Toyota hasn’t been selling the Crown in the United States ever since 1972, but that is about to change with the brand-new generation that has just celebrated its world debut, and it is set to arrive at dealers nationwide later this year, with pricing to be announced in due course.
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A massive departure over its predecessor in terms of styling, it is a sedan/crossover mashup that looks instantly recognizable as something made by the Japanese automaker up front. Further back, it has fat shoulders, a sloping roofline, and a very bold rear end, with the boldness continuing with the two-tone finish available on the Platinum.

Sporting a very generous ground clearance, the 2023 Crown is 194 inches (4,928 mm) long, 72.4 inches (1,839 mm) wide, and 60.6 inches (1,539 mm) tall. The wheelbase measures 112.2 inches (2,850 mm), contributing to the generous legroom for backseat occupants. Speaking of the interior, it gets two displays for the infotainment system and digital dials, each one with a 12.3-inch diagonal. Over-the-air updates are supported, and it comes with an intelligent voice assistant.

The onboard gear depends on the trim level, with the base XLE getting fabric and Softex upholstery, heated front seats with electric adjustment, dual-zone climate control, and wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones. The Limited adds heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, panoramic glass roof, JBL audio, and rain-sensing wipers. The Platinum enjoys 21-inch wheels, adaptive variable suspension, advanced parking system, and others.

Power-wise, the 2023 Crown comes with two options, both of them electrified. The lineup kicks off with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder unit, backed up by two electric motors, with undisclosed performance numbers. The top-of-the-line grade gets a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, with a front electric motor, six-speed automatic gearbox, and a combined output of around 340 hp. It will return an estimated 28 mpg (8.4 l/100 km), whereas the XLE and Limited are expected with 38 mpg (6.2 l/100 km). All versions get the electronic on-demand all-wheel drive system with a rear-mounted electric motor.

Built on the same platform as the Avalon, Camry, RAV4, Venza, and Highlander, namely the TNGA-K, the all-new Crown has multi-link rear suspension and MacPherson struts at the front. An electronically-controlled braking system is on deck, too, with active cornering assist. Drivers can choose between the Eco, Normal, and Sport modes in the XLE and Limited, with the Platinum adding the Custom, Comfort, and Sport+ too, and they will be assisted on the go by a generous amount of safety gear.

This is your 2023 Toyota Crown, returning unrecognizable after a long hiatus from our shores. The Crown debuted in Japan in 1955, making it Toyota’s oldest passenger car name. Akin to a Japanese E-Class, over the Crown’s 15 continuous generations in its homeland it’s known for launching new technology to Toyota's range, as a chauffeured ride for potentates, and for being a taxi. Toyota sold it in the U.S. from 1958 to 1972. The closest we’ve been to it since then was the Lexus GS, which used Crown platforms and powertrains.

This 16th generation of the Crown continues the model’s penchant for novelties, first among them being three new bodystyles in Japan: A wagon, an SUV, and a high-riding sedan that join the latest version of the standard sedan. We will get one of them, the elevated sedan.

A few years ago, a wave of new vehicles came with the disclaimer, “It looks better in person.” The 2023 Crown tips its hat to that era. Standing next to it in the studio, it looks like a crossover. In fact, its form would hit the bullseye as an electric crossover, another of the shapely, lifted lozenges balancing the dictates of aerodynamics, packaging, and market tastes. The Crown even has a flat underfloor, the grubby bits from the front bumper to the rear suspension hidden behind aero panels.

But it’s not electric. And when we asked Toyota if it’s conceivable that there could be an electric Crown, we were told the automaker has no plans to combine electric drivetrains with the Crown’s TNGA-K platform in the U.S.

Beyond Avalon

Before we dive under the hood, let’s get some comparisons out of the way. First, since this is effectively the replacement for the Toyota Avalon, Toyota sized it like the Avalon. The Crown’s about two inches shorter than the soon-to-retire sedan, width and wheelbase less than an inch apart between the two cars. Roof height and the all-important hip point — for that commanding seating position that sells cars in the U.S. — are all four inches higher than the Avalon.

