Toyota Motor Company is approaching its seventieth yr of promoting cars in the USA. Its success is unmatched.
The Toyota Corolla compact sedan is the best-selling automobile in historical past. The Toyota Prius is perennially the nation’s best-selling hybrid. In 2024, the Toyota RAV4, the carmaker’s compact sport utility car, was the nation’s third best-selling car. It was additionally essentially the most bought car not a pickup truck.
However not all Toyotas have fared effectively. The Echo (2000-2005), Paseo (1991-1998) and Sera (1990–1996) have been flops. However the Japanese producer additionally is aware of effectively the right way to capitalize on success. Since about 60 p.c of all autos offered within the U.S. final yr have been SUVs, Toyota now sells 15 makes and fashions.
The Toyota Crown Signia is its newest. The 2025 mannequin is the primary SUV supplied within the Crown nameplate, the carmaker’s oldest title. The Toyopet Crown debuted because the carmaker’s entry into the U.S. passenger car market in 1952. It additionally failed. The Signia SUV replaces the Venza, one other disappointment. It debuted in 2009 and was discontinued six years later.
With the Crown Signia, Toyota is in search of to enhance its SUV hybrid gross sales. The crossover sibling to the Signia sedan, the SUV is barely accessible as a hybrid. It’s supplied with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated, four-cylinder gasoline engine and three electrical motors producing 243 horsepower. It comes commonplace with all-wheel drive.
Efficiency is ample; the Signia is rated at 0-to-60 miles per hour in 7 seconds. It’s passable for the section. At freeway speeds, the SUV has no problem passing autos or negotiating its means round obstacles. Its gasoline mileage averages: 39 miles per gallon in metropolis driving, 37 mpg on the freeway.
The Signia’s signature is a Toyota familiarity. Inside materials high quality is powerful; The XLE trim options fabric and vinyl on door panels and seats. The Restricted provides leather-based seating and trim.
Like many two-row SUVs, seating is rated for 5 passengers. However the second row is greatest for 2 adults or three kids.
With the second row of seats folded, the cargo space is with out design limitations. There are 25 cubic ft of trunk room behind the second row and 66 cubic ft of house with the seats folded.
A 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster are commonplace. The central touchscreen provides wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and different connectivity options, together with Wi-Fi, over-the-air updates, and a voice assistant.
The Restricted trim has a bit of choices. The Superior Expertise Package deal ($1,895) options entrance and rear parking sensors with computerized braking. It additionally features a surround-view digital camera, puddle lamps, entrance cross-traffic alert and lane-change help. A hands-free traffic-jam help system operates at speeds beneath 25 mph.
Auto-leveling LED headlights, a panoramic glass roof, rain-sensing windshield wipers and digital key functionality (utilizing a smartphone as a key) are additional upgrades. Premium paint colours ($495) embody Bronze Age, End Line Crimson or Oxygen Blue. Black and Storm Cloud exterior paint choices are free. The Bronze Age possibility offers the Crown Signia an added look of magnificence.
The debuting Toyota Crown Signia SUV has a producer’s recommended retail worth of $47,990, about $2,000 lower than the typical worth of a brand new automobile in the USA. Its whole worth is $52,565.
How the Crown Signia SUV will fare is unknown. Its hardest competitors could also be a number of of Toyota’s well-heeled SUV choices, notably the Toyota RAV4.
The RAV4 was bought 475,193 occasions in 2024. It’s unlikely the Crown Signia will promote as effectively. However its debut has been spectacular and it ought to symbolize effectively the carmaker’s successes, not its failures.
