OG Toyota Innova To Crysta To Hycross: Can It Still Remain India’s Dearest MPV?

Ask any person to name a car synonymous with comfortable motoring and chances are s/he will state ‘Innova’. The MPV has come a long way since its inception in February 2005 when Toyota decided to replace its warhorse, the Qualis. 

There was quite an outcry when the Innova with its MPV looks first debuted, as it lacked the towering presence and boxy credentials of the Qualis which looked more like a 100 series Landcruiser that had lost its appetite. It did not take much for India to welcome the Innova with open hands since it was a drastic improvement over the rudimentary Qualis. 

The OG Innova And Its Upmarket Makeover

Since then, the Innova has been a force to be reckoned with. The MPV has been a staunch favourite of cabbies, a majority of households and the go-to car for extended highway stints. 

Toyota kept refining the Innova over the years, giving multiple cosmetic updates, a new intercooler and some feature additions. What is absolutely impressive though is that the original Innovas are still going strong and there are plenty of examples that have crossed five lakh kilometres without missing a beat, showcasing how reliable the people carrier is.

Although the people mover was dependable and spacious, the Innova started to show its age as it lacked a well-appointed cabin and potent engine options. And, almost after 10 years since its launch, the MPV got a significant makeover in 2016, donning the Crysta nameplate and transforming itself into a premium MPV with a premium sticker price. 

Be it the first-generation Innova or the Innova Crysta, the MPV has been undoubtedly the favourite despite other carmakers attempting to dethrone the Innova. Tata Aria, Tata Hexa, Mahindra Xylo, Mahindra Marazzo, and Kia Carnival are some that were tasked with doing the job. Despite the competition, Toyota sold over 10 lakh Innovas in India and this number is a testament to the MPV’s sheer dominance over its numerous rivals.

The Successful Recipe

Toyota kept things basic with the Innova right from the start. A robust RWD ladder-frame chassis, under-stressed powertrain units, acres of space, plush ride quality and Toyota’s bullet-proof reliability and after-sales support were the key highlights. 

The Crysta used the same ideals and in fact the same modified platform, but stepped it up a notch with potent engine options, a six-speed automatic gearbox, additional features and a richer cabin experience uplifting the overall luxury quotient. 

Shifting Away From the Tried And Tested Setup

After the successful stint spanning over 17 years, Toyota will finally be moving away from the proven setup with the Innova Hycross. The three-row MPV will make use of a monocoque chassis instead of the ladder-frame for the first time. This also means the Innova Hycross will send power to the front wheels instead of the rear. The changes don’t stop there as the Hycross won’t also be offered with a diesel engine!!! Instead, a petrol-hybrid 2.0-litre engine option is on the cards. These are significant changes to the current setup which has overtly proven its success over the years. 

Is Toyota shooting itself in its foot with the Innova Hycross? 

Well, change is inevitable, especially with alarmingly rising fuel prices and stringent emission norms. For starters, a monocoque chassis has its own benefits too. It will be relatively cheaper to make, it opens up more space in the cabin, improves the driving dynamics and will probably make the Innova a lighter car as well. We will surely miss the RWD push of the current Innova, but let’s be real, we are talking about a people-mover here. So, if the FWD system can effortlessly lug around eight full-size adults and some luggage, we don’t see a problem here. 

The 2.5-litre D-4D, the punchy 2.8-litre and the current 2.4-litre diesel engines have always been the de facto choice for all generations of the Innova. However, it is not news that diesels are slowly being phased out and hybrids are taking over. The latter fulfil their promise of staggering fuel economy, while also offering more refinement than the oil burners. 

Toyota will plonk a 2.0-litre petrol-hybrid engine that makes use of strong-hybrid tech with close to 190 horses. This will make it the most powerful Innova to date! Hence, the added torque from the electric motor should be able to somewhat compensate for the diesel’s torque.

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So in a brief, Toyota is indeed taking a huge leap by switching to a FWD monocoque platform with a hybrid setup. It is not easy to accept a shift from something that has been hard-wired. When electrics came into the picture, the scenario was more or less the same. But look how we accepted them over time. On a similar note, given Toyota gets everything right, the Innova Hycross shouldn't have any issues living up to the legacy of its predecessors and should continue being India’s dearest MPV.