Second, some might wonder how this isn't a cross-town reboot of the Honda Accord Crosstour. This a full-sized sedan billed as premium, the Crosstour was a mass-market midsized sedan. The Crosstour started at about $29,000, the Crown will be appreciably more expensive. And although the Toyota looks like a liftback, it has a trunk, unlike the Honda. Substantive differences in experience, yes. Superficially, we wouldn’t fault anyone for summarizing, “So it’s a larger, nicer Crosstour with a trunk.”

There will be three trims, XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The XLE and Limited ride on 19-inch wheels, the Platinum comes on an exclusive set of 21-inchers. An Advanced Technology package for the Limited can get that middle trim on its own 21-inch rims. The Platinum is also the only trim that offers a bi-tone paint job, combining black down the middle and one of five colors on the sides.

Every Crown here will be an all-wheel-drive hybrid. The XLE and Limited will come with Toyota’s Hybrid System, the same we’re familiar with from several other Toyota models but with upgrades like a high-output nickel-metal-hydride battery. A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder gets help from two electric motors, sending its power to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission. The E-Four AWD system is on-demand, using an electric motor to drive the rear axle. Torque split ranges from 100% in front to 20:80 front-to-rear.

Combined system output is 236 horsepower, 17 more than the RAV4 Hybrid. Combined fuel economy is 38 miles per gallon, two less than the RAV4 Hybrid. This one can drive on battery power alone, but only at low speeds and for short distances — think parking lots and pulling into the gated community after a night out. Otherwise, it’s Normal, Sport, and Eco.

The Platinum comes with an all-new Hybrid Max drivetrain tuned for performance. A 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a water-cooled rear motor increase combined output to 340. Instead of a CVT, a six-speed automatic with multi-plate wet clutch instead of a torque converter improves the dynamism, an e-motor in that transmission filling in power dips during shifting.

The E-Four Advanced system provides constant all-wheel drive, the front axle maxing out at 70% of drive torque. The torque split can go 20:80 the other way, as with the plain E-Four AWD, but given the increased output, there’s a lot more action being sent rearward. The drivetrain adds three more modes, Sport+, Comfort, and Custom. The performance brief drops fuel economy to 28 mpg combined.

MacPherson struts in front work with a new multilink suspension in the rear. On the Platinum, and adaptive variable suspension is dialed in to minimize pitch and roll.

Near-luxury, but not Lexus

Inside, the XLE comes with black fabric weave, the Limited with Softex in either black, chestnut, or macadamia, the Platinum with black leather. All trims get a 12.3-inch driver’s display and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen running Toyota’s latest software, meaning boons like OTA updates and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Since Toyota has Lexus to protect, the premium cabin we experienced in the Crown Platinum does the best it can with various black materials and a touch of contrasting trim. We suspect the greater part of premium perception will be the dynamic experience, the automaker saying it took pains to diminish noise, vibration, and harshness. We were told that instead of spotlighting a decibel level, engineers paired sound deadening and design details to create a “calm atmosphere conducive to enjoying easy conversation or hearing music in cleaner detail.” For instance, the steering gear has been mounted differently so as to provide better steering feel and less vibration, and every Crown gets acoustic glass.

All three trims come with dual-zone climate control and heated, eight-way power front seats. Limited and Platinum add ventilation to the front thrones and heating to the rears. The XLE makes do with a base, six-speaker audio system, the Limited and Platinum get 11-speaker JBL audio.

On the Limited, opting for the Advanced Technology package that bolts on those 21-inch wheels also throws in Toyota’s Bird’s Eye View Camera with Perimeter Scan. The all-seeing cameras are standard on Platinum, as is the Advanced Park System that can slot the Crown into an empty space.

Every trim also comes with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including driver aids like blind spot monitor and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. Improved sensors will mean better behavior from the lane assist.

