The Toyota RAV4 is a type of car called an SUV, which is bigger than a regular car and can hold more people and stuff. It's known for being dependable and good for families, making it a popular choice among drivers.
The Toyota Crown Signia is a luxury SUV from Toyota that has replaced another model called the Venza. It's part of Toyota's premium car lineup and has been around since the 1950s.
The Toyota Avalon is a large car made by Toyota that is known for being comfortable and spacious. It is considered a more luxurious option in Toyota's range of vehicles.
ECVT is a type of transmission that helps the car change speeds smoothly without noticeable shifts. It makes driving feel more fluid and helps save fuel.
A CVT is a special kind of automatic transmission that helps the car accelerate smoothly without the usual gear changes you feel in regular automatics.
Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is a collection of safety features in Toyota cars that help prevent accidents and make driving easier, like automatic braking and keeping you in your lane.
This system uses cameras to show everything around the car, making it easier to park and avoid hitting things. It's like having a bird's-eye view of your vehicle.
The EPA is a government agency that checks how much fuel cars use and how they affect the environment. They provide ratings to help people choose more efficient cars.
Fuel economy is how far a car can go on a certain amount of fuel. If a car gets good fuel economy, it means you won't have to fill up the gas tank as often.
The Volvo XC70 is a fancy car that looks like a mix between a regular car and an SUV. It's designed to be safe and comfortable, making it a good choice for families who want to go on adventures.
The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people buy because it's easy to drive and doesn't use much gas. It's also known for lasting a long time without needing a lot of repairs, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious drivers.
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Toyota is, of course, very well known for Camry and RAV4, but a lot of people haven't heard
of Crown Signia.
I am here to right that wrong.
Cars are transportation, right?
Getting from point A to point B?
Well, they're also status symbols, pop culture icons, sculpture, engineering, plus environmental
heroes and villains.
Crown Signia replaces Venza in Toyota's SUV portfolio in the same way the Crown sedan nudged
Avalon aside a few years back.
Crown has been the Big T's premium machine going back to the 1950s, just absent from
U.S. roads since the 60s.
This is a fully-loaded, top-trim-limited model.
You'd be hard-pressed to option this up past the MSRP of $52,500.
I see two of Crown Signia's main competitors in the Toyota family, the RAV4 hybrid and the
Lexus RX hybrid.
This is some $7,500 spendier than the RAV, $4,500 less than the Lexus.
Some will be happy to pay extra for the status of a premium brand.
Other direct competitors are harder to define given Signia's wagony look, and it's strictly
a hybrid.
So, even though this is done up in bronze age paint, it's on the green side.
With two rows and seating for five, maybe consider the top-trim Hyundai Tucson and Kia
Sportage hybrids, those are easily $10,000 less.
Mazda CX-70 plug-in hybrid is a smidge more expensive but adds 26 miles of electric
range.
Buick and vision, Honda Passport, Nissan Murano, Subaru Outback, and Chevy Blazer, while you
can get it, don't have gas-electric powertrains.
Signia's wheelbase is stretched by six inches compared to RAV4 and overall 13 inches
longer and two inches wider.
On the engineering side, Toyota has a fifth-generation hybrid powertrain.
Signia, like Crown sedan, is powered by Gen4.
This 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors team up to make 240 horsepower on standard
grade fuel.
Typically, the gas side is silent on startup, graphics, not ears tell you that it's on.
Even when the gas side fires up, the note is muted and distant.
The transmission is an ECVT, simulated shifts happen here, they feel authentic, if subtle, move
to Lexus for a head-up display.
All-wheel drive is standard, the rear tire is powered by an electric motor if more traction
is demanded.
Dampers are fixed, drive modes alter the throttle response plus steering and transmission
feel.
Being a Toyota hybrid, there's the EV mode for very short distances at low-speed
on electric power, I've never figured out its real-world use.
Acceleration performance of the Crown Signia is similar to the Lexus RX 350H 0-60 in about
seven seconds, but the Lexus also offers the 500H, which is turbocharged, so more powerful.
It's also more expensive and a lot less fuel efficient.
I'm kind of spoiled these days because there are EVs that'll do the 0-60 dash in three
seconds flat, causing people to grumble about this kind of power, but really don't.
This is perfectly adequate and it feels punchy off the line.
Besides, Signia owners, are you going to be drag racing others?
I don't think so.
Four hundred pounds heavier than sister RAV, Crown feels substantial, the chassis structure
is solid, sharp bumps are handled well considering the limited 21-inch wheels and lower profile
tires, back sides will be fine, Signia certainly nails the transportation mission.
