Top 5 Things About Toyota Innova Hycross You Need To Know Ahead Of Its India Launch Tomorrow

UPDATE: The Toyota Innova Hycross has been unveiled in India and prices are expected at Auto Expo 2023. 

The wait is almost over. The new generation Toyota Innova Hycross is set for its India debut tomorrow and its price reveal could happen the same day. The Innova Hycross, which isn’t a replacement for the Crysta, is more premium, upmarket and gets big changes underneath its skin.

Let’s take a look at the top five things to know about the new MPV ahead of its India launch:

It really is all-new

The new generation Toyota Innova Hycross is an all-new MPV with new underpinnings based on the marque’s TNGA-C monocoque platform, unlike the body-on-frame chassis that the previous Innovas had. 

Although the design is an evolution of the Innova Crysta, the Hycross looks beefier still. It's unmistakably an MPV, but the styling does lean on the lines of an SUV. That’s possibly because of its flared wheel arches as well as the sharper head lamps and taillights. The overall styling has a rather upright stance and it becomes all the more evident with the vertically upright trapezoidal grille. 

Refreshed cabin

The cabin has been reworked extensively. It now looks more upmarket and well-built, with a much more coherent dashboard design. It continues to be offered in six and seven-seater configurations and the former gets powered middle row seats with a leg rest for the second row passengers to lay their legs upon after a tiring day of work. 

There technically should be more space in the second row, owing to the 100mm longer wheelbase of the MPV. Life in the third row should also see an improvement because of a big change in the drivetrain setup.

New features

The Innova nameplate has never in its lifetime seen such an extensive list of features. It now gets a panoramic sunroof, dual rear entertainment screens, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, a 10-inch floating infotainment system and a full ADAS suite, a first for the marque in India. 

Other features include steering-mounted audio controls, rear AC vents with separate controls, keyless entry with push-button start and ambient lighting. Its safety kit comprises multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, electronic stability control and hill-start assist.

New powertrain

Okay, let’s clear the air right off the bat. There’s no diesel unit on offer. And before fleet owners or even general mileage-concerned owners start throwing a tantrum over the efficiency advantages of a diesel, there’s a petrol strong-hybrid powertrain on offer which combines an electric motor and a 2-litre petrol mill to produce 186PS. 

The new setup delivers power to the front wheels instead of the ones at the rear, unlike the previous iterations of the Innova – hence the aforementioned extra space for the third row. There’s also a non-hybrid petrol powertrain that produces 174PS. It is paired to a CVT, while the hybrid powertrain gets an e-CVT unit.

Price and rivals

All these new features and powertrain changes will surely bump up the price of the Innova Hycross in comparison to the Crysta and it could cost from around Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom). It would offer a premium alternative to its cousin, the Innova Crysta (which will be sold alongside the Hycross), and also to the likes of the Kia Carens and Mahindra Marazzo.