2025 Toyota Crown Signia First Drive Review: Toyota Price, Lexus Nice

Crossover lovers rejoice because Toyota has added yet another option to its lineup. The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is an all-new model for the US market (it’s called the Crown Estate in other markets), slotting above the RAV4 but below the Highlander as a new two-row mid-size option. If you’re currently thinking, “But wait, isn’t that where the Venza fits in?” You’d be correct, but the Signia replaces the Venza, meaning Toyota has now killed off the Venza twice in two decades.

Don’t shed too many tears over the Venza though, because the Crown Signia improves on it in nearly every way. Like the Venza, the Crown Signia will only be sold as a hybrid, producing 240 horsepower and yielding 38 miles per gallon combined, meaning it is more powerful and only marginally less efficient. More importantly, it’s a true mid-size option, meaning it’s larger inside than the vehicle it replaces.

Does this mean Toyota made the right decision in replacing the well-known Venza with a less proven nameplate and less familiarity in the US market? During a First Drive event near San Diego, California, DrivingOnRoad got some seat time in the new Crown Signia to find out.

First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on DrivingOnRoad for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon.

Exterior: The Wagon-Like Crown

Toyota USA may call the Crown Signia a crossover, but there’s a reason why this car is known globally as an ‘estate’ – estate means wagon in other countries. The proportions are akin to a Subaru Outback, a vehicle that also treads the line between wagon and crossover. The Crown Signia’s wheelbase stretches 6.3 inches longer than the Venza, and overall measures 7.5 inches more in lenght than the vehicle it replaces. It’s also an inch wider than the Venza.

The Crown rides on two-tone 19-inch wheels in the base XLE trim, while the Limited upgrades to dark gray 21-inch wheels. Visually, that’s the only distinction between the two trims. There are limited options for exterior color, since Toyota offers only five hues: Storm Cloud, and Black are standard, while Bronze Age (pictured), Finish Line Red, and Oxygen White are premium additions. No matter the color, the Signia is presented with premium features such as LED headlights with automatic high beams and a color-coordinated grille.

Interior: Like Lexus

This is not a typical Toyota product, which is why the Crown Signia starts at the XLE grade, a moniker typically reserved for a higher end model. This trim comes well-equipped with leather seats, heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated leather steering wheel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, auto up/down windows, and hands-free power liftgate. Upgrading to the Limited adds a fixed panoramic moonroof, 11-speaker JBL audio system (six speakers in the XLE), rain sensing wipers, and Digital Key functionality.

The interior comes in two colors; Black and Saddle Tan. Customers can also add an Advanced Technology Package on the Crown Signia Limited, which bundles a panoramic view monitor, lane change assist, traffic jam assist, front cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking assist, and auto tilt-down mirrors.

No matter which trim you choose, the Crown Signia looks and feels premium inside, verging on Lexus territory. In fact, we’d say the nicest Crown Signia is nicer inside than the base Lexus NX.

Practicality: Larger Than Venza

The Crown Signia’s larger exterior dimensions yield more interior space than the outgoing Venza. Front legroom is improved, though rear legroom is slightly reduced. Headroom is up, too, while hip room is increased in both rows, particularly the rear, which will help when you need to put three passengers in the back. As with the Venza, opting for the panoramic moonroof changes headroom and cargo space a bit.

Though it’s larger than the Venza it replaces, the Crown Signia shares a similar problem to the Crown sedan; it’s not usably larger than the model that sits below it. The RAV4 has more rear legroom and headroom, with only marginally less hip room.

Behind the second row, the Venza actually had more cargo space than the new Crown Signia. This is likely due to the Signia’s wagon-like shape, which has a lower roofline at the back. With the seats folded, the Crown dwarfs the Venza with up to 68.8 cubic feet of space (slightly less with the moonroof), a significant 13.7 cube increase over the Venza’s max carrying capacity.

Still, the smaller RAV4 boasts more cargo space with the seats up or folded, yet another area where the Crown Signia shows signs of poor packaging.

