The Innova Crysta has never been about efficiency, instead has built up its brand based on reliability and toughness. The new Innova Hycross on the other hand promises a mileage figure which is more commonly seen with hatchbacks.
The key to this is the hybrid powertrain which uses a new 2.0l petrol engine with an electric motor which in total makes around 182 bhp. The gearbox is an eCVT while there are drive modes along with EV mode to enable one to drive just in electric power only.
There is a standard 2.0l petrol but the hybrid has the better mileage and hence, we tested that. The Innova Hycross hybrid starts in EV mode which means silence along with a calm driving experience. We put it in Eco mode and drove sedately in Bangalore traffic while soon catching the highway for a relaxed run. We were not heavy with the throttle and the Innova Hycross is effortlessly happy munching miles.
The big talking point is the mileage and here the official claim is 21.1 kmpl which in the real world, translates to around 18kmpl for us. It involved relaxed cruising at highway speeds.
A more dense traffic infested city drive might lower it to 17kmpl but it is still a massive improvement over the earlier Crysta diesel which managed far less efficiency.
The new platform, being lighter and the hybrid powertrain has made the massive Innova Hycross quite efficient and easily beating other petrol MPVs or its nearby rivals.
The hybrid powertrain then has been a clever move and has helped the transition from diesel to petrol easier to digest for its prospective buyers where diesel ruled with the old Innova Crysta.
We had the car for a short drive and a longer highway run would have resulted in mileage figures further closer to the official claim while in hybrid cars, a light throttle input is required to get the best efficiency along with using the eco mode.
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