Toyota isn’t ready to say anything about price, but it’s clear this one’s gonna be spendy. The 2022 Avalon XLE Hybrid starts at $38,920 after destination. We would not be surprised at a range of $43,000 to $50,000 across the lineup when the Crown begins arriving at dealers before the year is out.

There are generations of drivers in the U.S. who have no idea what the 2023 Toyota Crown is, or what it represents. The last time Toyota sold a new Crown here in America was in 1972; most of us born after Generation X have no recollection of the model. Some might say Toyota itself has no idea what the Crown is — or was — given the design of this latest model: No longer recognizable as a sedan, and much closer to a crossover.

Toyota still insists the Crown is a full-size sedan, but the automaker admits it is reimagining what that term means. I guess imagination has its own borders because in Japan, Toyota refers to the 2023 Crown as a crossover, and it’s listed under the SUV section on the company’s website. But terminology aside, the 2023 Toyota Crown really does drive like a big sedan — and a fast one at that.

The release of the 2023 Crown is a big deal for Toyota. When the new Crown goes on sale early next year, it’ll be a return to the U.S. some 51 years in the making. Toyota even flew in chief Crown engineer Akihiro Sarada from Japan just to answer our questions. As you can imagine, those questions were mostly along the lines of “Why Crown?” “Why now?” and “What about the Lexus ES?” Indeed, in 2022, Lexus is the elephant in the room.

Lexus wasn’t around when the Toyota Crown left the U.S. in 1972. The luxury brand was founded in 1989, with the LS 400 specifically designed to one-up the Crown in opulence. For the next three decades, Toyota was happy to let Lexus enjoy the spotlight in America, while high-end Toyota models like the Century and Crown endured abroad.

Of course, savvy U.S. buyers could choose the Toyota Avalon if they wanted a well-equipped sedan, but didn’t want to pay for a Lexus badge. The Avalon is being discontinued after 2022, and that’s where this new Crown comes in. Sort of.

The Crown doesn’t look anything like the outgoing Avalon, nor any current Lexus, for that matter. It does its own thing. Toyota says the Crown isn’t meant to appeal to buyers stuck between the Avalon and Lexus ES; it’s aimed at those who want luxury, style and more performance than either of those models can offer. Toyota nailed the performance, and did a decent job with the styling. But the luxury? No, not really.

The Crown feels fast for a car its size, and that performance comes from its new hybrid drivetrain. First, let’s talk size. The Crown is a big crossover pretending to be a full-size sedan. Or is it the other way around? It’s hard to tell, but it weighs between 4,250 and 4,306 pounds depending on trim. There will be three trims available, starting with the base-model XLE, then Limited and, finally, Platinum.

The Crown is just over 196 inches long. It has a wheelbase of 112.2 inches — one inch longer than the Camry’s, and less than an inch shorter than the Avalon’s. The Crown is about as long as the Avalon overall, appreciably longer than the Camry. All this makes sense, as the Crown shares its TNGA-K platform with the Avalon, Camry and Highlander. Where the Crown differs from both the Avalon and Camry is ride height: Crown drivers will sit almost four inches higher than in the Camry, and that much is obvious as soon as you climb aboard.

Getting in and out of the Crown is effortless. You don’t drop in the way you settle into a sedan, nor do you hop up like when climbing into an SUV. That’s especially good for older drivers, who just so happen to be the main target market for this new Toyota. The automaker plans on selling 200,000 Crowns per year, many of them to empty-nesters.

But the ride height is great for more than ingress and egress: it also makes for great visibility. It’s easy to survey the road and the car’s place in its lane. It’s not like driving an SUV, but it’s easier to scan your surroundings than, say, if you were sitting in a standard sedan. From behind the wheel, the Crown appears to float gently over the road rather than hungrily feeding pavement into its mouth like a sport sedan.

When configured a certain way, however, the Crown has sport-sedan speed. The Crown Platinum will be the first Toyota to feature the Hybrid MAX system, which combines a 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-four and two electric motors for a total output of 340 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Thus equipped, the Crown Platinum will sprint from zero to 60 in 5.7 seconds, with the torque coming on as low as 2,000 rpm.

