So it was finally time to bid goodbye to our beloved 9yr old M&M Xylo E8 mEagle that has done 80000kms without any major issues. It has served us well and left us with memorable trips.
Our main requirement was a SUV/MUV because we usually travel together as a family and cover 400 odd kms every alternate month to my in laws place. Dad liked the Innova but myself, my wife and my mom were hesitant to spend 24L for a brand new vehicle. No matter which other vehicle we considered the Innova felt far superior and VFM for it's reliability and relatively low depreciation over the years.
1st week of Jan 2019 we head to Palace Toyota, Mysore to have a look and finalize. We were pleasantly greeted by a lady sales rep(Baby Kumari) who explained to us on the different models, the features, warranty, discounts etc. We liked the Z variant but sadly our requirement was a bench seat for the middle row and the Z had only captain seats. Toyota should have offered bench seats on the Z. I'm sure someone who would spend close to 24L would not mind shelling out another 2-3L for a bench seat and additional air bags. I guess about 50% of the owners who bought the V would have bought the Z if a bench seat was offered ! Think about it Toyota.
We wanted to see the car and narrow down on the color. The sale rep took us to the yard where they had over 70 Innova's. Initially we wanted to go for the bronze but a silver parked next to it made us change our mind. So a Silver Vx 2.4 MT 8STR was booked and delivery was expected by end of Jan.
The sales rep did offer to sell a 2018 model but we wanted the updated model that had LED fog lamps, electrically fold able mirrors and intrusion detection on break of window glass.
After a week we get a call from the sale rep that they have a Nov 2018 model that has the same features as the 2019 model but available at a discount to the 2018 model price. Next day we went to the showroom to discuss, saw the car in the yard and closed the deal. At no point in time did any of the sales rep try to push accessories and this is something I really liked about the dealership
The delivery experience was good. We did have to wait for a while as another Innova was getting delivered and the customer was waiting for his son to arrive. Our sales rep did request them to carry out their delivery later as we were ready. Initially they agreed and by the time our car was brought into the delivery bay their son had arrived. We did not mind waiting and we definitely did not want to push the other customer aside as buying a car is supposed to be a very happy moment in one's life and we really did not want to make their experience bitter. After about 20mins our car was brought in, a small pooja was done, the sales rep and a couple of other employees clapped and cheered as I drove out of the bay. The overall experience was very nice.
Our sales rep then explained to us on the do's and don'ts, emergency and support numbers to call in case of any issue, location of important fluids under the bonnet, location of the jack and tools, A/C controls, touch screen display settings and a host of other features. Congratulated us again and handed over a 5L fuel coupon. Let me explain my initial experience with the car in my next post.
Having driven the Xylo for over 8yrs and 80000kms the drive on the Innova felt incredibly comfortable and safe. The Xylo wasn't that bad at all. The seats were comfy, the engine was powerful, screaming turbo spool(I'm missing this now!), very comfortable 3rd row seating, great mileage of 12-13kmpl and a very nice view of the road as the seating was very high. One can see over hatchbacks and sedans at traffic stops. The downside was a relatively hard/bouncy suspension, poor cornering, boat effect due to tall body and high seating and a relatively hard clutch. Xylo is a very good highway mile-muncher though. This wasn't something to complain about back in 2010. Let's get to the Innova now.
Positives:
- Upmarket looks and styling
- Gorgeous front grill and headlamps
- Upmarket dashboard, seat fabric and other interiors
- Silent cabin
- Powerful diesel engine with Normal/Eco/Power modes
- Light clutch
- Crisp braking
- Very effective A/C
- Robust build quality
Negatives:
- Huge dashboard needs getting used to
- Heavy steering at low speeds
- Rubbery gear shifts
- A pillars are blind spots
- Slim 205mm tires and a boring alloy wheel design
- Middle seating on the rear bench is not comfortable
- Floor bump under the middle row
The Engine:
What a gem of an engine! The 2.4L diesel has a sweet rumble. The turbo is barely audible and this is something I really miss. The diesel clatter is loud at low rpms and I love hearing it. The engine revs freely and has good torque at low speeds. You will never stall the engine! The clutch is light and easy to use.
The gearbox:
Toyota's iconic Micheal Jackson dancing gear lever has been carried forward from the previous model. Gear shifts are rubbery. Gear ratios are nice. 5th could have been taller.
Dashboard:
I did not like the large dashboard surface under the windshield. Looks odd and needs getting used to. The face of the dashboard is very upmarket. A/C vents are neatly integrated and well positioned. The touch screen display is easy to read and operate but the UI theme looks outdated. A/C controls are positioned at an awkward angle.
Instrument cluster:
Very futuristic and easy to read. Beautiful lighting. The MID is cool and very informative.
Cabin:
Very silent and rattle free(so far!). Not as spacious as the Xylo. Door pockets can hold plenty of bottles. Seating is very comfortable except the 3rd row.
Suspension:
Well planted ride. Corners quite well. Huge difference in body roll compared to the Xylo. Absorbs bumps quite well. A wider tire would have made things better.
Ergonomics:
Everything is well placed and easy to reach. No complaints here.
Lighting:
LED low beams are good for city drives. High beams are inadequate for Indian roads.
Overall a very nice product from Toyota and I am a happy new customer