AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING9.0/10
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Safety9.0/10
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PRACTICALITY9.0/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS9.0/10
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FEATURES9.0/10
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POWER8.0/10
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COMFORT8.0/10
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DRIVING FEEL8.0/10
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FUEL ECONOMY7.0/10
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VALUE7.0/10
Whether the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is a wagon (it isn’t) or a crossover (it is) is a mostly inconsequential matter.
However you choose to describe it, this all-new model represents just about the best of everything Toyota has to offer. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect — because no vehicle is — but it comes about as close as you can get this side of six figures.
Value: 7/10
This isn’t the first time yours truly has waxed poetic about the Crown Signia’s exceptional execution, particularly for the price, so let’s start there. At $59,380 before tax — but including a $1,930 freight charge — this Toyota isn’t especially cheap, but it manages to feel like it’s just about worth every penny. Even with this tester’s optional Advanced Technology package ($2,075) and two-tone paint ($810) that together put its pre-tax price at a little more than $62,000, the Crown Signia feels like a near-premium product for less than a premium price.
Because it’s always worth having a look at what else is out there, the Mazda CX-50 that’s now available as a hybrid is probably this crossover’s closest competitor. The priciest version, which is most similar to the Crown Signia in terms of feel and features, rings in at $49,705 before tax. Then there’s the non-hybrid Subaru Outback that’s $50,190 in its most expensive trim, while the Volvo V60 Cross Country adds some proper premium flair for its pre-tax starting price of $57,420. Meanwhile, the top trim is $12,000 more and can be further topped up with options and extras.
Features: 9/10
What you’re getting for the money is a decked out crossover that comes with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, subscription-based satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which are wireless. Those smartphone-mirroring systems are run through a 12.3-inch touchscreen, plus there’s a wireless phone charger, five USB-C ports, and an 11-speaker stereo. A panoramic power sunroof, height-adjustable tailgate, and push-button start round out the package.
Safety: 9/10
The advanced safety and driver-assist suite is similarly robust, with forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control that works in stop-and-go traffic all counting as standard fare. Opting for the Advanced Technology pack adds stuff like front cross-traffic alert, surround-view cameras (to supplement the mandatory back-up camera), and so-called Traffic Jam Assist that leaves the vehicle in charge of accelerating, braking, and steering in congested conditions at speeds as fast as about 40 km/h.
Comfort: 8/10
Leather upholstery is part of the Crown Signia’s package, while the seats themselves are comfortable and supportive, with eight-way power adjustability up front making it easy to find the right position (and the driver’s side memory settings helping to keep it). That upholstery is among this crossover’s few shortcomings, and I had to peek at the build sheet to figure out whether it was genuine or the synthetic stuff that’s made its way across Toyota’s lineup in recent years — not exactly a ringing endorsement for its quality.
Alongside this crossover in Toyota’s lineup is a sedan bearing the Crown name, with a platform and underpinnings shared between them. And while the crossover version skips the fancy adaptive dampers that come with that model’s top trim, the conventional setup suits the overall vibe here just fine. Even with the standard 21-inch wheels and corresponding low-profile tires — they have a 45-mm (1.8-in) sidewall, which isn’t especially cushy — the ride quality is superb and never struggles to absorb bumps and imperfections before they reach the cabin.
Driving Feel: 8/10
There’s nothing especially exciting about the way this crossover drives, with an emphasis on its easy-going road manners. That doesn’t mean it’s dull, mind you, but it’s not particularly engaging, either. It’s mostly absent of steering feel, but there’s a car-like quality to it that’s easy to appreciate from inside. There isn’t much body roll to worry about thanks in large part to the low centre of gravity, while the hybrid powertrain provides more than enough motivation in everyday scenarios.
Power: 8/10
Perfection eludes the way the Crown Signia is motivated — not that there’s anything wrong with what powers it, but a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) would be a welcome addition to the lineup. Even so, the conventional hybrid setup is pretty good in its own right. It uses a 2.5L four-cylinder engine that’s paired with twin motor-generators — one that drives the front wheels, and the other that feeds energy into the 1.2-kWh battery pack under the back seat.
Net output registers at 240 hp, a far cry from the upgraded turbocharged hybrid that’s offered in the brawny-looking Crown sedan (340 hp). Even so, there’s plenty of pulling power here given the Crown Signia’s mission of delivering a smooth and efficient drive experience. While the powertrain sounds a little unrefined with a heavy foot applied to the throttle pedal — a byproduct of the automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) more than anything else — there’s never a time it struggles, whether in town or on the highway.
Fuel Economy: 7/10
This being a Toyota hybrid, all-wheel drive comes courtesy of a third electric motor in the back that’s independent of the rest of the powertrain. It’s fed by the battery, which means the Crown Signia doesn’t burn more gas when the rear wheels are receiving power, although the system is disengaged at certain speeds as a result — especially on the highway.
