2025 Toyota Crown Signia: We’ve Found the Perfect Road Trip Car

North Bay, Ontario—Following a fun little session with some older Toyota Land Cruisers as part of a cross-country tour celebrating the Japanese automaker’s 60 years in Canada, we got to spend time behind the wheel of the all-new 2025 Toyota Crown Signia, a wagon-style crossover that slots above the existing Crown sedan.

The plan was to drive it from Winnipeg, Manitoba to North Bay, Ontario, roughly a 700-km drive that would give us plenty of opportunities to put the Crown Signia to the test. Just so you know, our tester was a pre-production model that didn’t necessarily meet the automaker’s lofty standards for build quality but was still fully operational. More on that later.

• Also: 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Details and Pricing Announced for Canada
• Also: Toyota Canada Celebrates 60 Years With Two Premieres in Toronto

Apples and Oranges

The sleek Toyota Crown Signia replaces the outgoing Venza, which has failed to attract a decent number of customers since coming back in 2020. And we can’t help but think it’s going to hurt sales of the Crown, which debuted as a 2023 model.

The front fascia is a successfully executed combination of Lexus and Prius, with the grille resembling that of a Lexus RX and the headlights mirroring those on Toyota’s next-gen hybrid.

From the sides, the Crown Signia also looks much better than the Venza. The oversized 21-inch wheels add a great deal of sportiness to the package, while the long and low-slung body screams wagon.

Throughout our three-day adventure, several onlookers came up to us wanting to take a closer peak at the vehicle and ask questions about it, mostly to find out what it was exactly. Similar to the late Avalon, the Crown Signia essentially redefines luxury at Toyota.

Comfortable Cabin

The connection with the Crown is easier to make when stepping inside. The dashboard is the same. Ditto for the general layout of the cabin. The only difference is the large glass roof maximizing the impression of space.

When it comes to cargo, the new crossover can’t pack as much luggage as the Venza (702 litres vs. 816 litres), but folding the rear seats results in the opposite, with the former able to accommodate up to 1,872 litres instead of 1,560 litres in the latter. For the record, the Subaru Outback is still king with 923 litres and 2,141 litres, respectively.

Build quality could have been better, as evidenced by the loose centre console cover. Remember, this was a pre-production model. It’s pretty safe to assume the actual units about to roll off the line will be just as solid as the Crown sedans we’re used to.

Finding a good driving position is very easy and comfort is generous for long trips no matter where you sit. The ride is smooth and quiet despite the 21-inch alloys, and front-row occupants enjoy heated and ventilated seats. Incidentally, the Canadian-spec Crown Signia is offered in a single trim level called Limited.

Efficient But No So Exciting

Handsome, comfortable and fuel-efficient, the hybrid-only 2025 Toyota Crown Signia might just be the perfect road trip car. Ours achieved a combined 6.6 L/100 km even though we sometimes drove as fast as 120 km/h on the highway. That is a far better score than the Outback’s, and owners will jump for joy when they see their low fuel bills when stopping at gas stations.

On the flip side, driving dynamics are not quite as sharp. Steering is light and doesn’t provide enough feedback. Acceleration is decent at best, and the continuously variable transmission causes the naturally aspirated engine to complain every time you want to extract more power out of it. Sure, 240 ponies sounds nice, but considering the Crown Signia weighs nearly two full tons, we wish Toyota would also offer the 340-horsepower Hybrid Max system found in the Crown Platinum.

Our Verdict

Wagons are a dying breed, so it’s refreshing to see a new one hit the road. Still, the Toyota Crown Signia will probably be a rare sight due to a base price of $57,450, which is approximately $10,000 more expensive than a top-line Outback. Granted, Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine burns way more fuel, but it’s not the only consideration when shopping for a family vehicle or a road trip car.

The hefty price would be easier to swallow if the Crown Signia came with the aforementioned 340-horsepower system that delivers 400 lb-ft of torque. Too bad it’s nowhere to be found. Toyota Canada would also be wise to add a cheaper model—as is the case in the U.S.—to attract more potential buyers.