The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Great fuel economy in base form
- Hybrid Max offers lots of power
- Fairly big cabin
- Crown Signia’s shape
Dislikes
- Weird sedan proportions
- Lots of body lean
- Base version is slow
- Hybrid Max isn’t all that thrifty
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Toyota Crown aims for a highly specific buyer who wants a high seating position but few other SUV attributes.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Toyota Crown? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Toyota Crown is either the automaker’s biggest sedan or, in Crown Signia form, its most wagon-like SUV (or its most SUV-like wagon, depending on your perspective). Compare these vehicles to the Subaru Legacy and Outback, Volvo S90 and V90, and perhaps the Nissan Murano.
Is the 2025 Toyota Crown a good car?
Though it fulfills an unusual niche, the 2025 Toyota Crown lineup is comfortable and can get great fuel efficiency. It’s rated at 6.8 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Toyota Crown?
The Crown name applies to both a high-riding sedan and an even taller quasi-wagon called Crown Signia, which Toyota markets as an SUV. We’ll cover them together here since they are very similar vehicles.
A new Nightshade trim level joins the sedan lineup above the XLE and Limited trims and below the top Platinum. It features black interior and exterior accents. Also, all Crown trims now have heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Both Crowns have relatively tame styling, at least compared to some of Toyota’s other models. They share most of their design elements up front, including a tall fascia and narrow headlights, which give way to a fairly long roof and a sleek windshield. Sedans have a fastback profile, but look a bit awkward given just how needlessly high up their seating position is, which requires a thick profile. The Signia finishes out the design language better, with its long roof that gives way to a thin bar of taillights at the rear. It’s a wagon, albeit without the rugged touches you’ll find in, say, the Subaru Outback.
The two Crowns are dead ringers inside, with nice materials and a modern design. They have a hint of upscale charm, but without much flash. A wide 12.3-inch central touchscreen sits above a console that seems to flow toward the driver. While attractive, the design doesn’t look particularly high-end.
Toyota offers two Crown powertrains, both of which are hybrids. The base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder has front and rear electric motors for a net output of 236 hp. These models are refined but definitely not quick, with a 0-60 mph sprint of in the mid-seven second range. The available, sedan-only Hybrid Max setup swaps in a 2.4-liter turbo-4 and ups the ante to 340 hp, which slices a couple of seconds off of that acceleration run. All that power has a cost, though. The base powertrain is estimated as high as 41 mpg combined, while the Hybrid Max is good for just 30 mpg combined in sedan form.
The Crown models float over rough surfaces and are comfortable but with plenty of body lean in hard cornering.
These are quiet vehicles inside, but don’t look for a lot of stretch-out space. The low roof limits headroom, particularly in the second row. Even trunk space is modest in the sedan, though the Signia is much more spacious.
The Crown sedan has done well in crash testing, including a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ score from the IIHS. All models have plenty of driver-assistance and crash-avoidance tech.
How much does the 2025 Toyota Crown cost?
The Crown sedan starts at $42,535 in base XLE trim, which includes cloth and synthetic suede upholstery, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, a pair of 12.3-inch screens, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and built-in navigation. The only way to get the Hybrid Max powertrain is to step up to the $56,090 Platinum. The Signia costs about $1,500 more, but it comes in just two trim levels.
Where is the 2025 Toyota Crown made?
In Japan.
2025 Toyota Crown Styling
The 2025 Toyota Crown's design has way too much going on.
Is the Toyota Crown a good-looking car?
Eh, it’s pretty awkward. To be fair, the 2025 Toyota Crown lineup consists of two models with distinct styling. But overall the range rates a middling 5 here.
The Crown sedan has a fastback-like shape, though it’s a sedan. The Crown Signia has a wagon-like shape, though it’s marketed as an SUV. Things are getting muddy, and we haven’t even told you what they look like!
The Crowns have similar styling up front, with a scowling front end and narrow headlights over a blunt grille. From the side, they’re a bit more muscular than you might expect, but that high ride height just looks strange. The Crown sedan towers over other four-doors in parking lots, but it’s lower than any SUV. The Signia, meanwhile, makes the Subaru Outback look well-proportioned. That’s not to say that the Signia is unattractive, but it’s like a wagon that went on a donut-only diet for awhile.
They’re nice enough inside, though. Both cars have a fairly nice looking dash with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen mounted above air vents and a smattering of climate control buttons. A big wall on the center console blocks off the passenger, which gives off a semi-sporty vibe that definitely isn’t reflected in the way these vehicles drive. As with many cars, the Crowns look better in lighter hues, but even then there is little in the way of contrasting trim. Even a little fake wood could work here.
2025 Toyota Crown Performance
The 2025 Toyota Crown rides great, but it’s far from fun.
The Toyota Crown models prioritize comfort over all else, though they’re not quite as hushed or cosseting as proper luxury cars. Still, they ride well enough to earn a 6 on the TCC scale.
Is the Toyota Crown 4WD?
Yes, thanks to a pair of electric motors mounted at each axle. Both versions send most of the power forward in typical driving, though they can shove as much as 80% of the power to the rear wheels in a low-traction situation.