I'm not going to bore you with the details of why I recently spent a week in my brother-in-law's
RAV4 hybrid, but I can tell you this for sure, Signia is significantly more comfortable and
definitely more quiet, could be worth the upgrade if that's what you want in a car.
The extra 7,500 bucks buys refinements and some exclusivity considering RAV4 is the
most popular passenger vehicle sold in the U.S.
Best to keep Signia on pavement, ground clearance is a car like 6.7 inches to RAV's 8.1, towing
is rated at 2,700 pounds.
Notice this is the Crown Signia and not the GR Crown Signia, the suspension is set
for comfort.
If you chuck it hard into a corner, well, it's not sloppy, but there is going to
be some body roll.
This is set to coddle passengers, that is the Crown Signia's mission.
As for fashion, the greenhouse has a wagon-like vibe, not sure why Americans shun that form
factor, they're simply sleeker-looking SUVs.
Visibility is decent, with the seating position raised a bit, just not at the
altitude sickness level.
You might have heard that Toyota does a terrific job with hybrid powertrains.
It's very smooth, put your foot into the throttle, and the CVT transmission doesn't have that
rubbery feel, and the brakes, when you're dipping from regeneration to actual physical
brakes, is seamless.
Very nicely done.
The suite of standard 8-astek, dubbed Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, is good stuff, with the
expected automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and solid lane keeping.
Live in a big city and commute during rush hour?
Well then spring for the advanced safety package that adds traffic jam assist that effectively
takes over in stop and go slogging.
It's better than blood pressure medicine.
The $1,800 package also adds a surround view camera system that shows what's under
the vehicle.
More than anything, it helps keep the quarter panels and bumpers dent and scuff free.
The hybrid offers up some eco-cred, even though this isn't an EV or plug-in.
For a bigger rig, this is pretty darn efficient.
The EPA rates the fuel economy average at 38 miles per gallon.
And don't forget that Toyota hybrids are usually more efficient in the city.
This scores 39 there.
More efficient on the highway, 37.
Signia cuts a handsome profile, outside and in.
This space is much like Crown Sudan's cockpit.
It's up there with Mazda CX-70 with materials that are mostly soft touch.
The space is no larger than RAV4 though.
The reserved look has no wood or stitching on the dash, real or foe, loading cargo
to the ceiling.
Digital rear view mirrors help tremendously.
Limited owners sit on honest-to-goodness leather, heat-inventing too.
This doesn't encroach into Lexus territory, but it's as good as you'll get with
a Toyota badge.
Plastic releases feel more Corolla-cross than Crown.
I'll be interested to see how the shiny plastic ages.
Storage cubbies are on the smaller side, especially here.
Thumbs up when it comes to this lid.
Both passenger and driver get easy access.
Check out this little divider.
It gives the front cup holder a second purpose.
Toyota's multimedia interface is intended to be used with natural voice commands, so
this 12.3-inch display doesn't have a traditional homepage layout like most screens these days.
Touch response is okay, it can lag at times, but again, usually drivers will be talking
to it.
Graphics are informational, if not overly stylish.
The great thing about voice commands, and these are very, very good, is that you can
keep your eyes on the road.
It's safer.
Hey, Toyota, I want to listen to XM Sirius Radio, the station chill.
This is great.
I can keep my eyes on the road.
I don't have to fuss with the screen.
The bad news is, after the trial period expires, it'll cost you a two-year contract with connected
services cost $325.
But again, it really works.
Hey, Toyota, are there any Burger King's around?
Get it?
Burger King?
Crown?
I found 15 results.
The first is Burger King at Aurora Avenue North.
Would you like to go to that one?
Sure.
Let's go get a whopper.
Calculating route to Burger King.
Happy to see hard buttons in here, especially HVAC controls and heated wheel switch.
The charge pad hugs phones securely, which pairs well to wireless Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay.
That sucks the life force out of phone batteries.
Limited supports phone as key as long as the remote connection subscription is paid
up.
The tunes are important to you.
It's the trim level to get.
It adds a loud, punchy JBL system.
Considering the longer wheelbase and length of crowned Signia, you might expect that the
back seat would be much more spacious than RAV4.
In reality, they're effectively the same size.
I'm 5'9", headroom, very generous, same with knee, leg, and footroom.
The cushions are high and long enough for great thigh support, and door openings
are big enough so you can get in and out.
No problem.
Door pockets are shaped so that they'll take a can of Coke.
This is a premium vehicle.
There are heated seats, not to the point where there are sunshades or a dedicated climate
zone back here.
At least there are adjustable vents and a way to charge phones.
Hey, love the fact that there are pockets on both seat backs.
