[TCSkier]

Something else I'm wondering/concerned about. I'm relocating 1,500 miles away. I'm taking very little with me, so I wouldn't even dent the room in the cargo space. But, I'm concerned about the break-in period because I'd be leaving the day after I buy the vehicle. A long roadtrip with mostly highway miles isn't generally advised during a break-in period.

I can stop for oil changes but I can't take the time to stop and charge the vehicle. (I wouldn't even know where to!) And, because I don't want to deplete the battery, I would likely drive in gas only mode. (Sorry, don't know the terminology for that yet.) How badly will this 1,500 mile road trip hurt the Crown Signia during the break-in period? And will it hurt the battery in any way?

This also makes me wonder if a PHEV makes a good road trip vehicle in general. Most of my driving will be local (mountain and small town roads) with occasional drives 2-3 hours away for city trips for stocking up at Costco, etc., But, I hope to take two or three roadtrips a year, too. Where do folks plug in their PHEVs when they're away from home?

Also, when I get to my new state, I'll have to rent somewhere short term 30-60 days) until I find a place to live. Where would I plug in the Crown Signia?

Lastly, the AWD will be handy where I'm moving to. I don't do any off-roading with the exception of forest service roads and the like. Do I need to be concerned about the low ground clearance? Or even bottoming out when I enter a parking lot with a dip at the curb?

The Crown Signia is not a plug-in hybrid.

 

[Artiavis]

In general, Eco mode does 2-3 things (1 of which doesn’t matter in the winter):

1. Modifies the programming of the accelerator (gas) pedal to be more conservative, making it easier to stay in the Eco range of the powertrain.
2. (I’ve found this on my Honda hybrid, haven’t confirmed on my Crown yet.) Makes the car prefer driving longer distances on EV mode (beyond just changing the programming of the accelerator pedal above).
3. Makes the car run the air conditioning less aggressively (to save power).

At least in my experience with my Honda hybrid, Eco mode can actually make mileage worse in a couple of common situations:

1. In hilly areas, Eco can “waste” battery on applications that don’t help with fuel savings. For example, it will love to coast down hills on EV mode, but then may not have enough battery to assist with hill climbing, forcing the engine to work twice as hard. (It would be smarter to save the battery for hill climbing.)
2. Similarly, around town/city, Eco can “waste” battery coasting from light to light, when it can actually be more fuel efficient for the car to use the engine to coast from light to light. (It would be better to use the engine as much as possible for moving at normal speeds, and save EV mode for creeping forward in bumper to bumper traffic.)

Eco is basically only recommended for highway driving on relatively flat terrain.

 

[ToyoFan]

In general, Eco mode does 2-3 things (1 of which doesn’t matter in the winter):

1. Modifies the programming of the accelerator (gas) pedal to be more conservative, making it easier to stay in the Eco range of the powertrain.
2. (I’ve found this on my Honda hybrid, haven’t confirmed on my Crown yet.) Makes the car prefer driving longer distances on EV mode (beyond just changing the programming of the accelerator pedal above).
3. Makes the car run the air conditioning less aggressively (to save power).

At least in my experience with my Honda hybrid, Eco mode can actually make mileage worse in a couple of common situations:

1. In hilly areas, Eco can “waste” battery on applications that don’t help with fuel savings. For example, it will love to coast down hills on EV mode, but then may not have enough battery to assist with hill climbing, forcing the engine to work twice as hard. (It would be smarter to save the battery for hill climbing.)
2. Similarly, around town/city, Eco can “waste” battery coasting from light to light, when it can actually be more fuel efficient for the car to use the engine to coast from light to light. (It would be better to use the engine as much as possible for moving at normal speeds, and save EV mode for creeping forward in bumper to bumper traffic.)

Eco is basically only recommended for highway driving on relatively flat terrain.

Had a chance to test out Eco mode in your Crown Signia yet? If so, how did it perform compared to your Honda? Do you find yourself using Eco mode regularly, or do you prefer a different driving mode for your typical routes?

