Cabin is very quiet, and you can barely make out the difference when the ICE starts up. It can only be heard when you floor the accelerator.

BHPian KURU recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I went for a short test drive on the e-city main road and on a decent back road with a few bad patches. Didn't really get to test it on a very bad road yet, as I was time-restricted and had to be elsewhere. My thoughts are going to mainly be in comparison with the Crysta as the Hycross will be our Crysta replacement.

Thoughts from the brief drive:

• The car is extremely nice to drive and has a good initial punch because of the electric motor. Didn’t really get to test it at a high speed because of traffic.
• Cabin is very quiet, and you can barely make out the difference when the ICE starts up. It can only be heard when you floor the accelerator.
• It has a very soft suspension but there were times when I could feel certain bad patches of the road in the cabin, mainly because of the low-profile tires.
• One point I forgot to mention previously, in comparison to the Crysta were the brakes. All four discs do make a difference and provide better braking but it’s not as good as I expected it to be. (Maybe I am just used to the discs on the Tiguan and Superb).
• The electric power steering is a huge plus for me, as maneuverability in the city is much easier compared to the hydraulic one in Crysta.
• The steering mounted controls are of really bad quality, especially the volume controls and the track change controls.
• Visibility is pretty good. However, the bonnet is bigger and longer than the Crysta’s, so that impacts visibility a bit but shouldn’t be a problem.
• Out of all the ADAS features, I was only able to test the Lane keep assist. There was a good amount of resistance before switching lanes.
• The Lane keep assist and lane departure warning can be switched OFF with a press of a button, but it remains ON by default whenever the car is turned on. I’m not sure if that can be changed in the settings. The SA mentioned that it comes ON by default. It would be useful if we could switch it OFF by default, especially when the car is chauffeur driven.
• The JBL audio system is much better than the Crysta (ZX) stock system but not up to the quality of my liking. The speakers will need to be upgraded for me.
• The screen covering the sunroof blocks light from entering and is of a better quality compared to the Hyryder.
• The cushioning on the seats were better on the Crysta but I didn’t find the driver seat to be uncomfortable at all.

We have decided to go ahead with the purchase as we need the car ASAP. SA mentioned that delivery will be done before the end of next week. However, the car hasn’t been allotted yet, so I don’t really know what to think of that. No option but to wait and hope it is delivered on time.

I have also confirmed with the SA to replace the existing tires with 235/55 R18 Pirelli Scorpion Verde’s, since those were the only ones available with them from the tires that I had shortlisted.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I may or may not go for the Hector, but am definitely cancelling the Toyota MPV booking.

BHPian amit_2025 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I was able to do a longish test drive of the New Hector CVT on Saturday. Here are a few quick observations:

1. The in-person appearance is less in your face than it seems in the pictures and in my opinion, looks more SUV'ish now than the previous gen
2. Saw it in 3 different colours (White, Silver and Dune Brown), One of those cars that look good in any colour
3. Engine and Transmission are butter smooth. Acceleration was linear and it was a breeze to drive in the City
4. NVH levels are excellent
5. The infotainment system screams premium from the look of it but might be a pain to operate on a day-to-day basis. Voice commands work 2 out of 3 times so can't be relied upon
6. The lag in the infotainment system was evident but definitely not a deal breaker
7. The interior of the Hector Plus looks much more premium than the Hector. Although the combination may not be to everyone's liking. All Brown seats vs. the combination on offer would have been better
8. The SA mentioned that they have maximum bookings for the 5 and 6-seaters. That statement changed today and he said the bookings of the 7 Seater have picked up a lot
9. Waiting period quoted was 2 months but there are select variants/colours readily available. Just hoping that they don't go the "accessories scam" way to make people jump the queue
10. No insistence on taking the Insurance from the Dealership

Overall, I was pretty impressed with the car

Had booked the Innova Hycross on Day 1 but the experience with the SA and showroom at Galaxy Toyota has been appalling, to say the least. I may or may not go for the Hector, but am definitely cancelling the Hycross booking this week.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

This car has one of the best 3rd rows (only the Carnival is better), and an ok 2nd row in terms of space.

