Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid First Review: 5 Things That We Liked And 2 That We Did Not

We had a brief look at the new Innova Hycross as there is currently a lot of competition in that space with 7-seater SUVs holding the demand.

Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid ( Image Source :Somnath Chatterjee )

New Delhi: As far as new cars go, this is indeed very big news, and the arrival of a generation Innova happens in a few years so, without doubt, an important car for Toyota but also for buyers in the Rs 20-30 lakh space. Times have changed and there is currently a lot of competition in that space with 7-seater SUVs holding the demand. We had a brief look at the new Innova Hycross and these are our first impressions.

What We Liked:

• A new platform being monocoque is good news because it makes the Innova Hycross more spacious, efficient, and importantly easier to drive along with a car-like driving experience. Expect better ride comfort and a more luxury-like driving experience with the added refinement of a hybrid plus the lighter new steering over the current Crysta. It is also longer now.
  
  
• Hybrid is the next big thing that currently no one else has. With diesel no longer being favoured, an efficient hybrid is the best bet and Toyota has jumped on this. Its 2.0l petrol is combined with an electric motor plus it gets an EV mode too. Total power is 186PS and the mileage is 21.1 kmpl- the highest amongst its rivals. There is a standard 2.0l petrol too with slightly less power while CVT is standard.
  
  
• The current Innova Crysta lacks features which the new one fills in big time. The dashboard has better quality, the switches are new and look modern while the large 10.1-inch touchscreen sits at the top along with the gear lever being positioned up. There is now connected car tech, dual-zone climate control, front ventilated seats along with being powered with memory, powered tailgate, paddle shifts, Ottoman seats for 2nd row, panoramic sunroof, 9 speaker audio system plus being the first Toyota to offer ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep assist, blind-spot monitor, auto high beam, 360-degree camera and more.
  
  
• The new Innova Hycross is vastly more spacious than the current model with larger windows and the second-row seats have an airier cabin. The space is huge and legroom/headroom is impressive with a tall roofline, even the third row has good space.
  
  
• Design is another impressive aspect where the new Innova Hycross looks more like an SUV now with a bigger look than the current Crysta. The large grille, LED headlamps and the front has a more premium look. The rear too has a crossover look and goes away from being an MPV. 18-inch wheels seem small for the size but are well designed nevertheless.
  
  

What We Did Not Like

• One of the big USPs of the current Innova Crysta is its toughness and that comes from its truck platforms which are no longer there with the new version. Hence, the new Innova Hycross is more luxurious but may not be as tough as the current one, especially with a lot of technology being thrown in.
  
  
• With the vehicle variants, some more standard equipment should have been offered with the majority of the features there on the top-end trim. We also would have liked ventilation for the second-row seats since this is going to be a chauffeur-driven car.