The GX Limited Edition is available in both 7-seater and 8-seater configurations.

Toyota has silently introduced a new limited edition of the Innova Hycross. It is based on the GX Petrol variant and is priced at Rs 20.07 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Innova Hycross GX Limited Edition gets subtle new touches on the exterior. These include new front and rear bumpers with silver skid plates and a chrome garnish on the grille.

The GX Limited Edition is available in both 7-seater and 8-seater configurations. It gets a soft-touch dashboard in a chestnut brown finish, faux wood trim and dual-tone fabric seats.

The Innova Hycross GX Limited Edition is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine that makes 172 BHP and 197 Nm. The engine is mated with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Source: Autocar India

I am afraid of an escalation of the issue and the need for major replacements!

BHPian ashwinikalantri recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Today morning, my Hycross gave me an error and the check engine light is on now!

I drove the car a few km in the morning, without problems. But when I tried to start the car again, I got a message along the lines of "EPC couldn't start correctly" (I am not sure as this was displayed only once, and this is from my memory).

The car did start and can be driven. But it started displaying these errors:

The Toyota app has these errors:

Anyone else had to deal with this? Any insight?

I am afraid of an escalation of the issue and the need for major replacements! I hope a hard reset solves the issue! The service centre in my town doesn't have the diagnostic tools (ODB computer) and is just an outpost. Hope they can correct the issue.

I visited the service centre and lo and behold, the error decided to vanish. It was there up until the time I parked at the service centre, but when they started the car, it was cleared. I was assured that I could drive the car as usual and shouldn't be worried.

The alerts on the App were also cleared and a new Health report was generated that says everything is fine!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My son who occupied the 3rd row for the entire trip, labelled it as business class.

BHPian payyans recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally did my 1st ever-long drive (Bangalore-Goa) long drive.

I am not a car expert, so these are novice observations.

1. The entire ghat section (Anmod-Mollem) was easily driven in Eco mode. Absolutely no lack of power. (4 adults + 1 teenager + 1 kid + 5 cabin size bags)
2. My son occupied the 3rd row for the entire trip. He didn't have any discomfort and he labelled it as business class.
3. I have a VX(O) model, the sound stage was not that great, especially for the 2nd and 3rd rows. Adjusted the balancing to the back side, and voila there was a dramatic change in the sound stage. Initially, we were considering changing the speakers, now with this change we decided to not do that soon.
4. Accidental discovery, it is possible to turn off the headlights. Just turn the knob to the middle position that's all. When you turn off the car, it will remind you to turn it back to its original state.
5. Adjusted headlight levelling to 4, I had enough road visibility. One drawback all people sat in the front row said is, that the front glass reflects too much light on your face. That makes driving a bit difficult at night.
6. I left/forgot my car key inside the car, then tried to lock the car from outside. It didn't allow me to lock the car! Super cool feature.
7. On highways, we can easily overtake any vehicles in the Normal mode.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Both the Innova Hycross and Škoda Kodiaq are fantastic products in their own way, both punch well above their weights.

BHPian CEF_Beasts recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Have been planning to change my Fortuner for some time now, it’s a MY2014 4X2 MT Diesel run 1.09 Lakh kilometres till now.

It’s in the best of its health overall and has not stranded us anywhere to date.

The reasons we’re considering selling the Fortuner are:

• Ingress and egress have become a pain point for my parents in the Fortuner, who will be the primary users of the car.
• Bumpy ride in the Fortuner is something they didn’t mind for the last 9 years but as they are getting older (my parents are in their late 50s) they’re finding it a bit difficult even though they don’t say the same
• It’s a diesel, and the way the government is making new rules and norms gives us jitters about whether we will be able to sell the car when we do and will return peanuts at that time, this is a question that no one can answer today…

The SHORTLIST: Short and Sweet:

Innova HyCross VX(O) 8 seater

Things we Liked about this new entrant:

