For people who are still calling it less equipped than a Mahindra XUV700, I would like to ask them what more they want or miss.
BHPian CEF_Beasts recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Many BHPians have already written quite informative posts about their experience with the new Innova HyCross, just adding what I felt about the car as a package, from the perspective of having a 2014 Fortuner at home, actively looking for an upgrade.
The anticipation of checking the car was very high, being a Toyota and more importantly a completely revamped Innova. Having owned a 2005 Petrol Innova till 2014, I have always had a soft spot for Innovas (yes, you read that right, soft spot for an MPV).
Checked the car out at Lanson Toyota Vellore, TN. Test drives will start next week, will post the driving experience later. Had an excellent experience at Lanson, beyond my expectations. Everyone person I talked to was extremely courteous and takes the dealership level to the next level. The SA even after I said I was a student and wasn’t buying the car from his dealership went out of his way to answer all my questions and eagerly listen to what I had to say as well!
What I Liked
- A very spacious cabin, even with the Chestnut Brown upholstery the sense of space is all there, thanks to the lighter coloured headliner used.
- The flexibility offered in terms of seating is something very few cars can match!
- Boot space with all rows up is class-leading. The XUV700 and Safari have no boot space with all rows up.
- After opening and closing the feather-light doors of the HyRyder, I had anticipated something similar with the Innova as well. Thankfully the door has proper heft to it, I would say it’s what one expects from a Toyota.
- All disc brakes are a welcome move on an Innova, considering how it has climbed the price ladder.
- VX variant is the VFM of the lot, the seats felt slightly softer and better than those on offer in the ZX trim.
- Flat floor due to the monocoque chassis is a welcome move both for the 2nd row and 3rd row passengers. With this move, finally, an Innova gets flat folding 3rd row seats, something that is/was a massive complaint of owners with the older Innovas and Fortuners because of the effort required to latch them on the sides.
- Features galore in a Toyota, yes the competition does this to even the staunchest of manufacturers who believe in pure mechanicals than electronics. For people still calling the HyCross less equipped than a XUV7OO, I would like to ask what more you want or miss.
What I Loathed
- Plastic Quality in general has taken a massive dip, it’s not hard to pinpoint the manufacturer behind it. My 2014 Fortuner’s interior quality is better. The long-lasting feeling inside the cabin is something where I feel Toyota could’ve done a much better job! Something as simple as the roof-mounted AC vents quality was baffling, I’m sure they will just snap off, heck my 2005 Innova had better quality and sturdier roof-mounted AC vents!
- With the gear-lever being moved from its conventional position the lack of space to store your knick-knacks is felt massively! The Crysta is/was known for its practicality throughout the cabin!
- The folding table in the 2nd row of the 7-seater models with cup holders is of horrendous quality! Just to prove a point that we are providing a table, has it been provided? The Crysta had much better quality folding tables and two of them to be specific without compromising on anything. But the reason why the HyCross doesn’t get them is that I’m sure some people must have complained about banging their knees into the plastic tables while hard braking in the Crysta and not wearing seatbelts at the rear.
- The ZX tyres need to be upgraded, no two questions about it! I would like to meet the person at Toyota India who allowed 50 aspect ratios on an MPV/MUV. Did Toyota India learn nothing from Crysta’s initial 17-inch fiasco?!
- The tube-light style cheap-looking blue lights on the roof look absolutely out of place in the VX variant. Looks more like an Aftermarket Chinese accessory rather than something that is stock from the factory! Again Crysta did a much better job here.
- The seats in the ZX felt harder and less comfy than the VX.
- Not using LEDs for the cabin lights is something unfathomable in 2023 for a car this expensive!
- The 360-degree camera quality leaves a lot to be desired!
- Absence of the knee airbag completely and only 2 airbags for the GX and VX is crazy! (Note: Have got it confirmed that by June 2023 the other variants (GX and VX) will get 6 airbags, so anyone going for these variants till June, I would suggest waiting it out, better than regretting it later unless you really want the car urgently!)
- The ottoman definitely needs some rethinking, only the shorter folks will enjoy it!
- The buttons throughout the cabin need some more tactile feel for sure, especially the ones on the steering wheel!