BHPian One recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Checked out the Hycross today. There's ample space inside and the third row is extremely good. However, there are issues (including those related to space) which are with mentioning here.

That's the width of the arm test, two regular human fingers. It is fine if Thakur from Sholay is using this to catch Gabbar but otherwise it beats the purpose of having a captain seat.

In the second row, one cannot slide legs in the space below the front seats. This is not a very big issue for people up to 5'6" as there's ample leg space and under-thigh support for them. But for taller folks like me, it's not as comfortable to stretch legs in the second row while having folks in 3rd row as well.

Likewise, the Ottoman is not really practical even with one person as the legs dangle outside which can get tiring.

Hard plastics which are easily scratchable.

3rd row has ample leg space and would have been most comfortable if not for relatively lesser under-thigh support than 2nd row.

On the second row, it might seem that the under thigh is less as there was a photo in this thread with knees pointing upwards. The actual issue is that because one cannot stretch legs in the second row completely (assuming folks are in 3rd row and one is over 5'6") if one decides to sit with legs folded completely, then the under thigh is lacking. I sat on a Fortuner second row and my knees were pointing upwards in that too and the under-thigh support wasn't significantly superior to Hycross.

This car has one of the best if not the best 3rd rows (only the Carnival is better), and an ok 2nd row in terms of space. Once one looks past the initial impression of the interiors, with poor plastics and average seats all around this doesn't look like a 40 lakh car from the inside. From a feature perspective, Toyota has achieved feature parity with the industry in the top models so the only redeeming quality is a hybrid engine in a 6-seater.

Hopefully the ride quality, driveability and the hybrid engine in a 6-seater warrant a purchase else there's no reason to price this or purchase this over the existing diesel models.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The dash does not feel like it belongs to a 37 lakh car, but one thing is it's built to last for sure.

BHPian jerin.v recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Since all Toyotas in Bangalore decided to keep the unveiling at 11:00 AM on the 27th and I'm not planning to waste my working day on a Unveil I decided to visit on the 26th itself. The car was in the back of the showroom.

Here is my initial feeling about the car ( If any of my points are incorrect please do correct me )

From the front, the car does feel SUVish but the white color does not make it feel like a new model more like a Crysta facelift

The back doesn't feel like the latest car more of like a 2015-16 type of design

When a small portion of the car is photographed it does feel like a huge SUV

The boot is amazing considering the competition but even crysta excelled in it

Coming to the dash it does not feel like it belongs to a 37 lakh car but one thing is it's built to last for sure.

The switches on the door arm of XUV have a backlight and are in a piano black finish but are not much sturdy comparatively, the hycross does not have a piano finish or backlight, not even markings but feels built to last

The first row is actually really good and it's easy to find a suitable position for anyone

The second row I need not even mention

Tires are a bit disappointing like the previous discussion I feel something should be done

The sunroof is a great addition but sad to see they added a blue filter for the blue effect rater than using blue lights

Other than this some things i notices is the brake light only one part was lighting up not sure why

The interiors feel like should have been more of a light theme to have that luxurious feeling. Currently, I feel it's going to feel dirty in normal use

And coming to the automated boot the boot does not stop for any object you have to give it a physical push to get it to stop. I.e when it comes down you need to give a push upward to get it to stop

Now waiting for a test drive to determine the driving dynamics.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

God bless competition. And this isn't even including indirect competitors like the Carens, Scorpio-N etc.