That helps cut fuel consumption to compact car levels, with an official rating of 6.2 L/100 km. But while a summertime test saw the Crown Signia turn in an indicated average in line with its Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) estimates, colder weather late in the year saw this one consume 7.0 L/100 km over the course of some 380 km, most of which were racked up on the highway. While there’s no question that’s still a respectable number, it goes to show the lofty expectations Toyota has set for itself and its hybrid drivetrains.
Incidentally, the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid borrows its gas-electric components from the ever-popular Toyota RAV4. It’s rated to burn the same 6.2 L/100 km, according to NRCan, while the RAV4 Hybrid is good for 6.0 or 6.4, depending on equipment. All of them run on regular-grade gas.
Styling: 9/10
Despite the overzealous attempts by some to classify the Crown Signia as a wagon (I see you, Brendan McAleer), it simply — and sadly — isn’t one. Before you pick up your pitchfork, know that I’m a lover of the long-roof as much as anyone else, and I’d love nothing more than to see the bodystyle make a triumphant return to the North America market. But this Toyota isn’t going to help the cause.
Even so, the Crown Signia is a stylish crossover that’s more sleek than others out there. That’s likely where the wagon confusion comes from, with its overall height of 1,625 mm (64.0 in) standing shorter even than the Venza it replaces, which measures 1,674 mm (65.9 in). Likewise, its ride height is more car-like than crossover, with 161 mm (6.3 in) of ground clearance compared to 137 mm (5.4 in) for a midsize sedan like the Toyota Camry. This tester’s two-tone paint helped to lower the visual mass even more by pairing a shade of radiant red with a black roof.
Practicality: 9/10
The interior works well with what’s happening outside, with similarly shaped lines and design cues throughout. The driver and passenger sit in two distinct pods, with the centre console separating them, but the real highlights are found behind the B-pillars. In particular, the 1,131 mm (44.5 in) of rear-seat legroom exceeds the CX-50 Hybrid’s 959 mm (37.8 in), as well as the Outback’s 1,004 mm (39.5 in), leaving lots of space for passengers to stretch out.
Conversely, both rivals boast more cargo room, with 826 L in the Mazda and 923 L in the Subaru compared to 702 L here. But then the space itself is more than adequate for a crossover this size, while it expands to 1,872 L with the 60/40 split rear seats tucked away. (In that configuration, the CX-50 Hybrid has 1,595 L while the Outback offers 2,141 L.) In fact, the cargo area is so long with the back bench stowed that Toyota’s engineers included fold-out panels to provide a flat surface all the way to the front seatbacks — an ingenious addition that helps to maximize the Crown Signia’s usefulness.
User-Friendliness: 9/10
The same is true of the handles tucked just inside the tailgate, which offer quick and easy access to all that cargo room by folding the back seats. (They have to be put back in place manually.) Likewise, the power tailgate is height-adjustable and has a hands-free kick sensor under the bumper, while the centralized close and lock button means there’s no need to fumble for your key fob after unloading the trunk. All four doors also feature proximity sensors for keyless access — simply touch a handle with the fob in your purse or pocket and the doors lock or unlock.
The front half of the cabin is filled with easy-to-use physical controls, with the climate system in particular featuring a whole host of them that are vastly superior to the finicky touch-based ones in the Venza. And while the infotainment system doesn’t include a home button, the shortcut bar that can be hidden when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is handy. The touchscreen is big and bright, while input response can be adjusted via the settings to make the display more or less responsive.
The Verdict
Look, no vehicle is perfect, and that includes the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia. Headroom is just OK, the A-pillars that frame the windshield are chunky and create pedestrian-blocking blind spots, and the powertrain can at times sound strained and unrefined. But when looking at everything it does well — which happens to be a lot — it’s hard to argue with what this crossover has to offer. That’s what makes the Crown Signia so special, and it’s the sum of those parts that make it the best vehicle in Canada for less than $100,000.
It’s not about breaking new ground that makes this crossover worthy of that prestigious praise, but rather the way Toyota has taken a bunch of the best stuff that’s already in its repertoire and wrapped it up in a stylish and practical package. That it could be mistaken for a wagon is just a testament to the Crown Signia’s overall excellence.
| Engine Displacement | 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Hybrid I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 240 net hp |
| Peak Torque | N/A |
| Fuel Economy | 6.0 / 6.3 / 6.2 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 702 / 1,872 L seats up/down |
| Model Tested | 2025 Toyota Crown Signia |
| Base Price | $57,450 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $1,930 |
| Price as Tested | $62,365 |
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Optional Equipment
$2,885 — Advanced Technology package, $2,075; Finish Line Red paint w/black roof, $810
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