So overall liked the Hexa a lot today at the Off road Experience in Gurgaon. Took a long TD on the road to assert my satisfaction on the product. I took the XTA (top end automatic) variant for a spin with my family in the car. This is what I feel about the car. Overall I was supremely impressed.
Engine: The refinement is definitely lesser than its chief rival the Innova Crysta at higher revvs especially. This department nothing can beat Toyota at. The Hexa is super mute at Idle for a MUV. Little lag below 2000 rpm but then it pulls really well after that. The weight does become prominent at hard accelerations. But overall it is very livable with and will not be a let down at any time.
Gearbox: This was the 6 speed torque converter AT box which does duty in the Hexa. Shifts are really smooth and the shift times are really impressive be it downshift or upshift. It is waaaaaaay better than the Innova Crysta's auto box which takes generations to upshift or downshift (especially downshift under hard acceleration). The Sport mode does make things slightly sporty and there is noticeable difference in acceleration. It's no DSG quick but overall very nice. Even the Endeavour's gearbox is slow at kickdown in this regard.
Race car mode: I know this is a characteristic of the gearbox but it deserves a special mention. It is surreal. Basically hold the accelerator pedal for some seconds and it activates Race Car mode. What this does is it holds the gear for longer and actually reaches the red line easily. But what is more astonishing is the fact that the gearbox actually rev matches when downshifting. I'm sorry what? Rev Matching in a MUV? :O I was taken by surprise and boy this is the mode I started driving in all the time once I got it activated. :P
Handling: This 2tonne+ MUV is rather heavy and the weight feels really noticeable in hard cornering. But it grips really well and no body roll is felt as such. I took corners at speeds of 60-70 and no fuss. The wide tires do help at such times I guess. Steering is Hydraulic (as told by the person assisting as in the TD) and it felt good and precise. It was a tad heavy during U turns when full lock was needed.
Space and Comfort: I initially had my doubts on the ride looking at the 19" rims because no matter how good they look (and they do look very good), it will hamper ride but this is not the case. It rides superbly. I took it over some big bumps at good speeds. No issues. Potholes? What's that? Tackles potholes with utter disdain. Came away super impressed. Space is ample for everyone. I was in the 6 seater (captain seat) configuration. I was driven around first for a bit so I was in the middle row. The captain seat is so comfortable. But a little issue I found (some may appreciate it), the seat hugs you too much. It is comfortable but maybe too comfortable. Front seats have amazing support and its really comfortable. Took a spin of 45 mins and no discomfort experienced. Only grouse is that the seats should have been electrically powered at least the driver seat. The last row is quite nice. I am 5'8 (always wished I was little taller but anyways...) and I was quite comfortable with a lot of legroom left even with the middle row pushed forward (and they had a lot of space too) . But all said and done, the space and the ride is quite good. Sorted.
Infotainment: Took an extensive demo of the much discussed Harman Kardon Unit with JBL speakers and what not. In a word: Awesome. It was indeed good. The unit looks good but it is too small for the size of the car and that is disappointing. The touch responsiveness was very good. The sound quality was very good but I was expecting more ever since I heard the words "Harman" and "Kardon" and "JBL". I guess that's just me else it was good in this regard too.
The off road track was not very challenging (the Hexa is not a full blown 4x4 anyways) but I guess it could have been more tricky. The car did whatever was thrown at it with ease. Enjoyed the experience here also and more importantly, my mom and dad really enjoyed the experience.
So overall, I would say I am really keen on getting this vehicle. This seems like the apt replacement for our workhorse in the house, The Ertiga. My whole point of going today to the event was to let my parents get a feel of the car. They drove the TD car too (they drive only automatics) and my dad drove after 2.5 years and was instantly at home with the car. And my plan worked. They absolutely loved the car to bits. They are fully convinced.
Couple things tick my mind:
-Replacement costs for the 19" tires when they are due for a change.
-Resale value of the car. The Aria has disastrous resale value.
Overall today was a good day and had a lot of fun. Fingers Crossed that we can increase the sale of the Hexa by 1 more soon!
P.S Sorry only two pics that too from my Snapchat story. Just didnt strike me to take some pics. :(