Toyota Innova Hycross

Toyota Innova Hycross Pros:

• A great-looking MPV. SUV’ish styling packs appeal
• Upmarket interiors, good comfort in all 3 rows and usable boot (even with 3rd row up)
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable rear ottoman seats, multi-zone climate control, connected car features, leather upholstery, drive modes, etc.
• Hybrid powertrain makes it lighter on the pocket than diesel and future-proof too. Very good fuel efficiency (expect city FE of 15-17 km/l)
• Impressive performance with a sub-10 second 0-100 km/h time (Toyota claims 9.5 seconds)
• Monocoque construction results in sorted handling and comfortable ride quality
• Brilliant NVH levels result in a quiet and serene experience inside the cabin
• Toyota's bullet-proof reliability, excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences
• Safety features such as 6 airbags, Toyota Safety Sense (ADAS), ABS, ESP, TC, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, TPMS, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all

Toyota Innova Hycross Cons:

• Premium pricing. More expensive than the already-pricey Innova Crysta
• Top-end variants are only available with captain seats in the middle row. No bench option is inexplicable!!
• 18" wheels with 50 profile tyres compromise the overall stance; they look very small
• Monocoque construction won’t be as rugged & abuse-friendly as the Crysta's body-on-frame build
• Rear seat ottomans are useless for taller passengers
• Average sound quality from the JBL system, poor camera resolution and a basic infotainment system display
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, lumbar adjustment, boss lever on the front passenger seat...
• The already-good ride quality could be even better with higher-profile tyres (e.g. on craters). 225/50 sidewalls are on the shorter side

Link to Review

Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra XUV700 Pros:

• Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust
• Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
• 182 BHP turbo-diesel & 197 BHP turbo-petrol make for a potent line-up
• Smooth 6-speed torque converter Automatics available with both engines
• Sorted suspension with good road manners & high-speed stability
• AWD is available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment
• Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
• 12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality
• Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...

Mahindra XUV700 Cons:

• Negligible boot space with the 3rd-row seat up. Either 5 onboard, or 7 with a roof-top carrier
• Cramped 3rd-row seat is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
• Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT
• Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV
• Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, ventilated seats, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds...
• Concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked, complex Mahindra. We saw 2!
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• AWD is available just with the Diesel AT, and not the MT or petrol motor

Link to Review

Kia Carnival

Kia Carnival Pros:

• A truly luxurious MPV that’s also high on practicality
• Top quality, spacious & comfortable interiors. 3rd-row is usable for adults too
• Fantastic engine & gearbox combination! 2.2L diesel & 8-speed AT impress
• Comfy ride quality & neutral road manners
• Available in 7, 8 and 9-seater configurations
• 540L boot space with all three rows up and 1,624L with the third row down
• Impressive kit (2 sunroofs, premium Harman Kardon sound system, electric rear doors & more)
• 5-star safety rating. Kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, CBC etc.

Kia Carnival Cons:

• Massive size can make it cumbersome in the city, while parking & in narrow lanes
• Ordinary urban fuel economy due to the 2.2-ton weight, 197 BHP engine & AT gearbox
• Underbody does scrape on bad roads & large speed bumps, especially with a full load
• Top Limousine variant isn't sold as an 8-seater & its 3rd-row access is difficult
• Steering is a level too firm at parking speeds & a level too light at 120 km/h
• Some misses such as paddle shifters, a skinny spare tyre, no auto-wipers or front camera...
• Model is now 5 years old in the international market; next-gen Carnival is being tested
• Stylish 4x4 SUVs like the Fortuner / Endeavour / Kodiaq can be had at the same price

Link to Review

Tata Safari

Tata Safari Pros:

• The iconic brand “Safari” is back! We agree with using the legendary nameplate for this car
• Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
• Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
• Extra 3rd row of seats brings lots more practicality & utility
• Superb captain chairs available as an option for the middle row (top variant only)
• Extras over the Harrier include rear disc brakes, TPMS, e-parking brake, auto-hold, boss mode…
• Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
• 168 BHP 2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
• Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
• Sufficient ground clearance + terrain response system for rough and wet roads
• Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, rest break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
• Features such as the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control…