 

[Jack Parker]

Also new XLE Signia owner. Wanted the higher profile tires and more cushion over bumps. Our roads are horrible and the low profile tires on the limited would just translate harshness I don't want and possible damaged wheels. Also agree, don't want moon roof or eye monitoring tech that just get's turned off. In my short time owning the car, the Android auto has worked well. Wish the driver 1 or 2 selection also synched the drivers phone automatically with the seat position....maybe, I'm asking for too much, but think Hyundai offers it in the Tuscon hybrid. The spare tire omission is and unforgivable sin, especially Canada gets a spare...so US model gets a different stamping so spare won't fit flat.
The upper lights on front grill are simply daylight running lights.
I also paid cash (bank wire xfer)

I really appreciate this reply because nothing beats first-hand experience and personal opinions. Since I'm alone, they really help me to see things through different eyes. This forum is invaluable and I can't thank everyone enough! I'd rather ask my silly, naive questions here than on the car lot.

Personally, I could do without all the gadgetry and tech. I prefer the old style manual buttons, handles, locks, and key start, but there's no sense dwelling on the impossible and the inevitable. Change or get left behind. Though, I do like the GPS for driving directions. (Is that a subscription service?)

I use my phone as just that. A phone. I don't use it for the internet and I don't have any apps outside of the ones you can't delete. What functions does syncing your phone with the vehicle provide, other than hands free phone and playing music people have on their phones?

Also, what was your experience like at the dealership paying cash? A lot of YouTube videos warn against telling them you're paying cash until you settle on the out-the-door price. Did you negotiate any of the bogus dealer fees off the price? I don't know why buying a vehicle has to be a negotiation game.

 

[Jack Parker]

Your assumption is correct. The car adjusts to your driving and as it gets colder, mileage tends to lessen as well. Perhaps, if you are in "Sport" mode, try "Eco."

For best results, do you recommend driving mostly in Normal mode and using Eco mode for local driving?

 

[Jack Parker]

In general, Eco mode does 2-3 things (1 of which doesn’t matter in the winter):

1. Modifies the programming of the accelerator (gas) pedal to be more conservative, making it easier to stay in the Eco range of the powertrain.
2. (I’ve found this on my Honda hybrid, haven’t confirmed on my Crown yet.) Makes the car prefer driving longer distances on EV mode (beyond just changing the programming of the accelerator pedal above).
3. Makes the car run the air conditioning less aggressively (to save power).

At least in my experience with my Honda hybrid, Eco mode can actually make mileage worse in a couple of common situations:

1. In hilly areas, Eco can “waste” battery on applications that don’t help with fuel savings. For example, it will love to coast down hills on EV mode, but then may not have enough battery to assist with hill climbing, forcing the engine to work twice as hard. (It would be smarter to save the battery for hill climbing.)
2. Similarly, around town/city, Eco can “waste” battery coasting from light to light, when it can actually be more fuel efficient for the car to use the engine to coast from light to light. (It would be better to use the engine as much as possible for moving at normal speeds, and save EV mode for creeping forward in bumper to bumper traffic.)

Eco is basically only recommended for highway driving on relatively flat terrain.

Very helpful, thank you. I'll be in a mountain town so hills will be prevalent. So will heat and humidity during the summer. It sounds like Normal mode is best overall. Eco mode for heavy traffic and Sport mode for when you need a burst of power passing vehicles. Is this right?

 

[Munirider]

Jack, have you bought your Signia yet? I see this was posted mid December.

You may be better served with the Rav4 hybrid. We were on the fence between the two, we also live in a rural area in the mountains of Colorado. The Rav4 hybrid has the same drive train as the Signia but better ground clearance. We decided on the Signia mostly based on styling and we drive our Tundra when it snows a lot and to tow our camper, we have a 93 Toyota four wheel drive pick up that is our off road vehicle.

The Signia is a great car and even though all wheel drive it is definitely a highway vehicle. Our county road is pretty rough but not a high clearance need. I scraped the front lower cowling just a bit once at a cross street where the dip was pretty big and you have to watch for curb stops or sidewalks when nose in parking.

 

[Jack Parker]

Jack, have you bought your Signia yet? I see this was posted mid December.

You may be better served with the Rav4 hybrid. We were on the fence between the two, we also live in a rural area in the mountains of Colorado. The Rav4 hybrid has the same drive train as the Signia but better ground clearance. We decided on the Signia mostly based on styling and we drive our Tundra when it snows a lot and to tow our camper, we have a 93 Toyota four wheel drive pick up that is our off road vehicle.

The Signia is a great car and even though all wheel drive it is definitely a highway vehicle. Our county road is pretty rough but not a high clearance need. I scraped the front lower cowling just a bit once at a cross street where the dip was pretty big and you have to watch for curb stops or sidewalks when nose in parking.

