Toyota Innova Crysta India review, test drive

What’s it like inside?

Space and comfort were hallmarks of the old Innova and the new one simply takes things a step further. The front seats are wide and very well-shaped to offer good support and, crucially, great long-distance comfort. Impressively, the second row’s captain chairs are almost the same, but they aren’t electrically adjustable like the driver’s seat. Toyota knows that many of the MPV’s owners are chauffeur-driven, and has made sure to give utmost prominence to the second row; even the doors here are fancier, with wood trim, unlike the front doors. These chairs can slide back and forth and recline, there are small fold-out tables in the rear of the front seats, and with just one pull of a single lever the seats fold down and tumble forward, giving access the third row. Once you’re in the back, yes, you will find your knees folded up almost to chest height as with most third-row seats, but it’s more comfortable and spacious than the previous Innova, and that itself was better than most of the competition. There’s even a third, three-point seat belt that spools out of a slot in the roof, in case you can fit a third passenger back here.  What’s more, luggage space with all seats in place is also better than before (you could get one full-size suitcase in) and it’s easy to split, flip and fold away the third row when it’s not needed. It’s very practical too, with as many as 20 bottle holders spread around the cabin, not to mention several other cubbyholes to stash away small stuff. Our only grouse is that because the car has two separate gloveboxes (one is cooled), they both feel a little small; a single, larger glovebox would have been more useful. The Innova’s main use is long-distance travel for the whole family, and Toyota has made sure the cabin is well-suited to it.

What Toyota's also done, is upped the luxury quotient of the Innova. The cabin no longer looks utilitarian, and the dashboard feels like it’s been plucked out of a Corolla or a Camry. The design is truly unique, featuring one continuous band of silver trim that runs the length of the dash. The dials are big and clear, and in front of them sits a large, thick-rimmed, leather and wood-trimmed steering wheel, with loads of controls, including one stalk for cruise control. There’s a thick slab of dark, glossy wood in the middle of the dash that looks really rich, and the central console, with its two vertical pieces of silver trim, houses the electronic AC controls and a big 7.0-inch touchscreen. This new infotainment system feels modern and has a lot of features, including satellite navigation, various audio and video input options, a detailed fuel and trip computer and a rear-view camera for which it is the display. There are a number of unique touches around the cabin, like the strips of cool-white LED ambient lighting on the ceiling, and the felt-lined door pads to rest your elbows on. There are, of course, dedicated air vents for the second and third rows, but this time, they too have electronic control, like at the front.

This top-spec ‘Z’ variant of the Innova Crysta has a lot of equipment. Aside from the aforementioned stuff, you also get electric folding mirrors, one-touch-operated power windows on all four doors, keyless entry and go, rear parking sensors, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat and automatic headlamps. It’s a shame that for a car with seven seats, there’s just one USB port and only two 12v charging ports; a setback if many want to charge their phones simultaneously, when on the move.