Pictures of the Interior and Exterior
The VX Trim in Avantgarde Bronze shade:
The 17-inch wheels are dwarfed by the sheer amount of metal, maybe the plastic cladding that the ZX gets would not be a bad idea on the lower variants:
The class-leading boot space with all rows up. Although I would like to meet the specific person at Toyota India who thought it was a good idea to give all black headrests to the front and middle rows and brown for the last row with a black headrest for the 3rd passenger in the last row:
The permutation and combinations with such a massive cabin are endless the flat folding 3rd row definitely helps matters:
The sun blinds for the rear passengers was of good quality:
The AC vent quality is sub-par, like I mentioned older Toyotas had it much better:
Same goes for the window switches, they are clearly inspired by Maruti Suzuki! No backlit switches for a 35 Lakh car, Toyota never used to do this kind of cost-cutting ever! :
This is by far the best 3rd row I have sat in! Minimum knees up and excellent head and knee room even with the middle row seat set quite the way back. (For reference I am ~5’8) :
The yellow bulbs just lower the overall ambience of the cabin, again cost-cutting. The less I talk about that small blue tube light the better:
(ZX trim here) The 360-degree camera in action, its quality leaves a lot to be desired unfortunately and that’s the busiest Climate Control display I have seen on any car till date! :
The waterfall-style centre console containing all the required controls for everything:
The 2nd-row seating has legroom in plenty but that battery placement will surely take time to get used to, especially the way it acts like a footrest:
The ottoman function is more of a showpiece for clicking pictures than actually being usable! There are just too many limitations for using it in the intended way it is supposed, definitely needs more brainstorming:
The Bootspace again and JBL subwoofer on offer:
Whoever chose the aspect ratio of 50 for an MPV supposed to carry 6/7 passengers definitely needs some brains, but good to see rear-disc brakes finally on an Innova:
The 8-way electric driver seat which welcomes you by moving backwards and forwards while getting in and out. Wish the co-driver seat was also electrically adjustable:
The leather-wrapped steering was soft to hold but the buttons on the steering feel hollow and lack the tactile feel:
The roof-mounted controls for the lights and individual buttons for the various sunroof functions:
Scratchy plastics galore, the window switches have definitively been lifted from Maruti Suzuki, but good to see auto-folding mirrors while locking/unlocking the car, something which is/was still absent on the Fortuner and Crysta:
2 Memory settings for the driver seat, do look at that misaligned plastic trim near the window line:
The ZX(O) trim in Blackish Ageha Glass Flake. The HyCross looks like an SUV when viewed head-on:
Once you reach the side profile, it shows its MPV design:
The Base GX variant in Avantgarde Bronze and Silver Metallic:
The Blackish Ageha Glass Flake colour showing its true nature in the sunlight:
With Toyota no longer giving the blue background Logos for Hybrid models, the only way to identify one are the badges on the tailgate and front doors:
Conclusion
Overall I would say with the hybrid powertrain this HyCross will redefine what an Innova is/was!
Had gone through some apprehensions about the new HyCross regarding the plastic quality and build quality in general. Build quality was beyond my expectations, and plastic quality definitely could be improved. But it’s not a deal breaker at all!
And earlier with the Crysta, Toyota India had no reason for not offering an 8 seater with the ZX variant, well with the HyCross they have got a reason to deny the 8 seater. And it’s the placement of the panoramic sunroof and the seatbelt housing for the middle passenger on the roof in the 2nd row. Can have only one, sunroof or middle passenger seatbelt hence the ZX HyCross will not be getting the bench seat in the distant future as well.
Would I replace my Fortuner with it? The head says the HyCross but the heart is stuck on the Fortuner 4X4. Will be a tough decision to make for sure, something that can be only said after I drive the Hybrid powertrain next week.
And I would like to end my small experience with this, I told the SA that the Crysta has better seats in terms of having just the right amount of comfort and cushioning, his simple answer with a smile was “Sir, the Crysta is a Crysta !” This is definitely Toyota India’s Qualis 2.0 move with the HyCross and Crysta where the customers, SAs and dealerships all want the Crysta and only the Crysta!
Keyword: 19 points about Innova Hycross worth knowing shared by Fortuner owner