2025 Toyota Crown Signia adds yet another two-row hybrid SUV to Toyota's lineup

As promised, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia expands the flagship model line beyond just a sedan. It promises much more practicality along with standard all-wheel drive. However, it's not available with the Crown sedan's top powertrain, and it finds itself in a tight niche among Toyota's many SUVs.

The Crown Signia arrives looking nearly identical to the Crown Estate Type concept from 2022. It doesn't really even have any noticeable adjustments for production. It's just that concept (or more like "concept") come to life. We of course get to see inside the production Signia, though, and the interior is basically the same as the Crown sedan's with flowing dash panels, bronze accents and dual 12.3-inch screens for instruments and infotainment. Of course, there's also the larger hatch area, though Toyota hasn't given dimensions for it.

The powertrain is familiar, too. It's the same naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain from the base Crown sedan. It makes 243 horsepower and has standard all-wheel drive thanks to a rear-mounted electric motor. But unlike the Crown, it's the only available powertrain, meaning you can't get the Signia with the 340-horsepower Hybrid Max of the sedan. That's a bit of a bummer, as the base powertrain is simply adequate, while the Hybrid Max adds refinement and character. It will still be rather efficient with an estimated 36 mpg combined, splitting the difference between the standard Crown sedan's 41 mpg, and the Hybrid Max version's 30. Toyota also claims a towing rating of up to 2,600 pounds.

This all puts the Crown Signia in an interesting place, because Toyota already has a sort of premium two-row hybrid SUV in the Venza. Or rather, that actually leaves the Venza in the odd place. The Crown Signia more comfortably between the RAV4 and Highlander as a true midsize two-row. The Venza on the other hand is is extremely close to its mechanical twin, the RAV4 Hybrid, despite marketing proclamations of it being a "midsize" SUV. And although the Crown Signia will be a bit less efficient (Venza gets 39 mpg combined), and probably more expensive, it will also boast more power and towing capacity than Venza, plus a more prestigious name. Both of those aspects will also help it stand out more than the Venza. It sure makes it seem like Venza will be obsolete, and Toyota may agree. We overhead some dealer representatives at the evening reveal say the Venza will be phased out at some point now that the Crown Signia is coming. That would simply be for the North American market, though. The Venza will continue in other markets where it's known as the Harrier.

Two trims are on offer: XLE and Limited. The XLE comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, cloth and leatherette upholstery, six-speaker sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital rearview mirror. The Limited adds 21-inch wheels, a glass roof, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, an 11-speaker JBL sound system and compatibility with a digital phone key. And all Crown Signias will come standard with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, automatic headlights and Proactive Driving Assist. That last feature can apply light braking and steering at corner entry and to maintain space between the vehicle and other road users.

The Crown Signia will be available next summer. Pricing hasn't been announced, but with the sedan starting around $40,000, we would expect the Signia to start a little above that.

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