2026 Toyota Crown Signia Road Test and Review

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Not sure if you want your next vehicle to be a sedan or an SUV? One of Toyota’s best kept secrets is the shapely and sophisticated Crown Signia. The five-passenger mid-size crossover SUV can double as a big box store carryall and a luxurious people carrier. There are two trims: the well-equipped XLE and the even more sumptuous Limited. Including the $1,450 destination charge, prices start at $45,840 for the XLE and $50,240 on the Limited.

Both trims offer an impressive roster of standard equipment, including all-wheel drive, heated and ventilated seats, 8-way power-adjustable, leather-trimmed front bucket seats, a heated, leather wrapped steering wheel, a leather-trimmed shifter, a wireless cellphone charger, pushbutton start, LED headlamps, daytime running lamps and tail lamps, and a hands-free power liftgate. Limited upgrades from the XLE’s 19-inch alloys to 21-inch alloy rolling stock, adds self-leveling LED headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, digital rearview mirror, digital key capability, and upgrades the XLE’s 6-speaker stereo to a premium 11-speaker JBL system. New for 2026, the Limited model offers the option of two-tone paint for a $500 upcharge.

Sizing Up the Crown Signia

For all intents and purposes, the Crown Signia is a wagon, a body style that’s hard to find these days. Approximately the size of the mid-size Camry sedan, the five-passenger Crown Signia is about as long (nose to tail) as the mid-size Toyota Highlander SUV without the Highlander’s kids-only third-row seating. When it comes to vehicle height, the Crown Signia is roughly 7 inches taller than a Camry but with a sleek, sloping roof that sits about 4 inches lower than the Highlander’s.

So in a nutshell, the Crown Signia is sleeker than a RAV4 or Highlander, but offers surprising cargo versatility for a vehicle that’s just a half-inch longer than a Camry sedan. If a Camry will fit in your garage, so should a Crown Signia.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Lexus-like Cabin Amenities

The Crown Signia brings Lexus-like premium cabin appointments, such as rich-looking, soft-touch padded and wrapped surfaces to the dashboard, center console, and door trim. This is particularly striking in Limited models with two-tone trim. Driver touch points, such as the heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-trimmed shifter, reinforce the luxury theme. An all-digital driver-selectable gauge display delivers bright and colorful graphics.

The center console adds useful functionality with a standard sleeve-type wireless phone charger that takes up less horizontal space than a lay-flat charger design and keeps the phone in place on curvy roads or sudden stops in traffic. Dual cup holders with spring-loaded fingers accommodate a wide range of beverage containers, and a removable partition between them allows for carrying items such as a small tablet. Under the generously padded center armrest, there is a deep cubby for storing small items out of sight. The console lid is dual-hinged and offers the convenience to open to either the driver’s or front passenger’s side. Additional bottle holders and storage bins are located in all four doors. Three USB-C ports up front offer easy connectivity for front seat occupants.

Other premium standard features include a smart key proximity feature with approach unlocking and auto-up and auto-down power windows for all four doors.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Comfy Front Buckets

Up front, Lexus-quality perforated leather-trimmed front bucket seats for the driver and front passenger feature standard 8-way power adjustability, heating, and ventilation. The driver’s seat adds power lumbar support and memory settings. These bucket seats prioritize comfort but include generous lateral thigh, lower torso, and shoulder support. No massage function is available, however. The Crown Signia’s slightly elevated seating height eases getting into and out of the vehicle and helps a bit with keeping an eye on the traffic ahead.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Rear Seat Accommodations

Crown Signia rear-seat occupants get a smidge more headroom and legroom than in the Camry, but slightly less than offered by the Highlander. Unlike the leather-clad front seats, the fold-flat 60/40 split rear bench seat goes with Softex faux-leather material done up so nicely that most buyers won’t notice, especially when they’re luxuriating in the heated outboard seat positions. The rear seat includes a flip-down padded center armrest with two cup holders, a nice setup when four passengers are onboard. Other rear-seat niceties include a pair of USB-C charging ports and climate-control vents at the rear of the center console.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Wagon-like Cargo Space

Despite its swoopy roofline, the Crown Signia offers up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s just a couple of cubic feet less than in the RAV4, but with the 60/40 split rear bench seat folded flat, there’s a 6.6-foot long space to carry a mountain bike or tote a big screen television home. Even with the rear seat up, the Crown Signia has up to 25.8 cubic feet of space with plenty of room to carry roller bags for all five passengers on an airport run. Access to the cargo bay is via a hands-free power liftgate. Quick release handles along the sides of the cargo bay facilitate lowering the rear seatbacks. The Crown Signia has no spare but a tire repair kit is included, opening up space under the cargo floor to stash small valuables such as a purse or computer bag.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Infotainment and Connectivity

Standard with both XLE and Limited trims is a Toyota multimedia system with a bright and colorful 12.3-inch touchscreen. Included for the first year of ownership is a free Drive Connect trial subscription which brings embedded cloud navigation, updated Google maps, and “Hey, Toyota” voice control destination assist. After one year, keeping access to Drive Connect will incur a monthly charge, but the Crown Signia’s wireless access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto means owners can switch to the free maps and voice control assistance offered by those platforms.

