Toyota Innova Crysta

Legend With a New Twist

Following in the footsteps of the Qualis, the Toyota Innova took the Indian market by storm when it was first launched in 2005. Since then, the Innova moniker has received several updates, and the latest one — the Innova Hycross — is the most changed. But despite the launch of the Innova Hycross, Toyota still has the Innova Crysta on sale, with some updates to the interior and exterior design, and the 2.4-litre diesel engine which is known for its bulletproof reliability. While many fleet buyers would still prefer a diesel Innova, does this offering still make sense for everyday users?

Toyota Innova Crysta Pros and Cons 

Toyota Innova Crysta Exterior Design 

The exterior of the Toyota Innova Crysta remains largely unchanged since its arrival, maintaining its familiar and widely recognized design. The front has been slightly revised and now gets a large, assertive rectangular grille with filleted edges. This bold front fascia gives the Innova Crysta a commanding presence on the road, despite its ageing appearance. The Crysta’s silhouette is a continuation of the classic Innova design, and it is as recognisable as any other popular car in India. The rear of the Crysta is highlighted by its iconic L-shaped tail lamps — a design element that has influenced the styling of other MPVs in the market. Overall, the Innova Crysta's exterior design, while unchanged, continues to exude a sense of robustness and reliability, attributes that have been key to its enduring popularity.  

Toyota Innova Crysta Interiors 

On the inside, the Innova Crysta gets plush and comfortable interiors, albeit wrapped in a dated design. There’s plenty of swooping lines on the dash incorporating the AC vents, and the central console gets two straight lines intersecting these, housing the touchscreen infotainment and buttons for HVAC and other electronics. The Innova Crysta offers a choice between a 7-seat configuration with luxurious captain seats in the middle row and an 8-seat layout with a more practical bench, catering to different needs and preferences. This flexibility in seating, coupled with the inherent comfort of the plush seats, makes the Crysta's interior both inviting and versatile for a range of passengers.  

Toyota Innova Crysta Comfort 

The Toyota Innova Crysta's seating comfort is a highlight, with plush seats that offer a comfortable ride experience. The 7-seater with its captain seats stands out, delivering business class-like seating for four passengers with space for three more at the back. A more traditional 8-seat layout is also on offer, which adds space for an extra passenger. Thanks to the wide cabin and ample legroom for all rows, 8 passengers aboard isn’t an annoying journey either, but the last row is best used by two passengers. 

While the seating is extraordinary, the suspension setup, particularly in higher-spec models with 17-inch wheels, tends to transmit sharp bumps and edges into the cabin. This can result in a somewhat jarring ride on rough roads. The steering also exhibits some kickback, particularly noticeable when driving through potholes. Despite these issues, the Innova Crysta generally provides a comfortable ride, especially in lower variants equipped with 16-inch tyres that feature a taller sidewall, absorbing some of the low-speed lumpiness typical of body-on-frame vehicles.  

Toyota Innova Crysta Performance and Handling

With the arrival of the Innova Hycross, Toyota has discontinued the 6-speed automatic transmission that was on offer with the Crysta. The larger 2.8-litre diesel was also discontinued earlier once BS6 norms kicked in, leaving the Crysta with only one powertrain option — a 2.4-litre diesel engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. While this 2.4-litre diesel is low on power compared to the 2.8, it still has a good amount of pull, even in low RPMs, allowing for effortless driving at any speeds. The sound of the diesel engine is evident though, and while vibrations are kept in check, the engine is quite audible in the cabin at higher RPMs. The 5-speed manual gearbox does its job well, but the option of an automatic is sorely missed. This alone will drive many buyers to the Innova Hycross instead, even if they have to compromise by getting a petrol engine instead of a diesel. Drivetrain options aside, what is on offer is very confidence inspiring. The engine feels robust and strong, giving you the reassuring feeling that nothing could ever break down. And it most probably will not, given Toyota’s legendary reliability.

Toyota Innova Crysta Key Specifications 

Toyota Innova Crysta Safety Features

The Toyota Innova Crysta is equipped with several safety features that enhance its overall safety profile. These include standard safety equipment like seven airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control, and hill assist. While these features are commendable, the Innova Crysta could benefit from advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to enhance safety further, especially given its positioning in the higher end of the market. It is important to note that the Innova Crysta scored a 5-star crash test rating from ASEAN NCAP, but hasn’t been tested by Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP yet. 

Toyota Innova Crysta Technology and Infotainment

The Innova Crysta now gets a much needed 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, which replaces the old feature-bare unit. The new one gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with some connected car features like geofencing, real time vehicle tracking, etc. However, while this new system enables connectivity, it is still a very dated unit with an average resolution and lacklustre interface. The instrument cluster is also an analog unit with only a small MID to show digital information. While the Innova Crysta costs a lot, the features on offer aren’t up to the billing, leaving room for improvement.

Is the Toyota Innova Crysta For You?

With the new Innova Hycross on sale, the only real pull the Crysta has over the Hycross is the existence of a diesel engine. Apart from tha, the Hycross is better on all fronts compared to the Crysta. The strong hybrid powertrain on the Hycross — while costlier — also delivers significantly higher fuel economy, cutting down running costs. That said, the diesel powertrain on the Crysta has proven its reliability in all types of conditions, making it the pick of the segment for fleet buyers who run their cars for lakhs of kilometres. For everyone else, spending that small premium for the Innova Hycross is a much better deal.