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Toyota Innova Hycross First Review
Toyota Innova Hycross: The Toyota Innova has been a popular wagon in India for a long time. Its success has seen prices nearly triple since its humble beginnings, and the Innova is still going strong. It’s based on an incredibly comfortable and spacious cabin, a bulletproof diesel engine that runs like new, a six-figure odometer reading, and an unbeatable price per vehicle. kilometer.
Toyota Innova Hycross Now, with a new Innova on the horizon, it will carry the heavy burden of stepping out of its predecessor’s shadow, and to that end, Toyota India has improved upon the basic formula with an all-new vehicle. The question is whether you can make a better wheel by completely reinventing it.
Toyota Innova Hycross review, first drive: Chassis and accessories
Toyota Innova Hycross We start at the lowest level, which in the case of a car is its chassis structure. The previous generation Innova was built around a ladder-on-frame chassis and was rear-wheel drive. The Innova Hycross is based on a monocoque frame and is a front wheel drive vehicle. The diesel engine of the Innova Crysta is the most popular choice, while the Innova Hycross will offer only two petrol engine options.
Toyota Innova Hycross One is a mild hybrid and the other is a full hybrid that uses Toyota’s latest fifth-generation hybrid system based on the TNGA platform. Toyota is pretty sure that the new car will cost more per kilometer than its predecessor, but for now, the Toyota Hycross SHEV (Self-Charging Hybrid Electric Vehicle) will be sold alongside the Innova Crysta diesel. But before we talk about drastic changes in the powertrain, it is useful to look at the design.
Toyota has not only made drastic changes to the new Toyota Hycross, but its design has also undergone major changes. With its finger on the pulse of the Indian market, Toyota has styled the new Toyota Innova Hycross more like an SUV than the Toyota Innova Hycross signature MPV silhouette. This is where the “crossover” part of the Toyota Innova Hycross comes in, hinting at more MPV crossover design themes. Up front, you can see the massive hexagonal SUV-like metal grille that sets the tone for the rest of the car. It is accentuated by a nicer bumper with recessed DRLs and small but powerful fog lamps at the very bottom.
But what really sets the Hycross apart is the raised, flat hood line that immediately screams SUV. Complementing the grille are new full-LED headlights, very similar to the ones we saw on the Innova Zenix that was recently launched in Indonesia. Viewed from the side, the Innova Hycross crossover’s design theme continues with pronounced shoulder and belt lines that extend into the aggressively flared wheel arches.
The design of the greenhouse has also been revised, emphasizing the D-pillars to improve its aesthetics. The new 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels look good, but you can’t help but think that bigger wheels that fill out the wheel arches better would look better. Although for the sake of driving comfort it is best to leave it alone. Finally, at the rear, the Innova Hycross features large wraparound LED taillights, a black side plate on the rear bumper and a license plate housing that fits into the sharp tailgate recess.
The Toyota Innova Hycross measures 4,755mm in length and 1,850mm in width, both slightly larger than the Crysta, with a wheelbase that’s even 100mm longer. Speaking of big changes, the cabin has also changed significantly, which you will notice from the moment you get into the front seat. Gone is the dated feel and it seems like they want to cater to the segment with the same levels, replacing it with a cabin with all the technology we’ve come to expect. At the heart of it all, of course, is a new 10.1-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and JBL Apple CarPlay and nine speakers (including a subwoofer) in three rows.
The driver’s seat is electrically operated and has a memory function, while the passenger seat is omitted. Both front seats are ventilated but have three-stage cooling. There’s also a wireless charging dock above the glove box and, of course, a huge dual-screen panoramic sunroof that stretches all the way to the second row. Last but not least, the quilted leather upholstery on the seats, matching trim on the dash and door panels, all add to the premium Toyota Innova Hycross experience.
In the second row, Toyota focuses most of its attention on the cabin, and this is understandable. The second row has two power captain’s seats separated by a folding table tray. The seat itself is reasonably comfortable, and with almost extreme recline and drop-down footrests, even my 6-foot frame can sleep comfortably in the back. The second row also has a dual-zone climate control system that allows passengers to set the desired temperature independently of the first row.
For the third row, Toyota has made smart use of the extra space, partly because the longer wheelbase makes the third row usable and can comfortably accommodate two adults. The seats also have individual reclining functions which make them very practical. However, you can fold the row down to lie flat and free up more than 900 liters of boot space, perfect for long holidays and house moves.
The Toyota Innova Hycross will offer two engine options, both based on a 2.0-litre petrol engine, one with a mild hybrid system and the other with a full hybrid based on Toyota’s fifth-generation THS (Toyota Hybrid System) powertrain. suitable for TNGA platform. Of course, we only got the full hybrid in the review, so this drivetrain section will focus primarily on that engine. It’s Toyota’s latest hybrid powertrain to be introduced globally, using a larger battery system that’s almost twice the size of the 1.3kWh Hyryder.
This means that the Innova can now drive nearly 4 kilometers in pure electric mode without even switching on the petrol engine. In fact, like the Hyryder, the Innova Hycross also prefers to use traditional electric motors as generators rather than wheel drive. The two engines combined to produce 186bhp and 205Nm of torque, which is to say the least. Toyota claims a 0-100 time of 9.5 seconds, which is great for a passenger car.
The electric motor is mated to an e-CVT transmission that has a 6-speed sequential manual mode and even paddle shifters, which is a big plus for the Innova Hycross. In general, the gearbox reacts on its own, and the flexibility effect does not make its presence felt until you suddenly press the gas pedal. There’s also a comprehensive safety package that includes some key ADAS features, including adaptive cruise, automatic headlights with auto-dimming, lane-keeping assist and multiple blind-spot monitoring zones.
