2016 Toyota Innova Crysta 2.7 petrol review, test drive

The Innova Crysta has been a runaway success since its launch in May 2016. With two strong diesels and an automatic transmission, Toyota got all the important bases covered with this MPV. So why bother bringing in a petrol variant which, as history has shown us, had very few takers? It was the only way to sell the Innova in Delhi-NCR which, because of the ban on diesel engines over 2,000cc, could not be launched in this key market. The diesel ban has been lifted for now, but with anti-diesel sentiments being at an all-time high in the country, car companies are introducing petrol variants of their major models more as insurance.

Toyota has made its petrol proposition as tempting as possible by offering the Innova with a 166hp 2.7-litre unit with the option of a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

What’s it like to drive?

The Crysta's 2.7-litre VVT-i motor is the same one that does duty in Toyota's range of pick-up trucks, and this means the MPV can haul loads. As expected from any petrol motor, this four-cylinder unit feels smooth at idle and is quite responsive too. It pulls quite nicely from as low as 1,400rpm and all the way to its rev limiter at 5,900rpm.

Though the petrol Innova weighs 80kg less than the 2.8 diesel auto, it’s not quite as quick as its torquier cousin. Still, with a 0-100kph time of 12sec – just 0.54sec shy of the diesel automatic's time – it is pretty quick for a 4.7-metre-long MPV weighing 1,790kg. Owners are sure to appreciate the refined performance of the petrol Innova.

Toyota’s six-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and is fairly quick for a torque converter too. However, there’s a distinct pause when you demand a quick downshift at slow speeds, and that can be annoying. Also, if you are expecting a silent cabin experience, you will be a bit disappointed; this motor is not the quietest around. You can feel it at work even at low revs. Toyota could have insulated the cabin better to make it more quiet.