with a rear e-axle (aka an electric motor rear axle) for 340 total horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s… the fun one.
But no such luck for potential Signia buyers who will ultimately crosshop it against the Crown (sedan).
On one hand, this is a shame because you’d think the Signia as a wagon/crossover/SUV will ultimately be more popular than the Crown (sedan). But then again, having driven both the RX and TX 500h, which feature a similar setup to the Crown MAX, they aren’t particularly great sporty SUVs, nor are they as economical as the hybrids. So maybe the Signia is simply destined for economical cruising and family hauling. And that’s probably okay for most people.
Crown Signia Colors & Technology
On the outside, Toyota plans to offer five different 2025 Crown Signia colors —
- Storm Cloud
- Finish Line Red
- Oxygen White
- Black
- Bronze Age
On the inside, customers will get to select Saddle Tan or Black interiors. XLE models will offer Fabric/Softex materials while Limited models will boast leather seating surfaces. Regardless of grade, every Crown Signia features a vertical wireless charging pad and three USB-C ports up in the front of the vehicle. In the back, the passengers sit in 60/40 folding rear seats that, when folded down, create a 6.5′ long cargo space for hauling longer items. There are also two USB-C ports in the back.
Every 2025 Signia boasts a 12.3″ fully digital gauge cluster as well as the premium 12.3″ Toyota Audio Multimedia system touchscreen display. This system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sirus XM, and HD Radio, and a standard six-speaker sound system that can be upgraded to an amplified 11-speaker JBL system with a subwoofer.
Toyota will also supply several connected features via free trials with every purchase that will need to be extended with paid subscriptions —
- Wi-Fi Connect (4G data, 3-month / 3GB trial included)
- Drive Connect (enhances hands-free Toyota Multimedia System functionality, 1-year trial included)
- Remote Connect (turns your cellphone into a Digital Key, 1-year trial included)
- Service Connect (provides vehicle data & maintenance reminders, “up to 10” year trial)
- Safety Connect (enhanced roadside assistance & stolen vehicle locator, “up to 10” year trial)
Safety
According to Toyota, the 2025 Crown Signia comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) standard, which includes the following technologies —
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Road Sign Assist
- Automatic High Beams
- Proactive Driving Assist
Crown Signia XLE Features
The Toyota Crown Signia XLE is the entry-level grade for this vehicle. But on other models, like the new 2025 Camry, it would be a much more premium-level trim. It includes the following standard features —
- 19-inch MachineFinished AluminumAlloyWheels
- Fabric/Softex 8-way Power Adjustable Heated Front Seats
- Fold Flat 60/40 Fabric/Softex Rear Seating with Dedicated Air Vent
- 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia Touchscreen – Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, with ClOud Navigation and Digital Asst. Trial
- 12.3-inch Color MID with Four Customizable Layout
- HeatedLeatherSteeringWheel and Leather Trimmed Shift Knob
- 6-Speaker Audio System, Qi Wireless Charger, and 5U SBPorts (3-front; 2-rear)
- Power Liftgate with Kick Sensor
- Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Crown Signia Limited Features
The Limited trim will be the top grade for the 2025 Crown Signia lineup and looks Lexus-premium, with a nice step up to heated and ventilated leather seating. The Limited includes everything from the Signia XLE, plus the following standard features —
- Fixed Glass Panoramic Roof
- 21-inch Dark Gray Aluminum Alloy Wheels
- Leather Seating with Heated and Ventilated Front Seats and Driver Memory Function
- Leather Rear Seats with Heating
- 11-Speaker JBL Premium Audio including Subwoofer and Amplifier
- Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking
- Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers
- Digital Key capability (Remote Connect subscription required)
If that’s not quite fancy enough for you, Toyota also plans to offer the optional Limited Tech Package, which includes the following features —
- Panoramic View Monitor
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Front Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Change Assist
- Outside Mirrors with Puddle Lights and Auto Tilt Down in Reverse
Images: Toyota USA