• Hybrid powertrain is the main talking point. My mother wants a hybrid only now. The silence at startup and as well as while on the move gives it vast superiority over our Diesel Fortuner.
• Loads of space in all 3 rows, for example, I sat back to back in the Hycross and 2nd gen Fortuner facelift at the dealership and I was in for a shock when I saw a difference in legroom between the two, where the driver’s seat was set to my height in both, the flat footboard in the 2nd row helps as well. 100mm more of wheelbase and a monocoque chassis give the HyCross a massive advantage in terms of space over the Fortuner.
• Features galore on an Innova are something I really didn’t expect from Toyota but they did nonetheless.
• Hybrid powertrain ensures that the fuel economy is brilliant in the city and on highways up to a particular speed.
• Ride quality is just supreme, blows the Fortuner out of the park… We had taken a test drive on the top-end ZX(O) which has 18 inches, and with the VX(O)’s 17 inches the ride quality will be even better.
• With the HyCross we will continue staying in the known and reliable Toyota ecosystem, like we have been for the last 17 years.
• 8 years and 1,60,000kms hybrid battery warranty from the factory inspires confidence
• Light Electric assisted Power steering unlike the Fortuner’s Hydraulic unit means it’s extremely easy to navigate the car on tight Mumbai roads and at the same time weighs up well as speeds pick up.

Things we Loathed about this new entrant:

• Absolutely pathetic interior plastic quality, even our 2005 OG Innova was better than this!!
• The eCVT makes the engine vocal at even a slight tap of the accelerator pedal which makes anyone just back off from the pedal.
• No 8-seater option on the top-end ZX trim.
• Long waiting period stretching between 12-18 months
• VX(O) misses out on leather seats and an electrically operated driver’s seat which our Fortuner has.
• Will not be as abuse-friendly as our Fortuner not that other Toyota monocoques aren’t surviving on our roads, but still it’s a point that crosses one’s mind often.
• The 360-degree camera quality is appalling, to say the least.
• As reported by many users the headlights need a major upgrade, and they can’t be altered since the main beam is sealed and if you change the fog lamps from the aftermarket your warranty goes for a toss.
• Just to mention we have already booked the HyCross VX(O) 8 seater in Blackish Ageha Glass Flakes colour on 04/09/23. Now if I want I can get the HyCross a bit early by using some contacts in TKM or the dealership itself, but I’m in no hurry. Don’t want to buy something which I’ll regret at a later date.

Škoda Kodiaq Sportline / L&K

Things my parents Liked:

• Feels just like a proper premium car from the big 3 if you hide the Škoda badge!
• Has even more features than our BMW
• The ingress and egress were even easier than the Innova HyCross.
• The ride quality was much better than the Fortuner, the DCC on the L&K test-drive car was a boon.

Things my parents loathed:

• It’s a 5+2: Lack of space in the 3rd row, when my dad tried to enter the 3rd row, the SA himself didn’t allow him to enter I quote “It’s only for pets and not even for small kids, you’ll get a cramp if you go in! ”
• TSI engines have a habit of gulping down their oil at some insane levels.
• The SA was clear that it’s a 5-seater
• We have absolutely no idea how Škoda‘s after-sales and support, have read so many Škoda horror stories that it just don’t inspire confidence.
• The DQ381 may be a wet clutch DCT, but it’s still a VW DSG at the end of the day. Right on the forum there is a Tiguan Allspace owned by a member who has had his DQ381 unit changed twice.
• The Kodiaq being a CKD and not manufactured here, part availability can become a major problem 5-6 years later down the line, considering we will be keeping the car for a minimum of 10 years. The next generation Kodiaq is also due soon in 2024, but it’ll be crossing the 50L OTR barrier for sure, which will exceed our already stretched budget.

This is a very difficult case of HEART vs MIND

The HEART wants the Kodiaq: I have always loved the Kodiaq because it simply punches above its weight and not just one segment (X1, Q3 and GLA) but a whole two segments (X3, Q5 and GLC). But Škoda’s lack of interest in giving the Kodiaq the E20 compatible 2.0L TSI was a major deterrent. My X3 30i is E25 compatible for reference. When I read about a member getting the E20 sticker on his car, I jumped out of my chair and brought the Kodiaq back into the shortlist with a bang.