My purchase comes down to timing with my relocation, so I haven't bought one yet. I haven't even been on a car lot at this point. Unfortunately, the timing of my relocation isn't completely in my hands, which is why I haven't purchased anything yet. As for the Rav4, I ruled it out for the lack of cargo space. I wanted a 4Runner, but why Toyota messed with a great vehicle and stuck a turbocharged engine in the '25 models is beyond my understanding. My relocation didn't happen in time to get a new '24 model (and I do want new), so the next best thing I could find was the Crown Signia.

Ground clearance is my only concern with the Crown Signia (along with no spare tire); mostly with bottoming out as I enter parking lots with dips at the entrance, etc.,

Driving in the southern Appalachian Mountains isn't as harrowing as the Rocky Mountains, fortunately. The slopes are gentle to moderate. The roads are narrower and more windy so slower speeds are needed for all the curves and switchbacks. A lot of local folks told me that one of the main reasons why transplants to the area move away again is because they aren't used to all the windy roads and can't get used to them. They wanted the slower pace of life that living in that region offers, but they don't like it when it comes to a slower pace of driving! But, to be fair, many folks do get motion sickness from all the bends and curves.

Thankfully, the southern Appalachians don't get much snowfall. At least not where I'll be, so an AWD is a reasonable compromise. The downside is that the infrastructure and budget don't exist for treating icy roads from freezing heavy fogs or rain. But, since those conditions don't last long, locals are used to staying off the roads in those conditions when they don't have to be on them.

 

[Jack Parker]

I'm hoping to buy my XLE in the next two weeks but have two more questions I'd appreciate your thoughts on:

1. It's been extremely cold here in Minnesota. Actual temps have been below zero and will be again next week. How does this affect the Signias that have been sitting on the lot at the dealership all this time? Do these temps have any negative effect on the nickel-metal hydride's battery health?

2. What are your thoughts on buying the extended warranty? (Again, I've not had a vehicle in 20+ years, so I know that's a naive question.)

 

[dklanecky]

My Signia Limited sat for 2 weeks, without running at all, during the cold spell over the last couple of weeks, no negative effect that I can determine anyhow. Started right up yesterday and ran just fine. We're in SE Wisconsin, so not as cold as your area, but in the same vicinity, temperature wise. We saw real temps near zero for several days.

The warranty question is an individual decision that really depends on your ability to pay for a repair, potentially expensive, sometime down the road without a painful financial strain.

In my opinion, the Toyota Platinum, zero deductible 10 year 100K plan for ~$1,600 from Jerry Johnson out in Hutchinson Kansas, is a no brainer. It also includes the Toyota Road Side service plan, which otherwise will cost ~$100 a year from AAA or a similar provider, so your actual cost over 10 years is ~$600, or ~$5 a month. Cheap insurance if you ask me. Now the idea that you'll need it is very low, because it is a Toyota BUT if you did, it's there.

Best part is if you decide to sell the vehicle, it's prorated by month, and you'll either get the unused portion back from the dealer you bought the plan from (if you trade in) , OR you can use it as an incentive for the next purchaser if you sell it yourself. It's transferable, but not to a dealer, only to a private party. I literally just got the check back from the unused portion of my extended program on my Avalon, never needed the warranty, but it was there if we needed it.

There is a ton more technology in the 2025 Signia than in my 2019 Avalon, and I am very impressed with the quality and integeration of the technology in the 2025. The 2019 was OK, but not great.

I'm hoping to buy my XLE in the next two weeks but have two more questions I'd appreciate your thoughts on:

1. It's been extremely cold here in Minnesota. Actual temps have been below zero and will be again next week. How does this affect the Signias that have been sitting on the lot at the dealership all this time? Do these temps have any negative effect on the nickel-metal hydride's battery health?

2. What are your thoughts on buying the extended warranty? (Again, I've not had a vehicle in 20+ years, so I know that's a naive question.)

 

[Jack Parker]

Massive thanks! I mostly view warranties as a way to keep manufacturers (of any item) responsible for the integrity and quality of their product. It's a matter of principle for me. Like you said, I may never need it but this definitely sounds like a no brainer.

In my opinion, the Toyota Platinum, zero deductible 10 year 100K plan for ~$1,600 from Jerry Johnson out in Hutchinson Kansas, is a no brainer. It also includes the Toyota Road Side service plan, which otherwise will cost ~$100 a year from AAA or a similar provider, so your actual cost over 10 years is ~$600, or ~$5 a month. Cheap insurance if you ask me. Now the idea that you'll need it is very low, because it is a Toyota BUT if you did, it's there.