With an electric motor driving each axle, the hybrid Crown is all-wheel drive. The gasoline engine drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission; the rear wheels are driven purely by their electric motor. The system adjusts torque distribution on the fly, varying between 70:30 and 20:80 front-rear.

During spirited driving when power is biased to the rear wheels, the Crown feels like a proper sports sedan. And not just because the torque shoves you into the seat; the Crown Platinum also has adaptive suspension with MacPherson struts up front and a multilink rear. The Platinum suspension constantly adjusts to eliminate body roll in corners and pitch and roll when speeding up or slowing down.

The XLE and Limited trims tone down the performance with a milder drivetrain, which makes for an unpleasant reminder of the Crown’s size. Lower trims will come with the latest Toyota Hybrid System, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors, totaling 236 hp and an as-yet-unspecified amount of torque. Whatever the official figure is, from the driver’s seat it’s noticeably less than that of the Hybrid MAX system.

The lower Crown trims use a CVT transmission programmed for fuel efficiency; they use non-adaptive suspension without active roll control. So, even in Sport mode, the Crown drives as big as it looks; it’s just not as fun to drive a base-spec Crown as it is to drive one with the Hybrid MAX drivetrain.

At least the lower Crown trims get better fuel mileage: up to 42 mpg in the city and 41 on the highway. Compare that to the Crown Platinum, which gets 29 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, and it’s easy to see what sets the different models apart. The XLE and Limited trims make for a fuel-friendly hybrid crossover, while the Platinum is a relatively efficient, legitimately fast car.

As if the performance gap between trims wasn’t enough, the Crown Platinum gets two additional driving modes, for a total of five. One is a custom mode, while the other is Sport Plus mode, which sharpens the throttle and steering response and makes it handle even better.

It feels that much more taut and precise. Between the power and the handling, the Crown Platinum with Hybrid MAX is a much more engaging car than the base-model Crown. I’ll put it this way: the Crown Platinum is a perfect car for a weekend at the beach. Friday after work, you load up the Crown and take off like a rocket, using the low-end torque to blast up the onramp. Or better yet, take the back roads and weave your way out of town.

When Sunday comes around and you’re sunburnt and spent, take a quiet drive home. The Crown XLE and Limited can do the quiet part well, but the Platinum will do both. If I were to buy a Crown, it’d have to be a Platinum, and I’d end up driving it in Sport Plus most of the time, even if it would crush my fuel economy. That’s the gist of the Crown’s bizarre duality: It’s either a regular Toyota with irregular design, or a fast one that draws attention with both its performance and its looks.

Ah, yes. The looks. You know what I think of the Crown’s design, more or less. I’ll note, this vehicle almost ended up looking completely different from the sedan-crossover hybrid you see here. This latest Crown, the 16th generation of the model, was designed from scratch but has a completely new look that was changed at the eleventh hour after a designer suggested a switch to two-tone paint.

Chief Engineer Akihiro Sarada said the styling was done by a pair of Toyota designers, one of whom is an older industry veteran, while the other designer is in their 20s.

Sarada and his interpreter explained how the younger designer encouraged the veteran to give the Crown a new sheen with the flashy two-tone finish. The team liked it so much, the original design was modified to accommodate the new color scheme. Sarada didn’t specifically explain how much was changed after the two-tone scheme was decided, but the Crown’s lines were redrawn to better accommodate the color split.

You could say the Crown is ideally supposed to come in a two-tone finish, an option unique to the Platinum trim. That’s sly, I suppose, since the Crown was quite literally re-conceptualized to work with the Platinum color scheme. Me? I’d go for a visually lighter single tone, but I’m a simpleton. I would want my Crown to be all black.