They may ride high, but that's mostly in the seating position, so they’re definitely not off-roaders.
How fast is the Toyota Crown?
It’s either quick or it gets great fuel economy, depending on the version you pick.
Most Crowns use a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that works with dual electric motors for 236 hp. These models can go to 60 mph in around eight seconds or less, but they run out of steam for confident highway passing. The CVT doesn’t help matters; it’s innocuous but not eager to make these engines rev. On the bright side, these models have a low-speed EV mode for emissions-free driving at the tap of a button so long as you’re gentle with the throttle.
Far quicker is the Hybrid Max, which has a 2.4-liter turbo-4 that ups the output to 340 hp and is only offered for the sedan. Its 6-speed direct-shift gearbox impresses, particularly when called upon for quick downshifts. It’s a shame that this powertrain is restricted to just the too-costly Platinum trim level.
Crowns have a softly tuned ride with struts up front and a multi-link setup out back. The seating position is somewhat high, which means that there’s a lot of cornering lean for the occupants on a winding road. The ride quality is good overall, particularly with the adaptive dampers fitted to some versions. But while Toyota has proven it can build cars that both ride like luxury models and can at least slightly entertain on a winding road—see the Lexus ES—the Crown feels a bit floppy. It's a crossover-like feel that feels off-base for the sedan, and is more appropriate for the Signia, which sits 0.9 inch higher off the ground at 6.7 inches.
Top-end models can be had with rear-wheel steering, which tightens the turning radius by about 2.5 feet but otherwise doesn’t feel much different than the standard setup.
2025 Toyota Crown Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Toyota Crown’s cabin is decent but not as great as its luxury pricing might otherwise suggest.
The 2025 Toyota Crown has a compromised cabin. Its seats are comfy and the Signia has a big cargo area, but it doesn’t feel particularly luxurious. It’s a 7 on the TCC scale.
The front seats have standard 8-way power adjustments and good padding. All versions have heated and cooled front seats, too. Rear-seat riders will find so-so comfort on the low bench. Even legroom is unimpressive for such a long vehicle, though four adults can fit reasonably well. Blame the low roofline, or more appropriately the raised seating position, for somewhat tight headroom, even in the Crown Signia.
The 15.2 cubic-foot trunk in sedans is easily bested by 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the Signia. Those models can fold their rear seats to accommodate around 68.8 cubes of stuff. Those figures are more in line with compact SUVs than one stretching 194 inches long, though.
The Crown’s interior has nice materials, but they definitely feel more like “upscale Toyota” than “almost Lexus.” Standard acoustic glass and plenty of sound deadening do keep the outside world at bay, though.
2025 Toyota Crown Safety
The 2025 Toyota Crown is a strong contender when it comes to safety.
How safe is the Toyota Crown?
The 2024 Crown sedan has done very well in both IIHS and NHTSA testing and it comes with good safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Signia hasn't been tested. Those strengths earn the Crown a 9 here, provided the crash-test scores hold for 2025.
The sedan earns Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, plus a five-star overall rating from the IIHS. Additionally, all models have such features as active lane control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitors, active lane control, and a rear-seat reminder system. Top-end models can park themselves, too.
Outward vision is just so-so due to the high beltline and somewhat beefy roof pillars, though the available surround-view camera system helps out.
2025 Toyota Crown Features
Toyota offers an array of body styles and trim levels for the 2025 Crown.
The 2025 Toyota Crown is quite well-equipped, but its price can climb fast if you want the most powerful version.
The Signia comes in XLE and Limited trim levels, while the sedan adds Nightshade and Platinum trims. The range starts at $42,535 for the base Crown XLE; the similarly outfitted Crown Signia XLE is $44,985. These models have cloth and synthetic suede upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, a wireless charging pad, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. A full complement of collision-avoidance and driver-assistance tech is standard, though the Crown is not available with a hands-off driver-assist system.
The lineup earns an 8 here thanks to good standard fare, a big screen with decent tech, and a choice of models and body styles.
All models have a three-year/36,000-mile warranty with two years of basic maintenance included.
Which Toyota Crown should I buy?
The Crown Limited adds leather seats, a big, fixed sunroof, and an 11-speaker JBL audio system, which runs $47,045 for a sedan or $49,385 for the Crown Signia.
How much is a fully loaded Toyota Crown?
The top-end, sedan-only Platinum costs $56,085, and it’s outfitted with the Hybrid Max powertrain, automatic parking, and 21-inch alloy wheels. A head-up display, a power-adjustable steering column, and rear-wheel steering are available.
2025 Toyota Crown Fuel Economy
The 2025 Toyota Crown can be downright frugal.
Is the Toyota Crown good on gas?
It’s very thrifty, at least in its base form. Sedans are estimated at 42 mpg city, 41 highway, 41 combined in EPA testing, which nets a 6 on the TCC scale. The Crown Signia checks in at a still-decent 38 mpg combined.
The Hybrid Max powertrain in the Crown Platinum takes its toll on fuel economy, though. Look for 29/32/30 mpg, which is good but not amazing.
