2026 Toyota Crown SigniaToyotaThe 2026 Toyota Crown is a tame but stylish family car, neither begging you to go off-road or to step on it around country mountains, but instead being an all-around great hauler with the quality Toyota's known for.The Crown earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award in 2024, too, so if you're a nervous driver, you can take comfort in its strong headlights, pedestrian crash prevention, child-seat anchor usability and so much more. Finally, its mileage was the best thing about it. The tester arrived with a full tank and the "mileage available" was over 400. If you need a family almost-wagon that gets great mileage, the Crown makes a compelling case.2026 Toyota Crown SigniaWhat's new for 2026?For 2026, Toyota has made only minor changes to the Crown Signia - my 7-day tester - after its debut the previous year. The biggest update is broader availability as the model settles into Toyota's lineup after a healthy debut sales-wise.AdvertisementAdvertisementMy trim, the Limited, came standard with Toyota's hybrid powertrain, mating a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with electric motors and an electronically controlled all-wheel-drive system. Total output is a tame 240 horsepower, routed through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Mileage is around 39 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 38 mpg combined. Pricing starts around $48,900 before destination/option charges.What does it look like?Visually, the Crown Signia doesn't look like the typical midsize SUV, and that's a great thing. Its long roofline, gently sloping rear hatch and clean body sides give it an upscale wagon appearance that stands apart from the sea of boxy crossovers. My Limited trim added distinctive 21-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic fixed-glass roof, premium lighting elements and tasteful chrome accents.2026 Toyota Crown SigniaInside, soft-touch materials cover much of the cabin while leather-trimmed seating, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and attractive bronze-colored trim elevate the experience. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits beside an equally large touchscreen running Toyota's latest multimedia system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard along with an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system on the Limited. Rear-seat passengers get decent legroom and the cargo area is practical enough for road trips, shopping runs or airport duty. I fit a full-size bicycle back there as well.2026 Toyota Crown SigniaHow's the drive?On the road, the Crown Signia emphasizes quiet comfort over excitement. The suspension does a fine job soaking up rough pavement and the steering is light and predictable. Highway cruising is pleasant thanks to impressive cabin isolation and the hybrid system's ability to operate quietly during gentle driving. Visibility was better than average. The all-wheel-drive system provides reassuring traction in poor weather, although no one will mistake it for an off-road machine. I'd like to see how it does in snow.2026 Toyota Crown SigniaPassing power is perfectly adequate for everyday driving, but there is zero chance you'll turn into a road hog or an aggressive driver. It'll moan a bit when you step on it. Its greatest talent is making long trips feel stress-free while consuming surprisingly little fuel. It was also easy to find in parking lots.Room for improvementThe CVT can cause the engine to drone loudly during hard acceleration. The shifter is a dinky little thing you have to look down to find, every time.AdvertisementAdvertisementConclusion: This was a great test with not a lot to criticize. If you're looking for a wagon-like family hauler with Toyota's reliability, this is a great choice.This article was originally published on Forbes.com