New Toyota Innova Crysta : In the Indian market, the brand Innova Crysta has become synonymous with luxury travel and comfort with power – for Indian business houses, top celebrities, and government officials.
Now with the New Toyota Innova Crysta coming in, Toyota intends to further strengthen its position in the MPV segment. So, while the Hycross may have jumped in with a new design language and a liberal serving of hybrid tech, the Crysta returns to serve up an encore for those that still want that classic diesel-chugging, ladder-frame workhorse.
We get up close with the new Innova Crysta and find out if it’s still as relevant in the modern automotive scene.
New Toyota Innova Crysta Design:
Iteration Over Revolution Subtleties are the name of the game for mainstream design.
Toyota has never wandered too far from its original design ethos. New Crysta still looks the same, but a few updates make it appear a tad bit more premium and rugged.
The front grille is bigger now and flanked by thicker chrome surrounds, and the front bumper is now of a squarer design with new fog lamp housing.
From the sides and rear, there isn’t much new, however the Crysta looks as beefy and imposing as it did.
It has a solid, quality feel to the construction and the proportions look right, with a grown-up unsung-hero feel which has proved popular with business and family buyers alike.
Inside: Useful, Roomy – and Comfortable
Climb aboard and you’ll be presented with the same old proven layout, albeit with some subtle changes to the upholstery and trim.
The dash is plain, but cleaner compared to its predecessor and is now equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, manual air-conditioning controls and multi-function steering wheel.
The Crysta is all about space and comfort. It still has plenty of legroom, supportive seating, and a 3-row set-up that can be had in both 7- and 8-seater versions.
Captain seats are available for the middle row which greatly improve long-distance comfort.
There’s still plenty of practicality, with storage spaces, bottle holders and a decent-sized boot when the third row is folded down.
Engine and Performance: Power of Diesel Generations
The major talking point is the re-introduction of the 2.4-litre diesel engine as the single powertrain option in the Crysta range.
It is good for 148 bhp and 343 Nm of peak torque and comes with a 5-speed manual transmission (no automatic is currently offered).
It’s not fast in straight-line acceleration, but it is smooth and dependable, and makes for good highway cruising.
The focussed low end grunt is geared for effortless driveability in the city as well as on the highway. It’s designed to haul people and cargo up hills and down rocky routes without breaking a sweat.
The body-on-frame construction still makes for good durability and a planted feel, while unloaded ride quality can be a little jouncy on rough roads.
Features and Safety: No frills but it works
Feature list will comprise manual climate control, push-button start, electrically adjustable ORVMs and a 7-inch touchscreen interface with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Though not loaded with tech, as are some competitors, it gets the basics right.
On the safety side, the vehicle gets 3 airbags (up to 7 in higher trims), ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, hill start assist and vehicle stability control. It adheres to modern safety standards, but another few ADAS features would have been nice.
Mileage and Pricing
The Crysta gives a claimed mileage of 15-16km/l, depending on load and driving conditions.
It isn’t the most economical MPV around, but considering it wears a diesel and is quite big, this is an acceptable figure for the class.
Pricing ranges from some ₹19 lakh (ex-showroom) up to ₹26 lakh, based on the variant and seating system.
It sits higher than entry-level MPVs, and lower than more tech-heavy premium ones.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Offered with a tried and true diesel engine
Questions and Answers 1) How would a body-on-frame compare to a UGCM architecture?
Roomy and comfy interior
Available with captain seats
Great for long journeys
Resale value and support after purchase
Cons:
No automatic transmission
Feature list feels outdated
Ride might be a bit stiff at times when not heavily loaded
Design changes are minimal
More expensive than tech-heavy competitors
New Toyota Innova Crysta Final Verdict
The New Toyota Innova Crysta is not your attention seeking flashy gadget laden car nor does it need to be.
It knows what it does well — burly, comfortable, diesel-powered and practical — and plays to its strengths with confidence.
For families or tour operators or anyone who wants a solid 7/8-seater that can pass through a generation or two over a decade, the Crysta is still the segment’s good-guy.
For a customer for whom longevity, comfort, peace of mind (‘reliability’), and resale are supreme, nothing much has changed with Crysta.