Tata Safari Cons:

• Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
• 3rd-row access is too difficult in the captain seat variant
• Negligible boot space with all the seats up - a paltry 73 litres
• Safari AT’s focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
• Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability. Our test car had a problem too!
• Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (12 months is the norm today)
• Diesel engine does get loud above 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
• No petrol option (almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
• Although improved, the Safari's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• By 2021 standards, we’d expect wireless charging + front / 360 camera + ventilated seats
• We don’t agree with the excessive chrome (outside), impractical white interiors & 18” rims (bit firmer ride)

Link to Review

MG Hector Plus

Link to Close Look

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Customers sure are spoilt for choice now, aren't they! God bless competition. And this isn't even including indirect competitors like the Carens, Scorpio-N etc.

Here's what BHPian nfsfreak had to say on the matter:

Voted for Kia Carnival.

I'm currently looking for a comfortable 7 seater, having checked all cars in this list and Jeep Meridian, MG Gloster as well, with a budget of 45L. I currently drive XUV 500 - 2017, model.

My current preference is:

1. Carnival - waiting for a facelift - Auto Expo.
2. Innova Hycross - Waiting for a test drive vehicle. have an active booking but will decide after my test drive, which would happen by the first week of Feb per local dealers.
3. XUV 7OO - have an active booking with an expected delivery date of Apr 2023 - will proceed if the above options don't work out.

I sorely miss Endeavor which would have been my obvious choice for upgrade (was in my personal wishlist) but wouldn't want to go the pre-owned route now & take a chance with Ford shutting its shop here.

Listing my observations on the cars checked based on my order of preference - Sorry for the long post, but this could help others in a similar predicament.

Kia Carnival

Loved the ride and ease of drive though the car is BIG. Truly a comfortable 7-seater by a mile, compared to others in the list. The current drawback is the lack of features (360 camera, adaptive cruise/ADAS etc) and a dated model but not real deal breakers for me.

With the facelift, I hope will get more features and remains within my budget (wishful thinking).

Toyota Innova Hycross

I liked Crysta's comfort and this being a Toyota, I just went ahead with a booking without even test-driving the car by looking at the initial pics and variants list (a first for me) based on Toyota's surprising efforts to match the features - Sunroof, ADAS etc and the new look is not van like, which was a concern before.

But second-row captain seats only in ZX(O) is a very big downer for me - why Toyota? why!!!. Even to carry 5 we need to use a third row which would compromise the boot space. XUV scores high here, as boot space, is more with folded 3rd row, for carrying 5. Now it depends on my test drive with family - especially the ride quality and third-row comfort for 3, to really proceed with the existing booking.

The current timeline for vehicle delivery is 90 days promised by the dealer.

Mahindra XUV 700

Not a big upgrade in terms of space and seating comfort compared to my current car but really liked the ride quality, safety kit, and features (hopefully the niggles are getting sorted in the fresh batches). Downers for me - White interiors (nightmare to maintain), manual IVRM, non-slidable second-row seats. Also I don't like the new look but I think that would grow on you over time.

With no major red flags, I just went ahead with my booking last week of Dec 2022 (Diesel AT AWD - Electric Blue) and surprisingly, the delivery date per initial communication is Apr 2023.

Tata Safari

Loved the look. Surprisingly found XUV 7OO ride better than Safari (was thinking otherwise, hearing about the famed Hexa/old-gen Safari ride quality).

Second-row comfort is better in XUV, but the third row is comparatively better in Safari with a slidable second row. Scored better in terms of comfort features that matter - Ventilated Seats, Electric IVRM, Slidable second row etc but missed 360 camera and ADAS (i think it will be part of the next facelift). Overall it was a really close finish, but seating comfort and ride quality tilted the scale towards XUV ahead of this.