To be fair, you kind of get used to the design. After you’ve been around the car for some time, and after you’ve driven it in ways that’d make you stand out in a sports car, the weird design starts to look normal. You won’t mistake it for the stately and streamlined sedans that once wore this badge, but the tall, aggressive stance starts to grow on you with time.

There are still design decisions I can’t get my head around, like that tiny window at the C-pillar. It looks weirdly pointy from the outside, and is almost useless from the inside.

Call it an accent window — a garnish of glass that the designers had to throw in, even if they settled for a shape that’s hardly cohesive with the rest of the car. And the 21-inch wheels (standard on Platinum) are too big. They’re the “largest ever on a Toyota sedan,” but I don’t know why. Who asked for this? Was it really empty nesters?

Other than those small questions of styling, the Crown’s looks are mostly fine, and that applies to the inside too. The problem is whether “mostly fine” is enough for a car that wears a Crown badge in Japan, and will inevitably be compared to a Lexus in the U.S. I guess calling the new Crown a luxury car is complicated.

As far as road manners go, it’s as good any late-model Lexus in terms of noise, vibration and handling (NVH). Toyota used acoustic glass throughout the cabin, and loaded up the Crown with sound-proofing. It’s a very quiet car — so quiet, you’ll only ever hear a hint of an exhaust note.

The interior appointments are neither too gaudy nor too ascetic. There’s a combination of soft-touch plastics and leather inside the car, and while Toyota used cheaper, harder materials in certain places, they’re quickly forgotten. For example, there’s a rough plastic texture on the airbag cover on the steering wheel, but I don’t look at or touch this other than to slam on the horn. If I’m honking to high hell, the last thing that’ll cross my mind is going to be Toyota cheaping out on material.

Then again, at the price Toyota will be charging for the Crown, soft-touch ought to permeate the cabin of the upscale Platinum, which comes with nice leather seats and a better sound system than base. The woven fabric seats standard on the Crown XLE and Limited are okay.

The Crown’s infotainment and electronics are good: There are four USB-C ports and a single USB-A port for holdouts. The upright wireless charging pad is excellent; I’m unsure if Toyota meant to do this, but it makes the phone less visible and that’s a good thing. I don’t really want to interact with my phone in my car.

That brings me to my next point: Apple CarPlay. I know CarPlay and its Google equivalent, Android Auto, are both great, but I have zero issues with the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. Granted, it has an awful name but the software is good.

The interface and design of the Toyota system is nicer than the one Apple uses for CarPlay. I see my iPhone all the time. I don’t want that same theme taking over my car. I prefer the UI of the Toyota system: it’s simple (bordering on bland) but it doesn’t draw any attention to itself. It’s like a light Linux distro that you’d put on an old laptop. It’s legible and uncluttered, and it just works.

I’ll even say I prefer it to CarPlay (GASP). I know, I know. That’s blasphemy, but Toyota’s Intelligent Assistant is no less useful than Apple’s Siri. They’re both much less capable than Toyota or Apple will admit. Siri never knows what the hell I’m saying, and will often mistake commands for something unrelated.

Likewise, the Toyota bot didn’t reply to any of my prompts. Toyota also claims the assistant is bilingual, but I tried talking to it in Spanish and it replied with a resounding silence that said no hablo Español. Your mileage may vary.

The 2023 Toyota Crown goes on sale early next year in the U.S., starting at $40,985 including destination charges. That’s for the base model; Crown Limited will start at $46,585 and Crown Platinum will start at $53,565. That’s Lexus ES money, or more, and while I’m sure the hybrid technology in the new Crown justifies the premium, I wonder whether buyers will trip over this vehicle wearing a Toyota badge, rather than Lexus.

The Crown’s price might be too much to stomach for those who are not fans of the nameplate — meaning, those who have no idea what a Toyota Crown is supposed to be. In the U.S., where we haven’t had a Toyota Crown in half a century, that’s nearly everybody.

Maybe that’s too long. The Toyota Crown is not the value proposition that the Avalon once was. It’s a Toyota that wants to break free of that comparison with performance.

