Toyota Crown Signia - Where does it fit?

The Toyota Crown Signia is kind of an odd duck… for Toyota anyway. It’s a move into a segment where they haven’t really been before. Is it a wagon, CUV, or somewhere in-between? Honestly, I found myself forgetting I was in a Toyota altogether, and felt like I was behind the wheel of a Mazda CX-50. Some of that almost certainly attributed to the exterior & interior colors here, which are very similar to Mazda palettes. But…

Here’s where the Toyota Crown Signia stood out…

First & foremost: Efficiency. We were getting 40 MPG in this hog. That’s impressive. Especially considering the fairly spacious & refined package. And – that efficiency comes without a dependency on charging. Some would argue, it’s the best of both worlds, giving you a very low cost of operation, as well as the freedom to go anywhere without strings/cords attached.

The 2nd area where the Crown Signia stood out to me: Comfort. Truly – the Toyota Crown Signia is impressively smooth, quiet, and peaceful. The electric/gas switchover is as seamless as it gets. And the suspension is completely forgiving. In fact, you might not realize how smooth it really is as a total package, until you step out of the Crown Signia & step into something else. But for every advantage, there’s usually a drawback and/or concession.

And the trade-off with the Toyota Crown Signia is…

It’s pretty dull to drive. By day 3 or 4 I was having to rotate-in my own cars just to feel my heartbeat again. Like I said, it’s efficient & comfortable, that’s where it excels. But from the driver’s seat, the Toyota Crown Signia feels like the opposite of a dog pulling on the leash. It just naturally lives/drives in that “eco-friendly neutral zone”. So with that said, if you enjoy the driving experience, you’ll be left wanting more. However, if you’re looking for a daily, commuter, or alternate vehicle that offers mega-efficiency, serenity, and a break from uncomfortable cars lol… the Crown Signia might fit the bill & be the yin to your yang.

Couple nitpicks though…

Bafflingly – somehow the headlights are lacking. And to be specific – it’s not the brightness, but rather the cut-off line. The cut-off line (where the light cuts-off to avoid blinding oncoming drivers) is far too low & too sharp. And as a result, on unlit roads with elevation pitches, there was almost a total loss of visibility at times – past 40ft or so. Add curves – and it becomes a blind situation. To be fair, it could’ve just been our specific vehicle & the headlights could’ve been improperly aimed (but probably not that). You might want to tell loved ones to drive it at night before they pull the trigger.

And bewilderingly – it looks like Toyota forgot to finish the front grille. What happened? It’s like and they couldn’t decide what to do & figured they’d come back to it after lunch… but then just forgot. And/or got inspired by the Mexican restaurant’s patio furniture. Get up close to the grille on the Crown Signia, and it just looks oddly thin, weak, cheap, and unfinished. Like the 3D printer broke halfway through. I dunno… I definitely wasn’t complaining at the pump though.