MG Gloster

Loved the space on offer, and the features list (matched almost all the features of XUV and offered some more like ventilated seats). High & commanding seating position but the ride quality was harsh and my home minister did not like the drive. So removed it from my list straight away. Also expensive on the list with no discounts on offer (the top variant is close to 50L).

Jeep Meridian

Not a real 7-seater. The third row is only for kids. Heck, even in the middle row - you can only comfortably seat 2. I think Jeep consciously wanted to ensure the middle passenger is not welcomed - with no headrest or seat belt. With 3 in the back seat, it was not comfortable at all. So it is 4 + 2 seater.

But I loved the car for its ride quality, stability and interior quality. Actually, test drove the car clearly knowing I won't be getting this as I heard great things about the capability of this car. The test drive was very enjoyable as the SA had helped with roads/sections that you can really test this car - bad/no roads ride, highways etc. Great car for 4.

MG Hector Plus & Skoda Kodiaq

They are not real 7-seaters, strictly 5+2. Last-row space and comfort are laughable and only for kids below 5 feet in height. For Kodiaq, I did not even get the test drive vehicle from my local dealer.

Haven't driven Hector Plus after checking the third-row space & having driven Gloster

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Innova Hycross is available in five variants with petrol and strong-hybrid powertrain options.

Last month, Toyota unveiled the Innova Hycross for the Indian market. The MPV has now been officially launched at a starting price of Rs. 18.30 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Innova Hycross is based on Toyota’s TNGA-C monocoque architecture. The new model looks beefier than the Crysta. It features a large trapezoidal grille up front with slim LED headlamps on either side. The front bumper has triangular vents with slim LED daytime running lights, while the rear features wraparound tail lamps with a chrome strip in the centre.

The Innova Hycross is available in five variants. It gets a dual-tone interior with a choice of 7-seat or 8-seat configuration. The MPV has a 3-spoke steering wheel and a semi-digital instrument cluster. The centre console houses a 10.1-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system, a gear shifter, an electronic parking brake and other functions.

The Innova Hycross is available with a pure petrol and petrol-hybrid powertrain. Both engines are offered with a CVT that drives the front axle.

The 2.0-litre petrol puts out 172 BHP and 197 Nm. The strong-hybrid version also uses a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine paired with Toyota’s 5th-gen strong-hybrid tech for a combined output of 183 BHP. It is said to offer a fuel efficiency of 21.1 km/l.

Toyota Innova Hycross ex-showroom prices:

Petrol

• G (7S) – Rs 18.30 lakh
• G (8S) – Rs. 18.35 lakh
• GX (7S) – Rs. 19.15 lakh
• GX (8S) – Rs. 19.20 lakh

Hybrid

• VX (7S) – Rs. 24.01 lakh
• VX (8S) – Rs. 24.06 lakh
• ZX – Rs. 28.33 lakh
• ZX (O) – Rs. 28.97 lakh

I personally like understated designs and the Crysta still appeals to me more than Hycross, trying hard to look like an SUV.

BHPian greenoval recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Checked out the display car today at Madhuban Toyota. I had booked the car on launch day but now that I have seen it in the flesh, I may not go ahead with the purchase. The major reason is the overall length of this car. From the specs, I was well aware that Hycross is longer than the current Innova. But the display car helped fathom the real presence. The hybrid may trump the diesel Crysta in city driving conditions but Hycross will be one cumbersome car to manoeuvre within city limits. The car definitely is a good choice for those who are chauffeur driven (I am not!) and big families. The Crysta parked outside seemed to strike the right balance between practicality and dimensions. Hycross is under-tyred compared to the overall dimensions and the tyre profile seems too low for a car of this size. How it will fare in real-world driving conditions and broken roads is unknown!

