The Toyota Innova is over a decade old, but through that time, it has found many happy owners. When it was first introduced to replace the boxy Qualis in 2005, many found the jump in price too great. However, soon enough, the Innova won Indian buyers over with its space, comfort and, above all, its hassle-free reliability. And, though prices were on a continuous rise over the years, the happy customers just kept coming back. Now, Toyota is finally replacing the Innova with a new-generation model, which is a good deal more expensive than the outgoing car. But is it worth it?
For starters, its name has a new suffix – Crysta – which, like ‘Altis’ for the Corolla, is meant to remind you this is an all-new car. It’s clearly larger than the outgoing car, both in length and width. And though it has the typical MPV shape overall, the new styling is very dramatic. The bold new face features large projector headlamps with LED daytime running lamps on either side of a huge grille with a pair of big chrome slats. Down the sides, there are pronounced rear haunches, larger 17-inch wheels and a window line that kinks up near the end. The rear is still relatively simple, but the new, L-shaped tail-lamps freshen things up.
Space and comfort were hallmarks of the old Innova and the new one takes things a step further. The front seats are wide and very well-shaped to offer good support and, crucially, great long-distance comfort. Impressively, the second row’s captain chairs are just as good. They slide back and forth and recline, and with just one pull of a single lever, fold down and tumble forward, giving better access to the third row. Sitting in the back, you will find your knees folded up a little, but it’s more comfortable and spacious than the previous Innova, and consequently most of the competition.
There’s even a third, three-point seat belt that spools out of a slot in the roof, in case you can fit a third passenger back here. Luggage space with all seats in place is also better than before and it’s easy to split, flip and fold away the third row when it’s not needed.
Toyota has also upped the luxury quotient of the Innova. The cabin no longer looks utilitarian, and the dashboard feels like it could belong to a Corolla or a Camry. The dials on the dash are big and clear, and in front of them sits a large, leather and wood-trimmed, multifunction steering wheel. The new infotainment system with a big 7.0-inch touchscreen gets satellite navigation, various audio and video input options and is also the display for the rear-view camera. The cabin also gets dedicated air vents for the second and third rows with electronic control.
This top-spec ‘Z’ variant of the Innova Crysta additionally gets electric folding mirrors, keyless entry and go, rear parking sensors, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat and automatic headlamps. But it’s a shame that in a seven-seater, there’s just one USB port and only three 12v charging ports.
The Innova Crysta comes with two entirely new four-cylinder diesel engines, a 2.4-litre with a five-speed manual gearbox, and a 2.8-litre with a six-speed automatic. The 2.4 manual first. Like the older 2.5-litre diesel engine, it is not very refined, and doesn’t enjoy being revved a lot. However, the rest is all positive. For one, there’s more power – 150hp is a significant jump in power over the old 102hp, and at 13.1sec, the Crysta is a full 4.4sec faster from 0-100kph! It even feels much stronger when you’re overtaking, which is essential when you’re on the highway with passengers and luggage. The new car also feels a lot more comfortable cruising at high speeds, and doesn’t feel as noisy or strained at three-digit speeds as the old car. But in traffic, you’ll notice the clutch pedal is on the heavy side and that the short gear lever needs a little more effort. It’s also got three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Power. Eco is best for when you want to stretch every last litre of diesel, while Power yields the quickest responses to accelerator inputs. But Normal mode is the best for everyday driving, delivering a good mix of power and efficiency.
The automatic variant, with its 174hp 2.8-litre diesel engine, can cross 100kph in just 11.5sec. That’s quick for a 1.9-tonne MPV! The gear shifts are smooth, but the system is too eager to change gears sometimes, even when not necessary. And while there are no paddle shifters for manual control, you can change gears manually with the gear lever itself.
The other great strength of the Innova – its comfortable ride – has not been tampered with. All sorts of road irregularities are absorbed well. In a straight line on the highway, the Innova Crysta stays superbly flat and composed, keeping cabin occupants comfortable throughout. The only disappointment is the steering which feels too heavy at low speeds. Conversely, at higher speeds, it starts to feel loose and inconsistent, and this can get a little disconcerting. You also get a bit of ‘shock’ through the steering as you go over sharper bumps. And, expectedly, there’s loads of body roll around corners, and combined with the slow and heavy steering, this is really not a car you want to drive enthusiastically.
The new Innova Crysta costs Rs 13.84-20.78 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), which is around Rs 3 lakh more than the outgoing Innova. That means it’s no longer a direct rival to rest of the MPVs on sale in India as it’s priced much higher than them. Moreover, when you’re in this price bracket, you have certain expectations of space, quality, luxury and comfort, and the good news is the Innova Crysta delivers on just about all of them. Sure, refinement is still not great, and the steering, clutch and gearbox can get a bit tiresome in traffic, but these are minor setbacks in the bigger scheme of things. The Crysta takes all the old Innova’s strengths that customers just love, and amplifies them.
Yes, you pay a big premium for it, but as most owners of the previous car will tell you, it will be worth it.
