2016 Toyota Innova Crysta 2.7 petrol review, test drive

The main concern, however, is the fuel consumption. A large-capacity petrol motor coupled with an old-school automatic transmission is the perfect recipe for a gas guzzler. The on-board computer suggested the car returned 6.62kpl in the city in mild traffic. The fuel gauge also dropped at an alarming rate and that means frequent visits to the gas station and to the ATM. 

No change has been made to the suspension, and so the petrol Innova rides just like the diesel models. On fast motorways, it feels stable at even three-digit speeds, and in the city, the suspension makes mincemeat of potholes and speed bumps without much fuss. The ride, however, does get jittery over rutted surfaces and there's some side-to-side rocking movement on uneven roads, but it’s not to the extent of being uncomfortable.

Just like the ride, handling too hasn’t changed. You still feel like you’re hauling a 2BHK apartment in to corners; it's heavy and there’s plenty of body roll. Also, the steering feels quite heavy at parking speeds and a little bit more power assistance could have made squeezing this behemoth into tight spots much easier.

What’s it like inside?

Be it the dashboard design, the quality of materials used or the levels of fit-finish, all are really good for an MPV. The big and comfy seats, the 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the roof-mounted dual-zone climate-control system for the back-benchers continue to be the main selling points of the new Innova. For the petrol model, the sole change inside is the tachometer which now has a 5,500rpm redline, instead of the diesel's 4,500rpm.