A station wagon version of Toyota’s very bizarre Crown crossover sedan. The wagon is very elegant, with clean lines and some nice detailing.

The Signia carries over the cabin from the Crown and is pretty successful. The digital gauge package is reasonably clear and there is a massive touch screen running infotainment functions with the climate controls using a series of physical toggles.

The Signia is very large and roomy front and rear, but the driver’s position feels very tight from door to console, absurdly so for such an enormous car. Cargo space is good.

At a time when they have been critically short of hybrid powertrains in Canada, Toyota has elected to make the Signia exclusively hybrid. The 2.5L four links to electric motors to create 243 total system horsepower. Power reaches the front wheels via a CVT, with the rear wheels driven electrically.

The balance of performance and fuel economy is excellent and the car is refined under gentle acceleration or cruising, but the din under the hood during hard acceleration is too intense for a vehicle this expensive. Steering, braking, ride and handling are all nicely sorted.

Over the last few years Toyota has specialized in disappointing potential customers by announcing cars that were essentially unavailable. Time will tell whether Toyota can actually deliver the Crown Signia in a reasonable time period.