Toyota Innova Crysta

If you’re in the market for an MPV that can stand the test of time and accommodate seven people and their luggage with ease, look no further than the Toyota Innova Crysta. Despite being over 9 years old, the Innova Crysta still gets its fundamentals right and makes a lot of sense even in the face of fresh competition.

Toyota has given the Innova Crysta multiple updates to keep it looking fresh and relevant in the market. And I would like to point out that despite its age, the Innova Crysta still looks fresh and has aged gracefully. 

In its current avatar, the Innova Crysta’s fascia appears more SUV-like, thanks to the massive grille outlined by a chrome bar. It gets sleek swept-back LED headlights, and the fog lamps, as well as turn indicators, are located lower down in the bumper. 

The side profile of the Innova Crysta hasn’t gone through many changes throughout its lifespan. It still has that typical MPV-like silhouette with a large glass area, meaning the cabin gets a lot of natural light. To make it look posh and upmarket, you get large 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. 

Meanwhile, the Innova Crysta’s rear-end design looks more or less similar since its debut in 2016. It continues to get split tail lamps that use incandescent bulbs.

Toyota offers the Innova Crysta in five colour options: Super White, Attitude Black Mica, Avant-Garde Bronze, Platinum White Pearl and Silver Metallic. I personally like the Avant-Garde Bronze as it looks unique, and the Attitude Black Mica for its sinister look.

The dashboard of the Toyota Innova Crysta has remained more or less the same since its induction in the market. While there are no complaints when it comes to layout and functionality, its design has now started to age. But one thing I like about the Innova Crysta is that, unlike modern cars, it continues to get buttons and knobs for all important functions, which makes usability way easier. 

When it comes to quality, the Toyota Innova Crysta continues to get hard plastics that are hard-wearing and robust. All the stalks and buttons feel built to last. That said, the texture and feel of some of the plastics could’ve been better, and we would have liked more soft-touch elements. 

The Toyota Innova Crysta can be had in both seven- and eight-seater iterations. Both versions offer top comfort levels and can accommodate three six-foot occupants sitting behind each other. The second row offers both sliding and reclining functionality for added comfort. Toyota also offers two interior colour options: black and black/dark beige. 

Features 

In terms of features, the Toyota Innova Crysta gets the basics right. Highlights include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an automatic climate control with rear AC vents, analogue dials with a multi-info display, powered driver’s seat, keyless entry with push button start and cruise control. 

While most of the features should keep users happy, it doesn’t have modern-day features such as a digital driver’s display, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats and a branded sound system. Do note that all these features are available in the Innova Crysta’s successor - the Toyota Innova Hycross.

The Toyota Innova Crysta secured a perfect 5-star safety rating from ASEAN NCAP when tested back in January 2016. 

It checks all the essential boxes for safety with features such as 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), a rear parking camera, hill start assist, as well as front and rear parking sensors. 

The Toyota Innova Crysta does not get a 360-degree camera or any sort of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), both of which are reserved for the more premium Innova Hycross.

This is one of the Toyota Innova Crysta’s strong points. With all three rows up, it offers about 300 litres of boot space, perfect for storing small suitcases or soft bags. With the third row folded down, the MPV offers more than sufficient space for people who tend to pack heavily for long road trips. 

Fold down the middle row as well, and you’ve an MPV that’s capable of helping you shift homes with utmost ease.

The Toyota Innova Crysta is offered with a single 2.4-litre diesel engine, paired with a manual transmission only. You can take a look at the detailed specifications here:

Do note that Toyota previously offered a 6-speed torque converter with this engine. In fact, the first version of the Innova Crysta automatic came with the Fortuner’s 2.8-litre diesel engine! 

That said, the 2.4-litre diesel engine offers more than enough oomph when it comes to daily driving or your highway runs. It doesn’t feel bogged down even when driving with a full load. While the clutch is light enough, the gearbox has long throws and feels a bit rubbery during shifts. We feel Toyota should have retained the automatic transmission for the Innova Crysta, as it made driving this larger MPV much more convenient. 

The main strong point of the Innova Crysta’s diesel engine is its reliability. With timely maintenance, it can keep on chugging on without any major issues. Combine this with low running costs, and the Innova Crysta is a favourite with cabbies and people who use their MPVs for long periods of time.

Toyota offers the Innova Crysta in GX, GX FLT, GX+, VX and ZX. Do note that the GX FLT is reserved for fleet operators, while other variants can be bought by private owners. All variants of the Innova Crysta are offered with the bench and captain seat option. Prices of the MPV range from Rs 19.99 lakh to Rs 27.18 lakh (ex-showroom).