Also, this car is sub-par for a Rs 40 lakh vehicle (the estimated price for the top variant) though it has all creature comforts. The showroom was buzzing with people, so there is interest and the Toyota badge is a trump card. The key sales pitch at the showroom is the salesmen claimed mileage of 24 km/l (wasn't it 21 as per Toyota!). Actual sales post-initial euphoria will be interesting to watch. As far as the overall looks go, I personally like understated designs and the Crysta still appeals to me more than Hycross, trying hard to look like an SUV. The side profile and tyres can't hide the fact that it is an MPV (though overall the design language should appeal to the majority). I expect diesel Crysta prices to hold up well.

A picture to give an idea of the length of Hycross and the puny tyres.

Here's what BHPian vinodvayyat had to say on the matter:

Thanks for the update. The length is a little more than Crysta but a little less than Tata Hexa. It has a bit more height compared to Hexa - but that will translate into much more headroom even with a sunroof considering the fact that the platform is lower than Body-on-Frame. With EPS, I think it will be much better than my Hexa to manoeuvre around in City. Tyres are definitely an issue I feel. The R19 experiment in Hexa had failed miserably with 55 profiles (I downsized mine to R16 stock tyres) - so R18 with 50 profiles is definitely a concern - agree 100% with that observation.

Here's what BHPian One had to say on the matter:

Have a feeling this will be easier to drive in the city as compared to Crysta considering it has EPS - much like Endeavour which is huge but within the city, it is easily manoeuvrable.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Maruti’s version of the Innova Hycross will be the brand’s second hybrid offering after the Grand Vitara.

Toyota is yet to announce the pricing for the Innova Hycross and there are talks about the Maruti-badged version of the MPV. Reports suggest that its market launch could happen around August 2023.

The Innova Hycross was unveiled in India last month. The MPV is larger than the Innova Crysta and features an SUV-ish design. Maruti Suzuki’s version could get minor cosmetic changes, including a new grille. However, overall it is likely to be a badge engineering exercise than a complete redesign.

Maruti’s version of the Innova Hycross will be the brand’s second hybrid offering after the Grand Vitara. As you are aware, the MPV uses a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid that makes 183 BHP and 206 Nm. The engine is mated to an e-CVT and is said to deliver a fuel economy of 21.1 km/l. The car is also offered with a pure-petrol engine. This unit makes 172 BHP and 197 Nm.

Like Toyota, Maruti Suzuki is expected to offer the MPV with ADAS features, making it the first model in its line-up equipped with advanced safety tech.

Source: Cardekho

Until it arrives, I will be using a 2015 Alto K10 for the city, while highway duties are via my 309 BHP Octavia vRS230.

BHPian rbk recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Why I sold an almost brand new Crysta

My Innova Crysta 2021 GX Automatic 2.4 Diesel was only 15 months old when I sold it last week. The car was in immaculate condition and I hope the new owner takes care of it just as much as I did. My primary concern with the Crysta was its steering. The reason why I bought the Crysta was for the long highway drives I frequently do. But the only prickle I couldn't get my head around was the hard, truck-like Hydraulic Steering. Though it did not seem much while I test drove the car, it was only later on upon daily usage I realised that it is pretty tough to manoeuvre the big machine with such hard steering. Sometimes after a 2000 km long trip, my arms ache. This is THE BIG reason why I decided I need an untimely upgrade.

Why not think beyond the Hycross

Even after clocking 26,600 km on the ODO and using it for 15 months, I got an extremely impressive price upon selling the Crysta. No other car can hold its value like a Toyota. We even sometimes joke among friends that buying a Toyota can be a better investment than the yellow metal itself! This is something anyone intending to buy the new Hycross should definitely think about. I decided to sell the Crysta much before the Reviews & Price Reveal of the Hycross because I did not want to risk the market for the car going down, once the Hycross starts hitting the Showrooms. After selling the Crysta, needless to say, my mind started wandering towards the Jeep Meridian and Kia Carnival but I didn't require much convincing myself because I just knew the Hycross will hold it's much more, says five years down the lane. My experience with the sale of the Crysta was a huge reason why I did not want to think beyond Toyota.