Did you buy your Crown Signia from Jerry Johnson in Hutchinson Kansas or just the Toyota Platinum plan? I had no clue you could buy a service plan from another dealership. Does that mean you'll have to take your car to Kansas to be serviced or do all dealerships have to honor it? Again, I know this has to be a naive question. I often get asked when I came out of the ark. My life really has been that simple for the last 24 years.

 

[dklanecky]

No I bought the Signia from my local dealer, Wilde Toyota in West Allis Wisconsin, who is now part of the Lithia Auto Group which owns something like 400 dealerships nationwide. Same dealer, but 6 years ago were family owned, and matched Jerry's price on the warranty so I bought it from them at that time on the Avalon. This time on the Signia, they would not match Jerry's price, and insisted their best price was ~$1,950, so I'm buying from Jerry this time.

The warranty is a real Toyota Contract / Plan, and is good at any Toyota dealer nationwide. When you buy and register it, they record it in the Nationwide Toyota system, and all dealers will see it when the input your VIN. You can read up on them here:

Vehicle Service Agreements | Toyota Financial

www.toyotafinancial.com

jerryj@midwestsuperstore.com

Phone
620-664-8844
Call phone (+16206648844)
•Mobile
800-530-5789
Call phone (+18005305789)

Massive thanks! I mostly view warranties as a way to keep manufacturers (of any item) responsible for the integrity and quality of their product. It's a matter of principle for me. Like you said, I may never need it but this definitely sounds like a no brainer.

Did you buy your Crown Signia from Jerry Johnson in Hutchinson Kansas or just the Toyota Platinum plan? I had no clue you could buy a service plan from another dealership. Does that mean you'll have to take your car to Kansas to be serviced or do all dealerships have to honor it? Again, I know this has to be a naive question. I often get asked when I came out of the ark. My life really has been that simple for the last 24 years.

 

[Jack Parker]

No I bought the Signia from my local dealer, Wilde Toyota in West Allis Wisconsin, who is now part of the Lithia Auto Group which owns something like 400 dealerships nationwide. Same dealer, but 6 years ago were family owned, and matched Jerry's price on the warranty so I bought it from them at that time on the Avalon. This time on the Signia, they would not match Jerry's price, and insisted their best price was ~$1,950, so I'm buying from Jerry this time.

The warranty is a real Toyota Contract / Plan, and is good at any Toyota dealer nationwide. When you buy and register it, they record it in the Nationwide Toyota system, and all dealers will see it when the input your VIN. You can read up on them here:

Vehicle Service Agreements | Toyota Financial

www.toyotafinancial.com

jerryj@midwestsuperstore.com

Phone
620-664-8844
Call phone (+16206648844)
•Mobile
800-530-5789
Call phone (+18005305789)

Bookmarked and saved in my contacts. Again, many thanks!

 

[Munirider]

Nickel-metal hydride batteries are pretty indestructible and their self discharge rate is lower in cold temperatures. Toyota has been using these in the Prius since the beginning and they have proven to be very reliable.

They are less energy dense than Lithium Ion but are safer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel–metal_hydride_battery

About the extended warranty, I think it's a no brainer. We got the eight year 100,000 mile warranty. We also got the windshield warranty and we had a rock hit the windshield in the second day we had the car. It didn't break it but it needed a small chip repair, the windshield would be $1,000 to replace. We skipped the tire and wheel warranty but the dealer included it at no charge.

 

[Artiavis]

Had a chance to test out Eco mode in your Crown Signia yet? If so, how did it perform compared to your Honda? Do you find yourself using Eco mode regularly, or do you prefer a different driving mode for your typical routes?

Finally got around to trying Eco. I actually really like Toyota’s implementation of Eco here. It’s a harmonious blend of attributes:

• It makes the car less eager to fire up the engine, which can make a big difference in around town driving.
• It makes the car happier to accelerate/coast in EV mode, which helps with mileage and refinement.
• It changes the throttle response of the vehicle to stay in the “eco” band more, which also keeps it in the quieter and more refined RPM bands.

 

[Yendor the Grey]

6. It's been a LONG time since I bought a new car. I'll be paying cash. Given dealership's reputations and all the bogus fees they charge, does anyone have any tips, suggestions, warnings, etc., for when I go in to buy one? When I do, I want to buy it the same day I'm there because I need it to relocate to a new state the day after I buy it.

