2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited - Review by David Colman +VIDEO

The Evolution of the Station Wagon

David Colman

Photos and Story by David Colman
Special Correspondent
THE AUTO CHANNEL

For 2025, Toyota has amalgamated the spaciousness of a station wagon with the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of an SUV. The resulting triple-threat product is called the Crown Signia. Toyota has bestowed upon it the diamond tiara of the Crown model line. This boundary-defying vehicle offers a fresh take on an old idea - the station wagon.

The Signia dispenses with the stubby trunk of the Crown sedan, replacing it with a streamlined, cargo-hungry tail section that improves both the appearance and practicality of the Crown. The station wagon shift increases storage space behind row two from the sedan's 15 cubic feet to 25 cubic feet. With the second-row seatbacks folded flat (an easy job), the Signia's interior cargo space jumps to 66 cubic feet. Through the wide hatchback door, we were able to insert a fully assembled IKEA "Poang" chair and ottoman with space to spare. Do not attempt this with the Crown sedan.

At the top-tier Limited level, the interior of our test Signia surpassed admittedly good Toyota-level quality with certifiably superior Lexus-level furnishings. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to differentiate the Signia from a comparable Lexus product in any way but price. The seats are ultra supportive and lavishly trimmed in leather. The fronts are heated and cooled, the rears are also heated. Even the chunky leather steering wheel is heated and especially pleasurable to grasp on winter mornings. You will not find a single furnishing in this cabin that smacks of cost cutting.

With a base price of $47,990, and an out-the-door tag of $52,565, the new Signia is resetting the boundary between expectations conditioned by price and unanticipated subsequent satisfaction. After all, if you feel like you've bought a Lexus for Toyota money, you'll be infinitely more satisfied with your new acquisition. When I asked the knowledgeable older gent who helped me load the IKEA chair how much he thought the Crown cost, he came up with an $85,000 price tag.

In this sense, the new Signia is a smart way to outsmart the market. But be sure to select the following $2,720 worth of options on your order form: $1,865 for the Advanced Technology Package (Panoramic View Monitor, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Change Assist with Automatic Braking, Front Cross Traffic Alert, and Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking). Also well worth the investment of $425 is the Preferred Accessory Package, which contributes plush Carpet Floor mats, expansive Carpet Cargo Mat, and a First Aid Kit.

However, the most rewarding money you will spend on your new Crown Signia is $425 for "Finish Line Red" Premium Paint. This shade transforms the Crown into a visual knockout. The tingling Finish Line Red perfectly complements the elongated stainless steel spears bordering the black "Panoramic Fixed-Glass" roof. Rarely does such a mass production vehicle show such a flair for the dramatic.

The hybrid drivetrain of the Crown depends primarily on a 2.5-liter, inline 4-cylinder A25A-FXS gasoline engine producing 188 hp. The output of this unit is boosted by 3 electric traction motors adding 188hp to the mix, and producing 240 combined horsepower. The nickel-metal hydride hybrid battery pack offers 5.0Ah of capacity, which allows the Crown to operate for limited periods in EV mode only. A Drive Mode switch on the transmission tunnel triggers EV operation, while a warning notice on the instrument panel will notify you whether there is enough battery charge to sustain EV-only driving.

With its 14.5-gallon fuel tank, and overall fuel economy rating of 38MPG, the Crown should cover a whopping 550 miles on a single fill-up. Not only is it efficient, but it's also sneaky quick, with a top speed of 118mph, and quarter-mile times of 15.4 seconds at 91mph, and 0-60mph sprints in 7 seconds flat. I found the all-wheel-drive Signia to be more than adequately quick in all modes of driving. And speaking of modes, you may chose from Eco, Sport, Custom, and EV by flicking that Mode switch on the center console. We noted a fairly significant amplification of steering feedback when Sport mode was selected.

While the Signia falls somewhat just short of being classified as a sports vehicle, its handling on twisty roads is commendable, thanks to the Limited's fitment of oversize 21-inch dark gray metallic alloy wheels shod with aggressive Bridgestone Turanza EL450 Enlightenment M&S radials (235/45/21; TW 400). These rollers put the finishing touch to a quick, handsome, and eminently useful family package.

2025 TOYOTA CROWN SIGNIA LIMITED

ENGINE: 2.5 liter inline-4 cylinder gas motor plus 3AC motors and 5.0Ah Storage Battery
HORSEPOWER: 240hp (Combined)
TORQUE: N/A
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 39MPG City/ 37MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $52,565

HYPES: Practicality, Looks, Luxury

GRIPES: Very Heavy Hood Lift; No Hydraulic Strut

STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10

©2025 David E Colman