Booking the Hycross

Given the enthusiasts we all are, sometimes we just can't wait - though that is the sensible way to go about it. I had all faith in Toyota that they would never launch the Hycross with a Hydraulic Steering setup. And the reviews from yesterday were a relief, the Hycross does actually have an Electric Power steering; something I was delighted to hear! I took the plunge the very same day my Crysta left me; call me emotional! Drove straight to the Nippon Toyota (Trivandrum) and booked the Hybrid ZX(O) in Attitude Black Mica. This is the first time I have booked a car without test-driving it, let alone, the prices being revealed! It sounds pretty absurd, but I just needed an easier-to-drive, feature-rich Innova and the Hycross I knew was just that!

I see many of you have paid Rs. 1,00,000 as your booking amount but Nippon Toyota had just taken Rs. 50,000 from me, in line with Toyota's official e-Booking amount. I was told that the prices would be out by December end and Test Drives may start by early January. Also, I was told to expect delivery of my car only by early March 2023. Mine was the 10th Hycross to be booked from this Showroom and I believe after the price reveal, YouTube reviews and test drives the number of bookings will climb considerably higher!

Now the HOLY WAIT begins - will keep you posted on the updates as and when I get them from my dealer.

PS: In the meanwhile, I bought myself an ever-so-humble used 2015 Alto K10 LXi to run my city errands. And for the long highway drives, I take Crysta's absence as an excuse to get my Red Rocket, a Stage 1 309 HP Skoda Octavia vRS 230 out on the highways more often!

Posting Pictures of the Cars in question for your viewing!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Innova Hycross' NVH levels are impressive. The car does a good job of keeping most noises out of the cabin most of the time.

Driving the Innova Hycross 2.0L Hybrid

The Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid is powered by a 5th Generation Self-Charging Strong Hybrid Electric System with TNGA 2.0-Litre 4-cylinder VVTi petrol engine. The car has a 1.7 kWh Ni-MH battery that powers the electric motor. Its combined power is 184 BHP and motor torque is 206 Nm. The engine is paired to an e-Drive transmission with sequential shift.

With your foot on the brake, press the engine start button. It doesn't result in the usual sound of a starter cranking the engine to life; it's eerily silent & for those who haven't experienced electric or hybrid cars before, this does take a little getting used to. Slot the gear lever into D and you're all set to roll.

One of the first things you notice is the absence of a rev counter. It sure feels weird to drive a car without the rpm needle moving up & down. The instant torque from the electric motor ensures that the Innova Hycross immediately darts forward. Low-end torque is good. In heavy traffic, you can drive the car without any throttle input. The petrol engine turns on only when extra shove is required, or if the batteries are below a certain charge level. The engine also switches on when the car crosses ~40 km/h. While the insulation is superb & regular folk won't know, enthusiasts will notice when the petrol engine suddenly kicks in. Whether it is driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic or closing gaps, the Hycross does it effortlessly. The e-Drive transmission provides a seamless experience in the city. As there aren't any actual gear shifts taking place, the drive feels amazingly smooth. Throttle response is good and the rubber-band effect is well-controlled with a light foot on the accelerator. These traits make the Innova Hycross very easy to drive in the city.

On the open road too, the Innova Hycross provides satisfactory performance. There is enough power and torque on offer to keep up with the traffic with ease. The powertrain responds well to throttle inputs and power is always available. Outright performance is strong. Toyota claims that the Hycross will do a 0-100 km/h sprint in under 10 seconds, which we are tempted to believe. Slow-moving vehicles are overtaken without any drama. In terms of cruisability, the Hycross proves to be a good mile muncher. It can maintain triple-digit speeds effortlessly. At the same time, the cabin is quiet, cutting out most of the outside noises.  

The Hycross gets drive modes that basically alter the throttle response as well as the behaviour of the internal combustion engine. There is a dedicated EV mode button that will let you drive the car as an EV for the max distance possible. However, if you are heavy on the throttle or the car crosses ~40 km/h or the battery's state of charge is too low, the system will go back from EV mode to hybrid mode.