Just had a bad experience with our local dealer (LD), that we've done business with for close to 20 years.

We bought our Crown Signia first part of December, trading the Wife's 2019 RAV4 Adventure. After a month she told me she didn't like it, and wanted another RAV4. Her loss is my gain. (And yes, I asked her multiple times if she wanted to trade her car for it.)

We negotiated a deal with LD to trade my '22 Highlander XLE for a '25 RAV4 Limited, fully loaded, and told them we would pay cash for the difference. They call back 5 minutes later and tell me they can't honor the deal unless we finance. I politely told them to pound sand. My guess is they get a kick-back from the lender, and evidently that is more important than making a sale.

We've since reserved an identical car from a dealer in another town.

 

[brianh]

I just went to the Toyota website and downloaded the owner's manual in PDF.

Their manuals are terrible. they are written so that they apply to many many models and trim packages. So many "If installed' they are generally worthless. got so frustrated with: go see page 401, where P401 sends you back to p171 (where you started)

keeps making references to a parking assist package (which I was led to believe was base equipment) , that is not ever installed in my XLE trim (its ONLY in the platinum trim with its additional upgraded 2nd level electronics upgrade package.

 

[brianh]

This is exactly why I chose the Signia XLE myself. I wanted a 4WD forever vehicle and my early research boiled down to the 2023 Lexus GX460 and the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. Time passed and so did that Lexus model because it switched to the turbocharged engine and that's a deal breaker for me. Another year went by and, now, the 2024 4Runner is no longer available anywhere. Another vehicle lost. That's when I found the Signia and it's the perfect blend of both of the other vehicles for me.

I wanted the quiet luxury ride, but I wanted the 4WD capability for where I'll be moving to. The Signia offers the luxury ride, reliability, the MPG (that neither the 4Runner or GX460 did), the cargo space, and the AWD is a small compromise. I don't want the advanced tech package. I find it intrusive and annoying. I'll drive my own vehicle. I don't want computerized help. And I definitely don't want a moon roof. The XLE is the perfect vehicle for me.

I only have two gripes with it. First, is the lack of a spare tire or even a proper place to store one. That's stupidity at its finest in my book. Secondly, there's no reason, especially at that price point, that there wasn't a 12 volt power outlet in the cargo area. (But, believe me, I will have one installed.)

The only two annoyances to me are the low ground clearance and the lack of a HUD (a want, not a need). Other than that, the XLE is the best of what I want in a vehicle that didn't exist before.

I can't wait to get into the custom settings because a lot of them will be turned off. All I need is a GPS for directions.

Front parking sensors (beeps before hitting wall) are also N/A on the Sienna XLE.

 

[Jack Parker]

Just had a bad experience with our local dealer (LD), that we've done business with for close to 20 years.

We bought our Crown Signia first part of December, trading the Wife's 2019 RAV4 Adventure. After a month she told me she didn't like it, and wanted another RAV4. Her loss is my gain. (And yes, I asked her multiple times if she wanted to trade her car for it.)

We negotiated a deal with LD to trade my '22 Highlander XLE for a '25 RAV4 Limited, fully loaded, and told them we would pay cash for the difference. They call back 5 minutes later and tell me they can't honor the deal unless we finance. I politely told them to pound sand. My guess is they get a kick-back from the lender, and evidently that is more important than making a sale.

We've since reserved an identical car from a dealer in another town.

This is exactly why I hate buying a vehicle more than anything else. I hate the sheer amount of preparation needed to try to outwit the dealership from ripping you off with unethical fees and practices. I hate it with a passion.

When you negotiated the price, did you do that over the phone?
Had you been into the dealership at that point?
When negotiating the price before it was agreed upon, did they try to talk to you about financing?

I'm interested in hearing more about your experience and how it progressed so I can learn more about the process. I would have done the same in your situation. I'm very principled and won't budge on them, no matter the inconvenience. Just tell me how much you want to sell the vehicle for, let me look over the fees to get rid of the known bogus ones, and I'll tell you if I want to buy the vehicle or not.

 

[Munirider]

We bought ours back in October and we negotiated the price and I guess by looking at us the salesman assumed we would be financing but when we went to pick up the car we brought our check book and paid in full. I could tell the business manager didn't like it but he didn't say anything.