Audio entertainment is delivered by a 6-speaker system in the XLE and a premium JBL 11-speaker one in the Limited, which provided a rich, balanced sound in the test vehicle. Both come with a free 90-day subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio. Also included is a subscription to a 4G AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot, free for just the first 30 days or 3 gigabytes of data.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Safety First

In addition to eight airbags, the Crown Signia comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) bundle of advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) technology. TSS 3.0 tech includes a front collision warning system, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, lane keeping, road sign assist, automatic high beams, and Proactive Driving Assist. Other standard ADAS tech includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Available as an option solely on the Limited model is the Advanced Technology Package. This $1,865 option is on the pricey side, but I feel it is worth the extra cost because in addition to niceties such as power folding exterior mirrors, the package adds Traffic Jam Assist (low-speed hands-free cruise control), Front Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Assist. The tech package also upgrades the backup camera display to a panoramic view monitor which gives the driver an overhead view of the Crown Signia and its immediate surroundings and adds front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, a helpful feature when maneuvering into tight parking spaces.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not released test results for the 2026 Crown Signia. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Crown Signia all Good scores for small-overlap front impacts, side impacts, headlight performance, front crash prevention, and LATCH child seat usage.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Hybrid Efficiency

The Toyota Crown Signia has just one powertrain choice, and it’s a good one: a 240 net horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid. The engine makes 188 of that while also producing a modest 178 pound-feet of torque, while separate electric motors at the front and rear of the vehicle work with the standard all-wheel-drive system to enhance traction as needed to aid performance and driving dynamics. EPA estimated fuel economy is 39 mpg city/37 mpg highway/38 mpg combined. This is a conventional hybrid, not a plug-in, where the engine and regenerative charging during braking and coasting keep the hybrid propulsion battery that’s under the rear seat topped off with electrons.

With the 14.5-gallon fuel tank, EPA estimated driving range is an impressive 551 miles. I averaged 35.9 mpg in a week of driving on a mix of city streets, rural two-lane highways, and interstates, slightly below EPA estimates but quite good for a mid-size crossover wagon.

The Crown Signia can accelerate from rest to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, according to Toyota. While not invigorating, power is more than sufficient for passing slower vehicles in confidence and merging onto 70-mph freeways.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

On the Road

The Crown Signia feels more capable and self-assured than its meager 240 horsepower combined rating would presume. It accelerates, rides, steers, and handles pretty much like a Camry sedan, which these days is a good thing. While the Crown Signia doesn’t shout “sportwagon,” it does feel more grounded, settled, and less tippy on the road than many SUVs, partly due to its lower center of gravity. A slightly elevated seating position helps deliver a good view of traffic and the road ahead. Standard Active Cornering Assist sharpens steering response and reduces understeer by lightly braking an inside wheel when cornering.

The Crown Signia offers 6.7 inches of ground clearance, 1.3 inches more than a Camry but 1.4 less than a RAV4, making it less of a candidate for dirt trail forays but better than a low-slung sedan at clearing speed bumps and steep driveway ramps without scraping its underpinnings.

There are four selectable driving modes: Normal, Sport, Eco, and EV. As you might expect, Normal balances performance and efficiency for everyday driving, Sport enhances the system’s response to throttle inputs, Eco moderates throttle input and automatic climate control outputs to enhance fuel economy, and EV permits short periods of electric-only operation at low speeds.

Under most circumstances, the Crown Signia initially accelerates from rest smoothly and quietly, using only electric power unless the driver demands more power by depressing the accelerator more aggressively, whereupon, the engine fires up to join the cause.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Conclusion

For those buyers who want a stylish wagon with Lexus-like luxury amenities and ample room for cargo and active-lifestyle activities but don’t need a big box on wheels, Toyota offers the Crown Signia. With its sleek bodywork, the Crown Signia stands out from the SUV crowd while delivering the sort of practicality, energy efficiency, and user-friendly thoughtfulness that smart shoppers have come to expect from Toyota.

2026 Toyota Crown Signia Limited ・ Photo by Ron Sessions