We want a 7-seater simple, the Kodiaq just about qualifies for the criteria, we don’t use the 3rd row as often now but still the fact that our Fortuner has a pretty usable one makes it a bad pre-shortlist shortcoming for the Kodiaq.

The after-sales quality, reliability of the DQ381 and parts availability a few years down the line give me anxiety and is something I don’t want my parents to go through just because I want the Kodiaq.

The MIND has a very simple and solid case for itself like always with the Innova HyCross.

Stick with a Toyota that we have been associated with for the last 17 years, with no issues on the after-sales and part availability front. Can be serviced at a meagre cost throughout its lifetime with us. Has oodles and oodles of space across the cabin. Hybrid will ensure low running costs and a bit of saving the environment from our side.

Both the Innova HyCross and Škoda Kodiaq are fantastic products in their own way, both punch well above their weights

Should we compromise on the quality of plastics, a slightly underpowered engine, a long waiting period, slightly fewer features in the VX(O) and poor overall headlights and go for the Innova HyCross VX(O) 8-seater

OR

Should we compromise on the overall after-sales and parts availability at a later date, space in the 3rd row, and reliability of the DQ381 and go with the Škoda Kodiaq L&K / Sportline?

So which one should we go with? HEART vs HEAD. This is the 3.4 million rupee question that I can’t seem to wrap my head around!

Looking forward to reading all the opinions shared by the esteemed members of the forum.

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

I know you are tempted by the Kodiaq, but you already have a fun crossover in the X3.

Pick the Innova Hycross. You'll save a couple of lakhs, it's more practical, spacious, reliable, and efficient. Most importantly, your parents will love it more than the Kodiaq. After all, they are the primary users of this car.

I believe any garage should have diversity. Instead of two German crossovers parked side by side, I'd any day prefer a German SUV (your X3 for the fun & engineering) alongside a practical MPV. The latter can also be put through the rough use you wouldn't subject an X3 to.

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

The options in the 40-50L segment are very limited. I recently got the ZX(O) Hycross. I drove around 4,500 km in the past 4 months. I also own a 2018 Fortuner 4x2 MT. Your observations are spot on with regard to the Hycross.

Major cons of the Hycross:

1. The lights are absolutely trash. Sometimes I wonder if they’re even switched on. The fog lights on the Hycross are trash as well. The Fortuner has a visible difference when the fog lights are switched on, whereas the fog on the Hycross lit up the road right in front of the bonnet that you can’t even see and I’m 6’2.
2. The engine gets ridiculously noisy when you hit the accelerator, especially on the highways. Innova is supposed to be a highway champ, but due to the engine noise, CVT and lights, it’s now a city champ.

But why did I get the Hycross?

1. I test-drove the Kodiaq first. Absolutely loved it. The seats, the DCC, the engine, the audio and the second row. All top class. Four drawbacks were reliability issues, low-end turbo lag, fuel efficiency and resale value. Service with Skoda in Vizag is bad as well. Test drove first from my current house to my office (2.5km) and the car returned at 6.5 km/l. Next, I drove from my new house to my office (14km one way) and the car returned at 8.5 km/l. In Vizag, we don’t have the same traffic present in Mumbai or Hyderabad. On the other hand, my Hycross returns 10-12 km/l from my old house and 15-18 km/l from my new house. I know there are a set of BHP’ians to whom efficiency isn’t a priority, but for me it is.
2. I never had the opportunity to test drive the Hycross because it wasn’t available. We also have a 2008 280,000 km run Innova and our Fortuner is at around 85,000 km. Not once in 15 years have we had a breakdown. Service bills are always very reasonable. So, based on our prior experience with Toyota, we blindly got the Hycross. A car wouldn’t have a 2-year wait period if the car wasn’t good, would it?

