Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-22 — Toyota Innova Crysta BS6 – Click above for high resolution image gallery

Toyota Innova Crysta BS6 Review

Car Tested: Toyota Innova Crysta BS6 2.4 ZX AT 7 STR; Road Test No. 1238; Test Location: Mumbai

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs 18.81 – 30.03 lakhs

Bulletproof reliability, excellent resale value and an extremely practical cabin has made the Innova the gold-standard MPV

The brand value of the Toyota Innova in India is so high that people just go to Toyota showrooms and buy this MPV without a second glance. Ever since it was first launched in 2005, the Innova has built a strong name for itself by proving its reliability and practicality along with ease of ownership and this was the case with the Qualis too which was very popular in India. The Innova Crysta made its debut in India in 2016 with three engine options – 2.7-litre petrol, 2.4-litre diesel and 2.8-litre diesel but the 2.8 engine is no longer available with the MPV. Instead, Toyota has plonked in the 6-speed AT in the smaller diesel engine and made it BS6 compliant.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-21 — The BS6 update brings no cosmetic changes to the handsome and elegant Innova Crysta

Exteriors – Absolutely no changes have been made to the exterior of the Toyota Innova Crysta BS6. It looks the same as the BS4 version and the automaker is still offering the Touring Sport variants too. The Innova Crysta looks stylish and modern, has decent road presence, and there’s not much that can go wrong with its styling. The higher variants get 17-inch wheels while the lower trims get 16-inch rubber.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-4 — Apart from the DPF switch, the extremely spacious cabin receives no changes

Interiors – Again, zero changes on the inside apart from the additional DPF switch (more on this later) and a sticker explaining how the DPF works. The cabin has an ergonomic layout and the equipment list is decent. You get a touchscreen infotainment system delivering good sound quality but the screen itself is very laggy and not too user-friendly. It also lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, something that’s offered as standard on cheaper cars. The MPV gets 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control that can be turned off, reverse parking camera, keyless go with push-button start, automatic climate control and electric ORVMs. However, it does miss out on a few niceties like a sunroof and ventilated seats. The Innova is available with 7-seater and 8-seater configurations but the top variants get only the former. There are two interior colour themes on offer though. Apart from that, it is the usual fare. The comfy seats and spacious cabin are a hit with customers.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-27 — The Innova is no longer offered with the 2.8-litre diesel engine

Performance – The 2.4-litre diesel engine was available earlier too but we couldn’t really test it properly. It makes 150 PS at 3400 RPM and 360 Nm at 1400-2600 RPM. Do note that this torque output is only for the AT because the MT delivers 343 Nm. The older 2.8 diesel engine used to churn out 172 PS and 360 Nm so while the smaller engine is down on power, it does match the peak torque. I expected this to feel significantly underpowered but thankfully that wasn’t the case and the performance felt quite good. Once you get past the initial lag, the engine puts down the power and torque smoothly and the Crysta makes for a great mile-muncher. With the BS6 update, the acceleration has become slower marginally. No doubt, the 2.8 engine offered more punch but this one isn’t disappointing at all.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-29 — The DPF needs to be cleaned every few thousand kms which can be done via the DPF switch

The 2.4-litre motor though not as punchy as the 2.8, offers linear power delivery and good mid-range performance in the power mode

You get ECO and PWR modes and most people will find themselves using the former majorly. Eco mode doesn’t feel too laggy and has decent driveability on tap, while offering slightly better fuel economy while the Power mode does make the engine feel a lot livelier and more responsive. In fact, the mid-range feels a bit enthusiastic too with this mode and overtaking other vehicles becomes easy. The 6-speed torque converter does its job very well, even though it isn’t the quickest gearbox around. You don’t get paddle-shifters but you do get an S mode and a manual mode.

Innova Crysta BS6 VBOX — The 2.4 engine has gotten a tad slower with the BS6 update

The 2.4 is also a bit more fuel-efficient than the 2.8 which usually delivered 9-10 km/l in city driving while this one takes the number up to 12-13 km/l. The DPF needs to be cleaned once every few thousand kms and this depends on your driving style. The filter gets clogged if the car is regularly driven at low RPMs and there’s a warning which flashes on the MID which asks you to press the DPF switch when the car is at a standstill. It revs the engine properly and cleans out all the soot from the filter. The Innova’s refinement is satisfactory but not the best. Engine clatter can be heard in the cabin and there are a good number of vibrations that are felt inside.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-31 — For a body on frame SUV, the ride quality is good and so is the high speed stability

Driving Dynamics – The ride of the Innova Crysta is quite comfortable but you can’t really call it plush because some of the typical body-on-frame traits are felt and the ride feels a bit bumpy over undulations. High-speed behaviour and stability are very nice and this MPV feels quite solid at high speeds. A significant amount of body roll means you need to go easy around the corners. The ride also feels sorted on the highways but the lower variants with 16-inch tyres supposedly offer a better experience. The steering is very heavy at low speeds and you need to put in some effort while manoeuvring the vehicle in tight parking spots or even when you generally drive in crowded streets at low speeds. It starts feeling better once the speeds increase a bit and the steering also offers decent feedback. While the braking performance is decent, at this price point you do expect rear disc brakes, something which is missing on the Crysta.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-26 — Apart from the lack of certain features, the Innova has everything going for it

Verdict – The Toyota Innova Crysta offers a great blend of space, practicality, comfort and performance. It does lack some nice-to-have features and the quality inside the cabin is anything but special but you do get unbeatable reliability, Toyota’s nice service and excellent resale value. The higher variants feel expensive with the on-road prices touching Rs. 30 lakhs while the lower trims with realistic pricing offer a basic interior with lots of features missing. But, the Innova Crysta doesn’t really have any proper competition which is why it is ruling the MPV segment since more than a decade and will probably continue to do so in the coming years.

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-1 — The large boot coupled with captain seats in the middle make the Innova extremely practical

What’s Cool

Smart and handsome design
Spacious and practical cabin
Punchy and smooth diesel engine
Good ride quality and high speed stability

What’s Not So Cool

Misses out on certain features
Infotainment system is laggy
Steering is extremely heavy at low speeds
Doesn’t get rear disc brakes

Alternatives – Kia Carnival

Toyota-Innova-Crysta-BS6-12 — The driver gets an 8-way electrically adjustable seat

Toyota Innova Crysta BS6 Specifications

Engine: 2393cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel
Power: 150 PS @ 3400 RPM
Torque: 343 Nm (MT), 360 Nm (AT)
Transmission: 5-Speed MT | 6-Speed AT
Fuel Consumption: 12-13 km/l
Fuel Type: Diesel
Tyre Size: 215/55/17 (Front & Rear)
Suspension: Double Wishbone (Front), Coil Spring (Rear)
Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
Safety: 7 Airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, Traction Control