Toyota’s Crown brand has been around for decades but has never had a significant foothold in the U.S. market. That’s about to change in a more substantial way than has already happened. While the Crown sedan debuted in the U.S. for the 2024 model year, the automaker recently announced plans to release the Crown Signia, an SUV that fills the gap left by the recently departed Venza.
The two-row Crown Signia comes with a starting price in the mid-$40,000 range, which exceeds the Venza’s MSRP by almost $10,000. That said, it’s larger, more luxurious, and more spacious inside. It’s only available in the two highest trims, XLE and Limited, as well, which means a better-equipped “entry-level” model and more luxury features for both variants.
Toyota’s fourth-gen hybrid system provides propulsion, a slight downstep from the Gen-five systems found in the new Prius and Camry. There will be more noise and less impressive fuel economy, and the last-generation hybrid tech feels less refined and usable than the current iteration. That said, the Crown Signia enjoys 240 horsepower from its hybrid powertrain, giving it quicker acceleration than some in its segment.
The Crown Signia’s cabin is much the same as its sedan counterpart. There’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster running Toyota’s latest infotainment interface, and the new setup performs well. Menus are quick to load, and there’s little of the searching for settings found in the old system.
[Images: Toyota]
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