Major pros of the Hycross:

1. Suspension is soft and balanced. The body roll is decent. This was exactly what I was looking for after 5 years with the Fortuner.
2. Fuel efficiency is good when driven sedately. If you drive it like a normal ICE, then it’s as efficient as an ICE. I’ve even got 5 km/l and also got 16-20 km/l. On the same route, I can get 10 km/l and also get 16-18 km/l. The hybrid tests your patience to the limit.
3. It’s a proper 6-seater. The first two rows are top-class for the price. Good wide seats. Parents and friends love the comfort.
4. Fortuner’s steering literally gives me shoulder pain at times. The Hycross is the polar opposite. You can turn the steering with one finger.

So, the light steering with ventilated and comfortable seats wireless CarPlay with good enough audio and the smooth CVT with the petrol hybrid make it a fabulous car in the city. This is what I wanted in my daily car. Ticks all the boxes. Hycross is a good daily city car. On the highways, it’s the opposite. The engine noise, the CVT and the lights make me regret buying the Hycross. Not that you can drive the Hycross on the highway with those horrible lights. Fortunately, I have the Fortuner MT for highways. The Hycross is a no-nonsense comfortable and efficient car that can last 10-15 years, whereas the Kodiaq is a fancier comfortable inefficient sophisticated car. Both have their pros and cons. Depends on your running and priorities.

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

I would suggest going with the Hycross as you already have X3 a pretty good German All-Rounder, we also would have considered Kodiaq if it had a diesel engine, 2.0 TSI will be a fuel guzzler for Sure, you already have a petrol X3.

Hycross has better Space and ride quality compared to Kodiaq, will keep your Family Happy for a long time and I feel would be a good upgrade over Fortuner.

Here's what BHPian car_guy1998 had to say on the matter:

Since you already own an X3, I'd suggest you get the Hycross since it's Hybrid and also will be reliable and cheaper to run and maintain being a Toyota.

And, your parents will be satisfied with the comfort and space the Hycross offers.

As a recent owner of Hycross bought in July-end, I find the third row to be comfy and way better than the OG Innova that we owned before, Crysta and Fortuner (3rd row is unbearable).

Also, it's very easy to drive in city limits, thanks to light steering.

I drove our Hycross for nearly 3000 km before I moved out of the country in mid-Aug and another 3000+ km were added by dad and chauffeur.

And, our folks are getting around 14-17 km/l in the city depending on the traffic and I got 18 Kmpl on the highway once.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As per the MID, fuel efficiency is around 15 km/l.

BHPian abhinavsureka recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally, got the delivery of my Hycross ZX (O) on Wednesday evening and took it on a 600 km drive with my parents yesterday.

Dealership experience: WORST EVER. The attitude of the people at Indore has been obnoxious and I am going to escalate my complaint in the coming days. Even at the time of delivery nobody knew the features of the car or bothered to explain them.

Because the car is in such high demand their behavior is such that the customers are to stand in front of them with a begging bowl.

Insurance: The first quote received from the dealer was 1,40,000 which came down to approx 90k eventually. I got it done from the bank directly for 73k (includes everything, hybrid battery also)

Accessories: Only got the boot mat. The rubber mats for the rest of the car felt overpriced for the quality on offer. A bike protector is something I might get soon.

Comfort: Absolutely amazing. There were 3 of us on the drive and for the first time ever we were queueing up for the backseat.

Drive: Smooth. Gets noisy under acceleration. Did not get tired.

ADAS: Found the lane keep assist a bit too intrusive. adaptive cruise control was good but will not use it regularly.

Fuel economy: MID shows 15 km/l, will know after I tank up. Speed was mostly in the 90-110 range.

Headlights: Driving back at night was complete torture because of the headlights. The brightness is poor and the throw is concentrated on one small spot. I think my old Ford Figo had better headlights.

Has anybody here upgraded the headlights? if yes then please recommend what to do. Also, please suggest a good online store for accessories like good quality rubber floor mats.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Fuel efficiency is sensitive to inclines and air-conditioning settings.