I’d buy a Crown over a Lexus based on idealism alone, in support of a major automaker getting weird with it. But most people will be less impressed with a Crown than a Lexus. In the end, I guess if you really want a Crown, chances are you won’t care what those people think in the first place. Hail to the crown.

With a nod to the past and an eye toward the future, Toyota announced today the North American debut of the first-ever Toyota Crown Signia. As the second entry in the U.S. Toyota Crown lineup, the 2025 Crown Signia also marks the nameplate's entry into the SUV category. For almost 70-years of Toyota history, the Toyota Crown name has become synonymous with quality and sophistication among Toyota vehicles. In 2024, the Crown Signia will add a new dimension to the ongoing legend, bringing North American customers an elevated ride and premium quality in a stylish crossover package.

"The Toyota Crown Signia takes all of the exceptional attributes of the Toyota Crown name and shapes them into a functional, sophisticated package that customers will adore," said TMNA Group Vice President, David Christ at the product debut. "It's the first-ever entry into the crossover SUV category for Toyota's longest-running nameplate and it showcases how we continue to elevate our designs, deliver premium quality, and take Hybrid efficiency in versatile new directions."

Exclusively equipped with the Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) powertrain with On-Demand All Wheel Drive (AWD) standard, the Crown Signia will be available in XLE and Limited grades and brings refined style and impeccable comfort in a package that's sure to turn heads. Its sleek cabin offers upscale comfort with available textured leather-trimmed seating, elegant finishing touches like bronze-finished trim and color-matched, soft touch panels on the doors and dashboard, and a center console with vertical wireless charger and storage. A large full-color driver's display and floating 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen give it high tech vibe that feels like a mobile command center.

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia will come with the Toyota HEV system, standard. Powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine with two electric motor generators, this proven tech seamlessly delivers 243 combined system net horsepower and has a preliminary manufacturer-estimated 36 combined MPG rating. Toyota's Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive also comes standard, a highly efficient system has a dedicated rear electric motor to deliver extra traction when needed and is capable of towing up to 2,700 pounds.

The Crown Signia's performance vibe comes from a combination of its wide stance, available 21-inch wheels, and Toyota Hammerhead front end, which consists of a signature DRL and compact headlight unit and geometric lower grille. Its flowing roofline and sleek cabin give it a dramatic shape that's stylish and functional, as it houses a comfortable cabin with a roomy second row seating that folds flat to reveal a 6.5-foot-long cargo area. Five fashion forward colors will also be available, with Storm Cloud, Finish Line Red, Oxygen White, Black, and Bronze Age. Seating in a choice of Saddle Tan or Black will be available on both grades.

With the Crown Signia's debut, Toyota will soon have 19 electrified models available for sale in its U.S. model lineup. As part of Toyota's diverse approach to its carbon neutrality goals, the Toyota Crown Signia also plays a part in Toyota's "Beyond Zero" vision to reach carbon neutrality with products, services, and operations; and find new ways to make a positive impact on the planet and society.

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is expected to arrive at Toyota Dealerships in the Summer of 2024.

First Class Comfort

The Crown Signia adds a second Toyota Crown model in the US. In 2023, the Toyota Crown sedan brought the nameplate back to the U.S. after a 51-year hiatus. Globally, the Toyota Crown has been on sale since 1955 and has long set a standard for innovation and engineering quality for Toyota. It was also the first Japanese car to hit American shores back in 1958.

The Toyota Crown Signia brings the celebrated nameplate into the crossover SUV category for the first time in its history. With a name based on the term "insignia", the Crown Signia is a nod to the model's importance over the years, with this first-ever model standing as an expressive mark of the innovation, creativity, and achievements of the lineup as it drives forward into a bold new era.

