Innova ownership experience - 15,000 Km

The Innova was my fourth car - after an Alto, Wagon R and Honda City. I needed a larger car to travel long distance in relative comfort. After trying out the Xylo, Tata Aria and Tavera, I found the Innova to be a better choice. It offered the promise of better reliability and engineering and fit my needs. The high price made me choose the less than highest version - GX as I felt it offered more value for money (I was not interested in alloys or chrome). However, I wish Toyota offered more safety gfeatures like passenger airbags etc. on more versions. My version has only the drivers side air bag. Given that this car is capable of being driven at high speeds in unsafe Indian highways, it wuld make sense to have the added safety of air bags. 

After driving 15,000 km in about 18 months, I find that the Innova has served whatever I expected. I can take my family onlong drives and there is enough space for children to romp and move around in the back seats. Although it does not have the drive quality of the Honda City, there is definitely less fatigue after having driven long hours. I attribute it to the good seating and high driving stance. I primarily drive this vehicle on highways as I am still not comfortable with parking it in tight city conditions. 

The gear box is smooth and the Engine is responsive. However, considering the manner in which the car is driven (in highways and on open stretches), I wonder if the 2.5 L power was really necessary. I feel it could have been traded in for better fuel economy - now that fuel prices have no upper limit.

Althought the competition is much lower priced, I feel the better quality engineering and more durable looking components justify the higher price to some exent. There is definitely a brand premium being charged - but tat might be unavoidable - considering that the competition involve greater compromises. 

I am 6 ft plus and find ingress and egress to the drivers position and passenger cabin much more comfortable than smaller cars. The seats are all adjustable and this gives some space for creativity while seating different types of people. The rear portion can also serve as a voluminous cargo bay and I have carried large amounts of agricultural produce when the need has arisen. 

The ac system is very effective and I can hardly feel any performance lag with the ac on - maybe that justifies the larger engine. I installed a roof mounted LCD screen behind the front row and it is quite useful to keep children pacified on long trips. 

 

 

 

Ease of driving, Good road view, Good engineering and qualityMileage, More safety features desirable