BHPian RoadTiger recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally got my Hycross ZX delivered a few weeks back and have covered about 600 km so far. Some observations:

The drive:

• Extremely smooth and refined machine this
• Ride quality esp on good roads is exceptional despite the 50 profile tyres. Needs to be treated like a usual monocoque on bad roads
• Engine noise is negligible when driven with a light foot
• When in EV mode the car is even quieter (no surprise)
• AT is very smooth and goes about its business without any fuss
• While I am yet to cross the 100 mark in the running-in period, the engine feels powerful enough to do 130-140 on the highways without breaking into a sweat
• Lots of small safety features/ touches provided by Toyota
• Very easy to drive with a light steering. Doesn't feel vague or slight at any speeds - not an enthusiast's steering but very competent

Fuel efficiency:

• Have generally driven with a light foot in the city and mostly used cruise control on the highways - have gotten nearly 19+ km/l so far
• The cruise control allows for periods of coasting which helps with FE
• Cruise control on highways in eco mode and city mode (not eco) in the city traffic seems to be the key to good FE
• Have seen that the FE is sensitive to inclines and air-conditioning settings

Sunroof, Ottoman, AC etc:

• While I am not a fan of the sunroof, the kids have totally loved it. We've had some nice weather of late with cloudy weather and rain and the sunroof enhances the drive experience for the second and third row in particular
• Ottoman seats are a huge hit with kids who can stretch their legs while reading a book (or get some gadget time) or sleep in comfort. They are good for smaller size adults too. While I was initially sceptical of the need, the Ottomans have elevated the second-row experience to business-class
• The dual zone AC is a chiller and the ventilated seats are decent (not chilling but effective enough)
• The seat material is decent and the chestnut colour doesn't get soiled easily which is a boon for families with kids

Things, not the best:

• This thing is best driven sedately - which is generally my driving style. Enthusiastic drivers will see slow and noisy progress on the speedometer when driving with a heavy foot A big turning radius means parking in tight spaces isn't the easiest
• Plastic quality is strictly average but looks well built. Some fit and finish concerns from some earlier production batches seem fully addressed
• The horn is sedan grade which means no one is going to feel a big van coming their way when they hear it
• The headlights are average - haven't done a long night drive on unlit highways yet though
• The only noise at higher speeds is wind noise - which is somewhat prominent given the otherwise quiet environs

Overall this is one great family vehicle - refinement, comfort, space, driving ease, future-proof engine tech, features, sunroof, fuel efficiency, reliability, resale value, service experience - all bases covered. And at a reasonably acceptable price. Looking forward to munching miles with it

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Impressive fuel efficiency. On a full tank, I covered 710 km before it showed a low fuel warning.

BHPian manofinfinity recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Back with a short update after 6 months, recently did a 1200 km road trip in Hycross there were 5 people including luggage here are some observations from the trip and overall observations till now after 6 months and 5000 km:

1. Suspension is amazing and the car has that glide-like feeling, also the suspension is solid and has that robust feel to it. It handles abuse very well.
2. There is a quality and feeling of solidity in the car overall which is there but very difficult to explain and can only be felt with long-term use.
3. Ride quality and comfort is superb even after a 5 to 6-hour drive there was no fatigue at all, it is true when people say you arrive fresher in an Innova.
4. While climbing the ghats, which were around 40 km, mileage drops significantly coming to as low as 10-12 km/l.
5. While climbing down the ghats I let it just coast and was mostly in EV mode here one thing I noticed was that the engine was running most of the time when the battery was full and it was regenerating maybe it is to do with the cooling system of hybrid, I have driven in the ghats earlier also and there while climbing down car was mostly on EV mode I think this operation varies a lot depending on several factors.
6. Overall got a mileage of approximately 18kmpl, On full tank I reset the trip meter and covered 710 km before it showed a low fuel warning.
7. It feels best to cruise below 100 due to excessive wind noise.
8. Headlights are just pathetic as everyone is saying at night it does not inspire much confidence, I am just clueless about the headlight situation.
9. Also I noticed that you can play audio from any source while still connected to Android Auto, I was playing music from my phone via Bluetooth while using maps via Android Auto from another phone.

Here are some snaps from the trip:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Headlights for highway driving are simply inadequate.