The Toyota Crown Signia is assembled at the Tsutsumi Plant in Aichi Japan and uses the Toyota New Global Architecture K (TNGA-K) platform that also underpins the Crown sedan. As such, Crown Signia delivers the best of both worlds: sedan-like driving comfort and SUV versatility. Thanks to its crossover design, the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia offers ample room for five in a highly maneuverable package that rides on 21-inch dark gray metallic colored alloy wheels on the Limited and black-accented 19-inch multi-spoke machine finished two tone alloy wheels on the XLE.

The TNGA-K platform helps prevent noise intrusion into the cabin, curbing vibration through the steering, floor, and body structure. Toyota engineers also spent countless hours studying and engineering reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness for the Crown Signia. Noise minimizing materials include acoustic glass on front side windows, a dash silencer, and an engine cover made of acoustic absorbing materials.

Crown Signia's seats are comfortable and stylish with moderate bolsters that cradle the front seat passengers and a lounge-like design for the rear seats. On the Limited grade, smooth, high-quality leather-trimmed seats with double stitching, quilting, and fillet piping that flows up to the headrest provide a lux look. The XLE's combination of fabric and SofTex®-trimmed seats create a modern feel.

Crown Signia comes with standard 8-way driver and 8-way passenger power seats. The power driver's seat on the Limited grade features an auto slide-away with memory function. The Crown Signia's available heated and ventilated front seats can be adjusted to three levels for added comfort. Bronze-finished trim on the dash, console, and steering wheel on all grades draws focus to functional elements, like HVAC, drive mode select button, and audio controls, so they can be easily located.

An available fixed glass Panoramic Roof with retractable shade on the Limited grade provides a light, airy feel to the interior. Up front, the center console allows for easy connection to personal devices, with a vertical wireless charger and three USB-C ports. The cup holder is designed with everyday functionality in mind, with a recessed design to help prevent drinks from spilling over to the shifter side. There is also a partition in the middle of the cup holder, maximizing its utility to fit long items like phones, tablets, and wallets.

In the rear, passengers will enjoy the comfort and convenience of dedicated air vents, two cup holders, a rear bottle holder, seatback pockets, and two USB Type-C ports standard. Cargo space is abundant on Crown Signia with a rear deck that's made for an active lifestyle, including a tonneau cover and aluminum scuff plate.

Customers who need more room to accommodate outdoor equipment or luggage will appreciate 60/40 second-row fold-flat seats with an extension panel, which provides a cargo space that is six-and-a-half feet long. The rear power liftgate allows for hands-free operation, and for convenience the rear seat release can be accessed from rear liftgate opening.

Hybrid and All Wheel Drive Across the Board

The Toyota lineup continues to expand its HEV offerings with the addition of the Crown Signia. As such, it's classified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) for passenger vehicle emissions. It uses an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) for optimal fuel economy.

As with all Toyota hybrids, the feeling of everyday acceleration and responsiveness is heightened by the way the electric motor boosts low-speed torque. Selectable NORMAL, ECO and SPORT driving modes let the driver tailor the Crown Signia's performance personality.

SPORT mode improves and sharpens throttle response. ECO mode changes the throttle and environmental logic to help the driver focus on maximizing mileage from the fuel and battery, while NORMAL mode is ideal for everyday driving. Additionally, EV mode allows electric-only driving at low speeds for short distances.

Its Electronic On-Demand AWD employs a separate rear-mounted electric motor to power the rear wheels when needed. It works seamlessly and transparently, preemptively distributing up to 80 percent of driving force to the rear wheels which helps suppress front wheel slip during off-the-line starts. The system also enhances cornering agility by helping to reduce understeer. Torque distribution varies with conditions, from 100:0 in constant-speed driving to 20:80 on slippery surfaces. Torque distribution can be indicated on the Multi-information Display and audio system screen.

Cutting Edge Tech with Toyota Audio Multimedia

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia comes with a 12.3-inch color Multi Information Display (MID) and 12.3-inch touchscreen with the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia system, standard. The MID provides a layout that is easily customized based on user preferences and provides drivers with information that fits their driving situation. Large, colorful digital "dials" are easy to read and can display a combination of information, with options like a tachometer for the performance minded driver or eco drive mode monitor for the hyper miler seeking maximum MPG.