The floor does have a bit of a spine.
It's not too intrusive, so feet will be fine.
If cup holders are your thing, crowned Signia delivers.
Now, this bench is wide enough, so three average-sized adults will be okay for short
trips across town, shouldn't be too much of a problem.
As always, for longer trips and maximum comfort, two will be best.
Signia is car-couture in an upmarket, outdoorsy kind of way, like an urbane North Face jacket.
My eye finds it more satisfying than the Crown sedan.
Then's it too, but I'm a wagon guy.
There's a bit of RX design language in the mod-a-form grille.
The optional Bronze Age paint is worth the 425 bucks.
It gives this Toyota a taller Volvo XC70 cross-country vibe.
This seems to be a requisite flourish on Toyota SUVs nowadays.
The slot seems purely decorative.
The car nerd in me wonders if it affects aerodynamics.
And it only dawned on me after five days of being in this rig that there's no Signia
badging anywhere, inside or out.
Crown?
Yes.
Signia?
No.
Standardized measurement metrics.
They're a beautiful thing.
Keep in mind that RAV4 is over a foot shorter than Crown Signia, and it will take on nine
packs of the two-ply.
Playing bath tissue Tetris, I found eight bundles of softness and absorbency is the maximum.
Not sure what's happening with the packaging efficiency.
At 25 cubic feet, it has a 12-cube disadvantage.
But it's well-trimmed, and there's a bit of storage under here.
No spare tire, just a repair kit.
There are releases here and here, so dropping the seat backs is a cinch no matter where you
are.
Space kind of evens out once they're down.
Signia has a max cargo space of 66 cubic feet to RAV70, but this gets a trick feature
I've not seen on any other car.
These extensions make it easier to use the cargo hold as sleeping quarters, you know,
in case your spouse is mad that you spent more money on the Signia.
Venza was never a volume player like the super popular RAV4, and Lexus RX has always been
the brand's most popular machine.
Crown Signia may suffer the middle child syndrome.
Its goodness costs a chunk more than RAV, and many buyers will stretch to wear the
more fashionable badge of the RX.
Got to say, this is one of my favorite Toyotas, if not my favorite, simply because it nails
its mission.
It's good looking inside and out, it's efficient, plus the ride quality is extremely comfortable.
It's what people want in this segment.
I am surprised it isn't roomier given its size compared to RAV4, would like a smidge
more power because I'm an automotive rider, and if the price could come down just a little
bit, that would be great.
Still, this is a very nice vehicle.
Crown Signia is a tweener in price and form factor, that's worth a look.
I actually went to a Toyota showroom with my brother-in-law since he's thinking of
buying a Signia.
There was a couple there trying to figure out why they should spend more money for the same
amount of room as a RAV4, so it was interesting to watch that dynamic play out.
Driving the two cars back to back would have cleared things up.
As always, special thanks to Martin Campbell who drives while I shoot running footage.
Hey, what do you think of this car?
I like it.
It's comfortable.
Yeah?
Yeah, would you buy it for your mom?
That's a limited question.
She just drove her Subaru into the garage wall.
She's a lovely woman.
Oh, and one more thing, a new RAV4 should be on its way in the next six to nine months
or so.
Rumor is it's much more than a mid-cycle refresh.
Leaving you with the fun fact this time, Toyota is really into the crown name, Corolla,
Corona, and Camry or Kanmudi also mean crown, kind of a big deal to the company.
And that's why you should subscribe to the channel, right?
Because fun facts and all sorts of other stuff.
You can follow me on social media.
I'm on threads and Blue Sky now.
And if you have a question, leave it in the comments.
I do a pretty good job of getting back to the good ones.
Thanks for watching.
It's driven.
I'm Tom Volk.
About this episode
The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia Limited is a unique addition to Toyota's lineup, replacing the Venza and offering a premium hybrid experience. With a price point of $52,500, it competes closely with the RAV4 hybrid and Lexus RX hybrid. The episode dives into its design, comfort, and engineering, highlighting its fifth-generation hybrid powertrain that delivers 240 horsepower. The Crown Signia is noted for its smooth ride, spacious interior, and advanced safety features, though it raises questions about its value compared to the RAV4. The host shares personal insights from a week-long test drive, making comparisons with other models in the segment.
Cars are transportation, right? Getting from point A to B. They're also status symbols, pop culture icons, sculpture, engineering, plus environmental and political touchstones (as Elon is finding out). Crown Signia replaces Venza in Toyota's SUV portfolio, in the same way the Crown sedan nudged Avalon aside a few years back. Crown has been the Big T's premium machine going back to the 1950's, just absent from US roads since the 60's.
