New Toyota Innova 2.5 Z Review: Ageless Wonder

Interior

 

It is for what the Innova offers on the inside that has been luring buyers in hordes. Our test car came equipped with front and middle row captain seats and the last row bench draped in hide. The large sized four-spoke steering wheel and the tall gear knob get leather treatment too, with some faux wood insert adding to the premium appeal. The steering wheel also gets modern controls for audio and telephony along with silver satin finished inserts, however is only adjustable for rake. Unreal wood also finds its way to the driver and passenger side window switch panel, leaving a curved trail beneath the center console. Sadly, only the driver side window gets an auto-down feature.

The instrument cluster is an electroluminescent unit that stays lit throughout; however, its brightness can be controlled. With analog dials for the rev counter, speedometer, fuel gauge and engine temperature, it remains a functional unit with a digital readout for the odometer and the trip meter.

Above the satin silver finished center console happens to be a Multi-information display that tells the time, average speed, distance-to-empty, real time efficiency, tells you the direction you’re headed in, outside temperature and has a blinking red sign if the passenger isn’t wearing the seatbelt. Information can be toggled via a switch on the steering wheel and also a couple buttons on the passenger side of the little screen.

Below the MID is a 2-DIN infotainment system that plays DVDs, all your music via Bluetooth, Aux-in and USB. The touch screen display also doubles up as a screen for the rear parking camera and scores pretty decently on touch sensitivity and readability. Audio quality from 6-speaker system was only acceptable though. Below the entertainment system are two large buttons for the hazard lights and rear de-mister, while further below is the familiar Air-conditioning control panel.

AC vents flank the large patch of shine in the center, while below the smiling bark of faux-wood is a little drawer and space for a power socket, USB & Aux-in jacks and a lighter for the cancer stick. Further below the leather wrapped gear stick are some cavities to hold your phone or wallet and some seriously deep storage space which also acts as an armrest for the driver.

We were bowled over by the quality of materials and the top-notch fit-n-finish, and although the bits inside lack some modernity, everything feels robust and built to last. As much as we tried, we just couldn’t find anything crude or ill-finished. Says a lot about the quality of workmanship and it isn’t for nothing that there are best-selling books out there singing praises about Toyota’s efforts to maintain quality.

It is fairly easy to attain a comfortable driving position, courtesy of the height adjustable driver seat and steering, however, we found the diameter of the steering wheel to be a tad too large. Since one of the USPs of the Innova happens to be space and comfort, you could be in any of the captain chairs and it definitely is a cozy place to be in, with a lot of room to stretch and relax.

The last row bench isn’t an afterthought and has acceptable space for adults for medium distance drives. It splits and folds to accommodate additional cargo. The air-conditioner is incredibly effective, as even in the month of April and four passengers in the car, never even once did we use any of the four additional rear ceiling vents.

As is the case with all Toyota cars now, the Innova comes with dual front airbags and an immobilizer as standard across all variants. Saving for the base ‘G’ spec models, ABS comes fitted in the rest of the line-up. Inside the cabin then, the Toyota Innova is a pretty comfortable place to be, but do things remain the same once on the move? Let’s find out.

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