The Toyota Audio Multimedia System (TAMM) with a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Bluetooth® connectivity is standard on all grades. The system is designed and engineered by Toyota's Texas-based Connected Technology team and is Over-the-Air Updatable. With an active Drive Connect trial subscription, customers can take advantage of Intelligent Assistant, Cloud Navigation, and Destination Assist, which allows simple phrases like "Hey Toyota" to awaken the system for voice activated commands to search for directions and find Points of Interest (with an active Drive Connect trial or subscription), adjust audio controls, change the cabin temperatures and more.

Crown Signia's audio system was designed and tuned specifically for the vehicle for optimum audio enjoyment. The XLE grade equipped with a 6-speaker layout for crystal clear sound and for next level sound the Limited grade comes standard with an 11-speaker JBL® Premium audio system with subwoofer powered by an amplifier.

In addition to AM/FM radio, Toyota audio systems serve up a full roster of connectivity tech, including wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. Apple CarPlay includes access to Siri®, while Android Auto users can access Google Assistant. All Crown Signia grades come with a SiriusXM® Platinum Plan 3-month trial subscription to Satellite Radio and HD Radio™.

A digital rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver is standard on the Limited grade and helps the driver see what's behind the vehicle with the flip of a switch to instantly provide the driver with a wide, unobstructed view from a rear camera.

To further aid outward visibility, the Limited grade has an available Panoramic View Monitor with 360-degree Overhead View and Curb View that operates in low-speed drive and reverse. For additional convenience, the Limited grade comes standard with a Smart Key System that works on all four doors and the rear liftgate, the XLE grade has a 2-door Smart Key. The Limited grade also has Digital Key capability, which enables a smartphone to be used instead of a physical key (Remote Connect trial or subscription required).

Connected Services

The Toyota Crown Signia comes with a variety of connected service capabilities and trials:

• Drive Connect: Includes one-year trial subscription of Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist
• Service Connect: Includes up to 10-year trial subscription with personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports
• Safety Connect: Includes up to 10-year trial subscription with Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator
• Wi-Fi Connect: Includes up-to 30-day or 3GB trial (whichever comes first) with AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming Apple Music® and Amazon Music compatibility (Integrated Streaming requires separate subscriptions to third-party provider services)
• Remote Connect: Includes 1-year trial subscription; Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch. Depending on grade, allows you to lock/unlock doors, start and stop the vehicle, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status and monitor guest drivers

Safety & Convenience

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia will come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) standard. This suite of safety and driver assistance technologies includes:

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
• Lane Tracing Assist
• Road Sign Assist
• Automatic High Beams
• Proactive Driving Assist

It also has additional features such as Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist. An Advanced Technology package is also available on the Limited grade and includes features like Panoramic View Monitor, Traffic Jam Assist, Front-Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Assist.

The 2025 Toyota Crown Signia is also equipped with eight airbags, including side curtain airbags. Toyota's Star Safety System includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

It also has the available advanced functionality of Traffic Jam Assist when equipped with the Limited Tech Package. Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) is a driver-assistance feature that helps ease the burden of the stressful stop-and-go of a traffic jam. With an active Drive Connect subscription or trial, this system provides hands-free control of the vehicle steering, braking and acceleration at speeds under 25 mph under certain conditions. TJA is designed for limited-access roadways, and the driver monitor camera must confirm the driver's eyes are on the road for hands-free operation. The required Drive Connect subscription for Traffic Jam Assist comes as a 1-year trial on the Limited grade.

Limited Warranty & Toyota Care

Toyota's 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against perforation from corrosion for 60 months with no mileage limitation. Hybrid-related components that require repairs needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles, whichever comes first from original date of first use when sold as new. The HV battery is covered for 10 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, and is transferrable across ownership.

Toyota Crown Signia also comes with ToyotaCare, a plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance, for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and 2 years of Roadside Assistance, regardless of mileage.