BHPian samitjain recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am the owner of a Hycross VX and it’s a wonderful car.

But I want to share some of the shortcomings in the car. Some are very serious issues and some are there but can be ignored.

Serious issues:

1. Headlights for highway driving in simple terms are simply inadequate. I have seen many people trying different alternatives to overcome. Since it’s a family car and is usually driven on highways. Have driven on a 6 lane highway and felt inadequate, god forbid if I have to drive on a single lane without a divider. Headlights are sealed and they can’t be augmented for better lights. Fog lamps as per users are useless and provide no value.
2. Apple wired CarPlay in VX is now a known issue and Toyota has not been able to resolve it yet. The Wireless CarPlay adapter works ok.

Minor issues:

1. Left leg sometimes feels uncomfortable resting against the central console
2. Ambient light or that LED tube looks odd and doesn’t provide enough lux
3. The horn for such a car seems inadequate for its size.
4. At Empty fuel level, even if you add 5-7 litres of petrol it still remains at the empty level
5. No written car guide
6. Spare wheels not alloy and a different size like other manufacturers taken to cost-cutting
7. No way to switch off lights, it’s either an auto or ON option
8. Air damn gaps in the bumper are wide enough just like Virtus and the condenser might get damaged easily at highway speeds with even a small stone.
9. Tumble-row seats could have been provided for even better access to the last row
10. 360 camera resolution could have been better

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

These new horns do the job well and a quick tap is enough to let people know that it's a larger vehicle

BHPian Cresterk recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

DIY horn upgrade

Bought some shiny Hella Chrome Trumpets from Amazon for Rs 1600. It often goes on sale for less but my dad's b'day was coming up and I wanted to gift these to him.

Open the hood and take off the plastic cover right in front of the engine bay. Just carefully pop off the plastic rivets and it will come right off.

The twin stock horns by Roots are located right underneath.

Unscrew the holder and the whole thing comes off pretty easy.

The connections for both the horns are the same. So this was just plug and play instead of having to splice wires and install additional relays etc.

These Hella horns are 12V but I can't find a mention of the Amperes anywhere on the packaging. Their website claims it's 5A but I'm guessing it's more. The Hycross manual mentions the stock horn fuses to be of 12v 15A so that's enough leeway hopefully.

Both the stock horns were removed.

The new Hellas is in place.

We almost never blow the horn and only use it in case of emergencies to avoid accidents. However, the meek stock horns of the Hycross do not convey the size of the vehicle approaching and when you add the silent nature of the hybrid engine, people often assume it's a 2-wheeler. This leads to them cutting in front of intersections, joining main roads etc. without looking, even pedestrians walking along leaving only enough space for a scooter or small car to go by and me having to brake hard and lay on the stock horns until they look back and realise their error.

Glad to report that these new horns do the job well and a quick tap is enough to let people know that it's a larger vehicle and they are appropriately cautious. The horns also sound deeper and way more premium than the stock horns.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 100% ethanol-fueled prototype vehicle is based on the Innova Hycross.

Toyota has unveiled what is claimed to be the world's first BS6 Stage-II electrified flex-fuel vehicle.

The 100% ethanol-fueled prototype vehicle is based on the Innova Hycross. It was unveiled by the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari. According to the minister, the prototype will undergo further refinement, followed by homologation and certification.

Ethanol is an indigenous, clean & renewable fuel. "The government’s focus on ethanol is for achieving energy self-reliance, spurring the incomes for farmers and having a better impact on the environment," Gadkari said. "The plan is not only to diversify agriculture surpluses towards the energy sector but also generate wealth from waste using 2G technology for producing ethanol from bio-waste. A lot of emphasis is being laid on building and expanding the necessary infrastructure to produce ethanol in the whole country," he added.

Last year, Toyota had showcased the Corolla Altis Hybrid which can run on petrol and ethanol. The car uses a 1.8-litre engine that develops 101 BHP and 142.2 Nm. It is paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor and a 1.3 kWh battery pack. The electric motor has an output of 72 BHP and 162.8 Nm, and the hybrid powertrain is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).