Performance: Hybrid Only

Toyota kept the Crown Signia simple to avoid complications in production: five colors, two trims, and only one powertrain. The lone engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which produces 188 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque on its own. That gas engine is paired with two permanent magnet synchronous motors, combining to deliver 240 net system hp – 21 hp more than the Venza. This is actually the fourth-generation Toyota Hybrid System, not the THS5 that’s in the new Camry. Drive goes out to standard all-wheel-drive via a single planetary gear, which behaves like a continuously variable transmission. 0-60 takes around 7.1 seconds, which is quicker than the RAV4 and Venza by seven tenths of a second.

Though it’s slightly less efficient than the Venza (by a single mile per gallon), the Crown Signia is still a highly efficient crossover. Fuel economy in both trims is rated at 39/37/38 mpg city/highway/combined. We doubt anyone will use it to tow, but Toyota says it can pull up to 2,700 pounds.

Sadly, the Signia does not offer the turbocharged Hybrid Max powertrain that’s available on the Crown Sedan, which delivers 340 hp total. Talking to Toyota, the Hybrid Max makes up fewer than 10% of Crown sales, likely because it’s only available on the top Platinum trim. It’s no wonder why Toyota made the decision to only offer the Crown Signia with the standard hybrid system.

Driving Impressions: Hill Hater

Driving the Crown Signia is a familiar experience for anyone who has driven a modern Toyota hybrid. It’s remarkably smooth with seamless shifts from gas to electric propulsion, and the powertrain loves shutting down the engine to be more efficient… unless there’s a hill involved. Toyota’s driving route for the event took us up a steep California mountain road, terrain that reveals the downside to the hybrid system: endless engine drone. When going up a hill, the engine remains constantly engaged at a single RPM, which gets tiresome after a few minutes. If you live somewhere with steep elevation changes, this is something to consider before purchasing. At least what comes up must also come down, where the Crown can quietly rely on its electric motors during the descent to sea level.

Negatives out of the way, the Crown Signia feels more luxurious than the average Toyota vehicle. It’s engineered to avoid vibration through the steering and floor and more sound deadening materials around the headliner, engine bay, and carpeting. There’s also acoustic glass on the front windows. While not Lexus-level quiet, it’s pretty close. We wouldn’t call the Crown Signia a fun crossover, but it delivers competent handling with accurate steering, athletic body control, and adequate acceleration. Any RAV4 owners looking to upgrade or Highlander owners wanting to downsize will enjoy the Signia’s premium experience.

Pricing & Verdict: A Lexus For Less

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is priced simply, starting at $43,590 for the XLE trim, not including a $1,395 delivery fee. That’s significantly more expensive than the Venza, which starts at $35,070 – but keep in mind that that crossover offered a cheaper LE trim that isn’t available on the Crown. Comparing equivalent XLE grades, the Signia is only $4,310 more expensive, despite having more power, space, and standard features. Stepping to the Crown Signia Limited brings the price to $47,990 with an available Advanced Technology Package for $1,865.

Toyota is placing its bet on consumers who want a premium experience but don’t necessarily want to pay for a luxury brand. The 2025 Lexus NX Hybrid starts at $44,925 with an identical powertrain, but can be significantly more expensive with options. Buyers on a tighter budget should consider the Subaru Outback, which doesn’t have a hybrid powertrain but starts at a more reasonable $28,895 and tops out at just $42,795 for the top Touring XT trim.

The Crown Signia seems like a more compelling package than the Venza it replaces, though a higher starting price and marginally larger interior volume may make it a tougher sell. Like the Crown sedan, the Signia blurs the line between Toyota and Lexus, something that a displaced Avalon customer might enjoy. The Signia’s crossover body style and higher ride height should give it broader appeal than the Crown sedan, but we still believe that Toyota has left the coolest body style (the Crown Sport) to other markets. We hope the Crown Signia succeeds, so Toyota can fully flesh out the lineup with a sportier PHEV version.