Signia sport-ute is another jewel in Toyota's Crown

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Yes, that's me with a "Finish Line Red"-painted version of the Toyota Crown Signia Limited hybrid sport-utility vehicle in my driveway.

But wait, wasn't I just in a passenger car-like Toyota Crown Nightshade? What gives?

It's all in the name.

With the Signia, the look is absolutely SUV-like.  So is the storage area ... 10 more cubic feet than the standard Crown. And there are special perks to be had, including a panoramic fixed-glass roof.

So, it all boils down to what you like, and need.

In the tested Signia, there was plenty to like.

I particularly enjoyed the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder hybrid power system (240 horsepower) that performed strongly, paired with a finely tuned suspension that saw me doing slalom moves on the open road.

Like a skier gone mad in a mountain paradise.

The payoff, of course, is fuel mileage: 39 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Toyota's current-generation 12.3-inch multimedia screen -- easy to figure out and use -- is part of the package as well. Standard features are at the Lexus level.

You pay more for the hybrid SUV compared with the standard Crown offering ... but not much.  The loaded tester came in at $52,565 on the sticker's bottom line.  Just about right given all the features, in my view.

Is this Crown Signia Limited worth test driving in a world populated by numerous practical-size sport-utes with instantly recognizable names?  A definite YES on that.