Apart from the EV mode, there are 3 drive modes: Normal, Eco and Power. These 3 modes alter the throttle response.

The normal mode is the default mode which is in between the middle of Eco and Power modes. It works well in town and on the highway and offers a good balance between efficiency and performance. In fact, you really don't need to change it unless you're driving uphill or want to overtake a vehicle quickly on an undivided highway.

In Eco mode, the internal combustion engine doesn't come on as easily unless you press the throttle a lot more. The response is lazier and it tries to keep it in hybrid mode with the internal combustion engine only charging the battery and not sending power to the wheels unless the accelerator is pressed very firmly.

In Power mode, it's the opposite. Even with a light dab of the throttle, the internal combustion motor comes alive and assists the power delivery. On undivided highways, this is the mode to use to pull off safe overtakes. Throttle response is much sharper and you rarely see the internal combustion engine turning off. Of course, this mode impacts fuel efficiency the most. Don't use this mode in the city as power delivery can get a little spiky.

The gearbox also has a manual mode. You can use the gear shifter or the paddles behind the steering wheel to change gears. You'll like the engine braking on offer. The gearbox has an "S" mode too in which the transmission holds the gears for a little longer than in the regular D mode.

Thick insulation has been provided under the bonnet:

Engine bay has a lot of free space:

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

The Innova Hycross' NVH levels are impressive. The car does a good job of keeping most noises out of the cabin most of the time. It's only when you press the accelerator harder that you can hear the 2.0L petrol engine. However, it is never loud and intrusive and the occupants of the car do not have to raise their voices while talking to each other. In fact, the insulation is so good that on the go, even the horn of the car is heard very faintly inside the cabin! We did not feel any vibrations even when the petrol motor came on.

Wind noise, road noise and suspension noise are well-contained.

Mileage & Fuel economy

In our short drive, which included some fast driving and lots of idling, we saw 14.3 km/l on the MID. With better driving, we are pretty sure that the hybrid will deliver much better FE figures.  Toyota claims that the car can deliver 21.1 km/l.

Suspension

Ride Comfort

The Toyota Innova Hycross gets a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a semi-independent torsion beam suspension setup at the rear. The suspension is well-tuned to provide a compliant ride. However, the car rides on 18" rims with 225/50 section tyres. While the width of the rubber is fine, the sidewalls are just too short. This results in more bumps and potholes being transmitted to the occupants than we would like. While the ride is still fine, we are pretty sure that it would be better with taller rubber. Even with speeds increasing, the ride remains compliant. We didn't get to check the ride out on very bad roads though.

Handling & Dynamics

High-speed stability is very good. Even at 120 km/h, there is no floatiness or nervousness displayed by the Hycross. While we did not get a winding road to try out the car's handling, we did try some quick lane changes on an empty stretch of road. As expected, the Hycross has more body roll compared to a sedan or crossover. But, it is noticeably lesser than the old body-on-frame Innova Crysta. Again, the tyres provide good grip and the car sticks to its line through curves. Overall, the Hycross certainly feels more car-like to drive compared to its predecessor. 

Steering

The Innova Crysta had a very heavy hydraulic steering. This made the car cumbersome to drive at low speeds. The Hycross gets an electric steering that is well-calibrated. It is light at slow speeds and gets heavier as the speed goes up. This along with the healthy rake and reach adjustment, makes the Hycross way better to steer than the old Innovas. That said, it could do with more feedback. 

Braking

Being a hybrid, braking is different compared to conventional cars. With disc brakes all around, the stopping power is good. But the braking needs time to get used to. It's not easy to get a linear braking response. Sometimes you hit a bump faster than you intended to since the braking isn't linear. This needs getting used to. It will catch you off guard initially, but after a while, you get accustomed to it and change your braking style accordingly.

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